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Harfield takes 5K and 10K Pirates Week wins
- Updated: 13 November 2017
Less than a week after winning the Cayman Islands Triathlon, Patrick Harfield was back at it. Not only was he testing his endurance but showing good form on the road, as he ran away with top finishes in both the Pirates Week 5K road race on Friday, 10 November, and the To Hell and Back 10K two days later.
At the 5K, Harfield led more than 100 runners to the finish. He got out in the lead group early with Will Edwards and Sam Kepford as they set off southbound on Harbour Drive. He kept pushing the pace after the halfway mark and on the run back northward toward the finish outside Bar Crudo.
After being side-by-side for the first 2.5km, Harfield kept pushing the pace and finished in 17 minutes, 13.3 seconds – a 45 second gap ahead of his nearest rivals.
Making up ground on the way back was 14-year-old Juan Pablo Valerio, who sprinted down the home stretch to catch Kepford but it was Kepford, who had enough in the tank to pull away in the final five metres to take second place in 17:58.4 with Valerio across the line in 17.58.7.
Toby Bowles (19:10.5) and Matthew Harkness (19:52.2) rounded out the top five and were the only others under 20 minutes.
After completing a 1,500m swim, 24.8-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run days earlier, Harfield said: “It was good to get out and do something quick and sharp.”
The 39-year-old said the plan wasn’t to compete so quickly after the triathlon but the competitive juices were flowing, leading him to attempt two other races in the following days.
“I would give the 5K a go and I did that alright. Then I thought the 5K swim might be a nice option and I thought that went well, so why not give the 10K a crack. For all three, we’ve been blessed with [good] conditions, so that’s been perfect,” he said.
After being the fastest in his age group at the Pirates Week 5K Sea Swim on Saturday, finishing 23rd of 38 competitors, the running coach was back on the road Sunday morning for the To Hell and Back 10K.
He started off purposefully and delivered once again. “There were some youngsters in the race, as there was in the 5K. I thought if I could go out early and lead from the front, I wouldn’t have to do battle with them in a sprint finish. I got out front early, managed to get a good lead and held on to it.”
Harfield stopped the clock at 35 minutes, 54.4 seconds – more than three minutes ahead of second place finisher Tim Schuler (39.07.5). “I’m definitely happy with the performance and with the time. Another win in the bag, so I’m really pleased with that,” he said.
Storming to the finish next was Valerio, the youngster from 345 Athletic Club in 40:19.7 to pick up his second third-place result in as many races. “It was good,” he said. “I had to keep my pace and not let anything distract me despite other runners passing me [early in the race].”
Matt Volkwyn (40.56.6) was fourth and Matthew Harkness (42:42.3) was fifth once again.
See full results from 5K here and 10K here. Both races were organised by 345 Athletic Club and were part of the official Pirates Week calendar.
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