A 10k race today - a lovely event, but a horrible run.

[Steve_L]

Pretty fed up! It was Run Jericho today, a 10k race that was my first ever event a year ago. It's a lovely community run organised by and for a Junior school in Oxford (in Jericho!). Great atmosphere and a 1 mile fun run for the kids before the 10k. The race itself is described as "multi-terrain". It involves a flight of stairs, several bridges and lots of gates.

I worked really hard today, but my pace wasn't very good, and I ended up finishing in about 68 minutes - 3.5 minutes slower than last year! My Garmin reported the distance as 10.24km, so it may well have been further than that. It was also pretty warm, and I think I struggled with that a bit. In the final km, I did manage to up my pace and pass a few people, but I felt done in at the line.

That was my slowest ever 10k event!!!

To top it all, the promised free ice cream for finishers was nowhere to be seen!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Ok Steve - so it wasn't your fastest but you did it! And it is really warm today. I am in Surrey and found my 10k run really tough today due to the heat. Fast or slow, 10k is 10k (or even 10.24k in your case!) Don't underestimate how much of a difference warm weather can make! I didn't get out until 11ish and knew I'd regret it! Here's to cooler days☺.

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

I certainly agree about the warm weather - but I'd have been most fed up about the ice cream!!

[Bazza1234 Graduate10]

The fact that you felt totally done in at the line makes it a GOOD race for you. It means that you gave it your all - which is all that even elite athletes can do. The time for a particular race is irrelevant - you finished the race and gave it all you had. Congrats !!

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

I was thinking to myself, what's he fed up about? until I got the end and read NO ICE CREAM! That's awful! Still, your time for a multi terrain race was more than respectable...hope you bought yourself a 99 later xxx

[misswobble Graduate10]

Don't be annoyed with yourself Steve! I know it's annoying as you feel in a year you've not done any better. I know this cos that's how I've felt when I came in slower than the previous year.

Having had chance to reflect on it since though I now don't care. Best just let it go. You do the race because you love to run, it's for a good local cause, and there is the likelihood of a medal and cake. Let that be enough

If not, you'll go mad

[mfamilias Graduate10]

Bah, humbug. there's nowt worse than being deprived of an ice cream. BUT you ran over 10k, up and down stairs and hopping over gates... sounds like a sheepdog trial! So kudos to you. I ran a 10k too, and I ran it 6 minutes slower than my first official 10k, but I loved every minute of it and I'm proud of myself because 18 months ago I couldn't even run for the bus. So count your blessings and be chuffed of yourself!

[Hidden]

There lots of ticks on the plus side there Steve_L , for a multi terrain and obstacles that's is a great time , as forbthe lack of ice cream,thst is a real downer hope you brought yourself one as a reward , richly deserved i think.

[Katie204 Graduate10]

I would give my right leg to finish 10k in 68 minutes!

[Steve_L Graduate10]

Thanks everybody - I feel a bit better about it now.