13th January The Whitworth Thread (R2)


When is a Park Run not a Park Run? The answer is when its the Whiteworth Thread, a once a month 5km jolly in Darley Dale, just outside Matlock, that is a Park Run in everything but name. And the official times. And bar codes. And national status. And possibly even crowds. 

But as Matlock hasn't been able to get it's act together and organise a weekly Park Run, and to be honest I am not quite sure where it would hold one (outside of this particular location) it's the best I can offer for R2 in my sixty at 60.

Why is it called the Whitworth Thread I hear you ask? Well the Whitworth thread was the world's first national screw thread standard, devised and specified by Joseph Whitworth in 1841 who began his apprenticship at Amber Mill in nearby OakerThorpe, but who moved to live in Darley Dale in 1850.  Scholarships are still offered in his name today, directed at outstanding engineers who, like Sir Joseph Whitworth, have excellent academic and practical skills and the qualities needed to succeed in industry,

As for the actual run, well as my time with TOM over in Matlock usually coicides with when I try to put a 'longer' run into my diary (the term longer being very subjective) there was a 2.3 mile run to get there and a 2.6 mile jolly to get back. Sandwiched in between were three laps of a twisting and turning course alongside 44 other runners.

Having only done this once entire sandwich once before back in  Feb 2023, the question was whether I would get close to my times on one, two or all three sections or not. And the amazing answer was just, managing to run 'slightly' faster on all three bits. Maybe my sugar and carb blowout prior to starting medication on Monday has done me the world of good.

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