Race!

Today I ran a 10k. I’ve forgotten how tough they are! I haven’t raced one for at least a year. I figured if I picked a home race back in Norfolk the field would be week, and I would triumph. I was wrong. All the wirey, seasoned runners of Norfolk were out. Bungay Black Dogs, Norfolk Gazelles, you name it, descended on sleepy Swanton Abbott (a village in the middle of nowhere, the school, which was the base, is one room) Seeing as today was my official long run day I decided to run there and back, with the 10k sandwiched in the middle.

The ground was still pretty frozen (it had been -8 on the Friday night) and as I crossed my first field, I was running into the fog abyss which clung to everything in sight. A nice even paced 2.8 miles to the village – a really good warm up – something which I tend to neglect doing for a race. I had just enough time to nip to the loo and hang my coat on the back of a tiny school chair. The start line was a little in the distance, and I should have really nudged to the front, but I was in Norfolk and I didn’t fancy being that girl with a London team vest pushing to the front. The expectations would have been too high! Anyway the first half a mile consisted of a bob and weave, to get out and into a bit of room. A surprisingly hilly course, with a couple of long hills to contend with. All the marshals were pretty friendly, and I even managed a sprint finish/overtake on the last 50m. Something I particularly enjoy on a race! I didn’t stop for long to enjoy the tea and cakes, as I knew I still had the journey home to contend with, on tired legs. The fields had turned to mush, and I was set upon by a pair of lurcher pups, other than that I triumphantly landed on my parents doorstep, and was treated to a roast. A good day.

I think I ended up doing an OK 46 ish min 10k.

 – obligatory proud parental photo…