We don’t write many blog posts about our running events. It’s difficult to take photos when you are running for a start! However, the Southport Mad Dog 10k is certainly worthy of one.

This year was the third time we have participated in the event. For Sarah and I, it is a date in our running calendar we always look forward to. It is possibly our favourite running event. It’s popular with lots of others too, for it fills up within hours of entry opening.

We make a bit of a weekend of it all, and stay in Southport the night before the event. In fact, our preparations were so complete, that we found out too late, we had actually booked two hotel rooms! We chose to stay at the Southport Travelodge.

After arriving in Southport we enjoyed an evening meal at the local Pizza Express.

It was a cold evening when we finished the evening off with a little walk. Southport is one of our favourite places to visit. It was where my grandma was brought up. I have even taken one of our club cycle rides to Southport, and of course, the Trans Pennine Trail starts there.

Race Day

The following morning, the temperature was hovering around zero degrees as we parked up and then joined the throngs being bussed to the start.

There were over three thousand runners participating in the 10k event, and the Crazy Pups Fun Run was full too.

Runners are placed in pens according to their expected finish time. Sarah and I certainly aren’t Greyhounds, but then we aren’t bulldogs or pugs either. We were, however, thinking had over-estimated as we headed nearer and nearer to the start line before we reached our pen! (Thankfully, our finishing time would later suggest we got it right).

Then following the traditional cries of ‘Who let the dogs out?’, ex-footballer John Barnes started the race.

One of the things about this event we love is the music bands that you pass as you make your way around the course.

Sarah and I found it hard going this year as we made our way around. Our training has been interrupted due to illness and bad weather. In truth, we haven’t really had any training rhythm for the last year or so.

Our finishing times were around the 57 minutes, the slowest we have run the Mad Dog 10k. However, given where our running is at, we were satisfied with that. Indeed, when the results came out, we found we had finished in the top third – a pleasant little surprise.

Afterwards, we had our photos taken with John Barnes.

Well, it had to be done, didn’t it?!

Then we headed off to the local Wetherspoons to refuel.

The Southport Mad Dog 10k is a fantastic running event. It is one we highly recommend. It’s well organised, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s great fun. Oh … and it is organised by, and raises money for, the Southport Roundtable.

Will we be back next year? Definitely! 🙂

You can view our Southport Mad Dog 10k route below: