The Daffodil Run (10k) at Kelmarsh Hall........here's my story

The day arrived (Sunday 20th May) and I approached the run with no major expectations, my goal being to run the 10k (no walking) and finish in whatever time.....maybe 1 hour, but who's clock watching. It was a glorious day, the sun was shining and my only concern was how hot it was going to get. My pre race preparation had consisted of going out the night before with mates and enjoying a chinese meal and a few pints.

So I'm there at Kelmarsh Hall and what goes through my mind.....could I possibly do a 50 minute 10k and at that point my target was set. All the 10k runners were called for a pre race warm up and on Rachaels instruction, I headed off to warm up with the others. This was no warm up, it was a night at the disco with the instructor taking you through the most complex steps....."step to the right, step to the left, hands in the air, turn and step!!!!!!!!"......what can I say but this was complex to me, I know I'm black but I definitely missed out on the natural rhythm genes from my parents.

this is not for me, rhythm...what rhythm

The claxon sounds and we're off......I had intended to control my pace but that goes straight out the window and I'm carried off with the crowd. I manage to find my pace and decide to pick out a pacemaker (criteria being....must be a lady with a nice behind.....surprise, surprise) and I found her (if you're wondering why my pacemaker is behind me in the photo, this position was short lived, she passed me very soon after the picture was taken)

there she is....my pacemaker, number 1390 "give us a wave"

The course was undulating, more so than the Flitwick 10k that I had run last month. This didn't prove to be a problem, I seem to handle the uphill runs quite easily but I lose time on the downhill. I watch the time at the 3k marker and find that instead of achieving 5 minute kilometers, I'm running 6 minute kilometers.....where can I pull back the time? At the 6k marker I step up the pace knowing that the last 4 kilometers will be hard especially as I'm looking to up the pace again at the 8k marker. The idea was there but in reality it was not achieved, I ran the last 4 kilometers as hard as I could and maintained the pace until the finish, there was nothing in the tank to step up the pace for the final 2 kilometers. I hit the final straight and head for the finsih line to the cheers of Rachael. I pass the line in 53.45 minutes, a new PB.

on the way to the finish line to the cheers of Rach

It wasn't 50 minutes, but was I disappointed......not me, I'd beaten my last 10k time and it was in my opinion a more difficult course. Did I beat my pacemaker.....almost, I just couldn't catch her on the straight but hey....the view up to the finish line was great.

So what's next..........the Colworth Marathon Challenge.......who's bright idea was that?????