Why the Summer Mile makes me smile!

In June 2017, I’d been a HPH for almost a year, but I’d never raced a mile. I had heard friends describing it as “the hardest race you’ll do” and various other intimidating anecdotes from their Summer Mile experiences over the years. Always one to be up for a challenge, I signed up and donned my best waterproof and warm layers and headed up to Woodhouse Moor (Hyde Park) for a night of watching people suffer whilst huddling under a tree with pals to attempt to avoid the rain. 

Despite the misery of the weather, it was clear that the event held a real place in the hearts of the runners and their clubs. The unique setup of the event: where runners run in heats around 2 laps of the top section of the moor, sets it up perfectly for supporters and atmosphere. Whether you’re getting more race for your money and running earlier on in the night; or one of those in the later heats, you’ve got the same level of screaming support, Harrier marshals every few hundred metres and a cracking “goody bag” at the end. The first year, despite my lack of training for a mile, I came away happy, having beaten my main competition, but hungry for a faster time and determined to improve in future years to come.

Fast forward a year, and in 2018 it became clear that the event was even better when the heavens aren’t open all evening. This year, I’d also put myself down to volunteer, and was happy to help set up the event and marshal along the course. I also improved my time on the previous year, which wass a bonus.

2019 was similar, and another gorgeous evening as far as I remember. I also hosted a few Summer Mile training sessions where we practiced on a Tuesday / Thursday evening ahead of the event.

In 2020 we missed the Summer Mile due to COVID. Instead, the club hosted a number of remote challenges and events, and to celebrate the Summer Mile, we ran a Summer Mile-arathon, where 4 teams of 26 ran 1 mile each to attempt to achieve the quickest time for a marathon as a relay. For those interested, the results are below:

– Team 1 cumulative time 3:06:22 (1st)

– Team 2 cumulative time 3:15:13 (3rd)

– Team 3 cumulative time 3:22:24 (4th)

– Team 4 cumulative time 3:07:18 (2nd)

Also in 2020, Sam Dooley won the HPH Ain’t No Barriers award at our Awards Evening, for his 10 year commitment to being the Run Director of the event. Thanks to Sam for all his time and dedication given to this incredible event.

For me, 2021-2024 flew by in a blur of training and various other life events (job, dog, wedding, baby to name but a few). In 2022, I achieved my PB of 5:28 and the HPH team won the club championship, where the top female time and top male time from each club are added together and the lowest time wins. In later years this was amended to the top 3 male and female runners. 

In 2023 I ran it whilst 7 months pregnant but still was 1 second faster than my first attempt in 2017, which is pretty special! In 2024 I ran it 7 months Post Partum in 5:41 – my proudest mile so far. To top it off, HPH won the club champ this year too!

Every year I’ve marshalled, registered athletes, set up the course, organised prizes and helped in several roles. It’s awesome to be part of such a great event and be able to contribute even just a little bit to the great atmosphere of the Summer Mile. We should be so proud to host this event as a club.

In 2025, not only am I running but I’m also now part of the Summer Mile organising committee. I can’t wait to see the event from yet another angle, as well as aiming for that important Personal Best yet again!

Oh, and watch this space, if I pass my coaching exam this weekend, my first assignment will be to coach a cohort of you towards mile Personal Bests! Can’t wait to see how HPH get on up at Woodhouse Moor again on June 25th.

Happy running, HPH 

Amy R-Y