Richmond 10k

Anonymous Published: 25/09/2017
Title: First time, not last time....
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It was probably a belated New Year’s resolution that I never thought I had made but January 2017 saw me start to run for the first time since I left school (many years ago!).

The plan was to compete in a short-distance triathlon; to prove to myself I could do one. Four triathlons and one aquathlon later I wanted more!

Having stepped up from my normal 5k winter training runs (that’s on top of the bike and swim sessions) I decided maybe a 10k running race could be fun.

In went the entry for the Richmond 10k, along the banks of the Thames, around Ham House and then back to Deer Park where the race started. At least I would see where, in one of my other sports, I could have been fishing on a Sunday morning.

Having suffered all week with a bad head/cough by the time Friday came round I was wondering if I would even make the starting line, especially when there was ice to scrape from the car windscreen before the drive up the M3.

Despite the sun breaking through there was still a white frost on the ground…so for the first time it was my running leggings. I knew I’d sweat buckets but decided the thermal headgear also had to be worn.

The organisers sent of runners off in waves so there would be no bottleneck as we crossed a bridge early in the race. Smart move.

Fast people first and a few fancied their chances at 35 minuts! I went for the group aiming at between and hour and an hour and ten minutes.

My plans was:

a. to finish

b. try to get back in less than 1hr 10mins

c. get under the hour

d. see if I could beat my personal best of just under 59mins.

Off we went and, as usual, I couldn’t wear blinkers and kept up with everyone around me, most of them looking and talking like seasoned runners.

Two kilometres down and I was still pushing at a speed that would have seen me bury my PB for 5k. Not a good idea, even on a flat course, but I managed to slow down to my happy race pace.

Three k came and went pretty fast, as did four but it seemed a long time to get through the sticky mud on the towpath to halfway where a quick check of the GPS watch told me I’d done it in a little over my PB for 5k.

A few who had started behind had passed me by now – but those I overtook earlier were still trailing me. Plan A was almost certainly complete!

Plan B looked on the cards too! I was calculating distances, speeds and time in my head (I know should just keep going, but I can’t help it).

With 1.5k to go Plan C of hour or less looked likely, especially if I could do a final spurt. Into the field heading towards the finish line I knew it was now very, very close to Plan D and a new PB.

The energy was fading and the legs wouldn’t give me much more but I pushed them for the final 50 metres or so…

Over the line, arms in the air, push the button on the GPS and… you have just done a new PB! I just love it when a Plan comes together…

First time for me at this race. Not the last…