My first 10K. What a fantastic day! - Bridge to 10K

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My first 10K. What a fantastic day!

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10
33 Replies

Apologies in advance but this is going to be a long one as I have just had the most amazing day and wanted to share it.

After graduating from C25K back in February I started ju-ju- 's 10K plan, and to give myself some focus I entered the Vitality London 10000. The plan was to reach 10K then have 5 or 6 weeks of consolidation before the race. What could possibly go wrong?

Unfortunately just before finishing the 10K plan I picked up a hamstring injury and put my running on hold. With only three weeks to go until the run I felt I was able to get out again, and devised a mini plan to get me to a position where I felt I would be able to run in London. I started with some run/walks from the early weeks of C25K, then gradually built up the distance until I managed an 8km last week, but still had doubts about my injury and had no confidence. So the first time I would be attempting a full 10K would be the race itself. Not the position I hoped I would be in.

Fast forward to today, race day. A light breakfast and then down to the station to catch the train to London. Everyone else on the train looked like they were heading for the run too. I arrived at Green Park in plenty of time, dropped off my bag, and found my starting pen. I was feeling a bit apprehensive by now, especially with the warm weather that was forecast. Why was I doing this? 10K? Me? How could I have been this stupid?

The elite runners, including Mo Farah, went off at 10.00 and it was a further 20 minutes before my group got to the start line. The start was well organised with everybody able to get running before the timing mats at the start. Off we went.

As we reached Trafalgar Square, less than one kilometre in, the lead runners were already passing us heading for the the finish. How do they do that! The first kilometre was bunched up and slow, which suited me fine as I didn’t want to go off too fast. Slow and steady was going to be order of the day.

As the kilometres went by I kept looking at my pace on my watch and it was faster than wanted and I tried to slow down. I was going to pay for this towards the end. At the first water station I discovered it’s nearly impossible to drink from a paper cup while running and ended up with most of it down my shirt.

We reached the 5km marker at the Bank of England and turned for home. It was very warm by now so the second water station at 6km was a welcome sight.

Soon there was only 1km to go, I WAS going to finish this, then 800m, 400m and 200m to go. Buckingham Palace and the finish line were in sight. I crossed the line and stopped my watch. When I entered the race I was injury free and the 10k plan was going well, so I estimated an optimistic time of around 1 hour 10, so I was shocked to see I did it in under 1 hour 3 minutes. I would have been happy just to finish but this was a bonus.

So now I am back home, feet up, reflecting on a great day. The event was so well organised, the crowd along the route were great, cheering us all on and the weather was lovely, if a bit too warm. I now have my first 10K under my belt and a medal to prove it.

I may not have posted very often on the C25K or Bridge to 10K forums but I was always here, lurking, listening and taking the advice from all you great people. Thank you!

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Sigered
Graduate10
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33 Replies
DebJogsOn profile image
DebJogsOn

Well done you!😊

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toDebJogsOn

Thank you.

BLEWI profile image
BLEWIGraduate10

Yay!! Huge congrats!! I did my first 10K there too today!! Sir Mo had finished before my wave got started 🤣 but wasn’t it great fun!! Can’t wait to do another one and may just sleep with my medal!!

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toBLEWI

Thank you. Congratulations on your first 10k too! I’m definitely going to enter again next year and I’m now looking for my next 10K.

Sleep well🏅

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate10

Congratulations. sounds like it was a great day out.

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toancientrunner

Thank you. This was my first experience of an event like that this and it was great. Mind you, I might not have been saying that if it was cold and wet.

tony_a profile image
tony_aGraduate10

Congratulations. Sounds like you did a great job working your way back from injury to a brilliant time.

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply totony_a

Thanks! It was better than I could ever have imagined, even without the injury.

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate10

Well done, great job and given the temperature and humidity, your time's even better! Enjoy the feet up! ;)

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply tomrrun

Thank you. I was worried that I wouldn’t cope too well with the heat as I started C25K late last year and most of my running has been in the cooler weather.

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate10

Whoohoo 👏👏👏. Great job especially given your recent injury. You should be very proud of what you accomplished today.

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thanks. Today has given me such a confidence boost. Perhaps I have tried to do too much to quickly, but now it’s defintely time for some consolidation .

EmmaRunning profile image
EmmaRunningGraduate10

Congratulations- what a great time. It was v hot wasn’t it. I was happiest running round the city as it seemed cooler.

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toEmmaRunning

Thanks. The last kilometre was good, under the shade of the trees going up Birdcage Walk.

Nwrkpak profile image
NwrkpakGraduate10

Well done. You can feel your sense off achievement in your post. What running is all about . I hope you bask in your glory for a while to come x

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toNwrkpak

Thanks. I guess I can do a few days of basking then it’s back down to earth and some consolidation.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

Congratulations on a great race and time Sigered. Love your report, I can tell you are really delighted.

You can get your 10k Graduate badge now too..ask here...

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

..its the icing on the cake😄x

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thank you. A medal and a badge on the same day! 😀

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

Congratulations Sigered .....great run & a fab time too, sounds like a fantastic day🏅

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toMummycav

Thank you. It was a really good day.

wonderful descriptive post, i felt as if I was running with you. Well done for the run x

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply to

Thank you. I probably went on a bit but I just felt I needed to share what was a fantastic experience. It’s days like this that made all those C25K runs in the cold through the winter worthwhile.

Abaggs profile image
AbaggsGraduate10

Fantastic, great story☺

ruckinfight profile image
ruckinfight

Well done 👍

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Lovely post - and congratulations on a great 10k time too! This race does sound fantastic - I have not ventured up to London for any runs yet due to travel but did look at this one. I'm really glad you were able to overcome your injury and have such a great day!🙂🏅

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toSandraj39

Thanks. I would definitely recommend this event. I’m paying the price today though, legs are aching.

Razouski profile image
Razouski

What a fabulous post. And a fantastic time for your first 10k. I am in awe.

🎉🎉🎉

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate10

Wow! Congratulations, great run and fantastic time! 😀An amazing venue too.

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71Graduate10

Wow what a great and inspiring post! I start Ju-ju’s plan in 2 weeks and have entered a 10K in Oct. can’t imagine being able to run past 5k atm!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply toRipcurlrana71

Thank you.

I bet you couldn't imagine being able to run 5K when you started C25K, but you did it! Just follow ju-ju's plan and you'll be fine.

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71Graduate10 in reply toSigered

Thanks!

What a fabulous race report. Sounds like you smashed it. Funny how this forum works; I don’t know you from Adam, but unaccountably, I’m proud 🤷‍♀️👍🏃🏾‍♀️

Sigered profile image
SigeredGraduate10 in reply to

Thanks Helen 😊

You are so right about these forums. Running can be a solitary activity so it is great to have the support (and give support) of this ‘virtual’ community.

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