Southampton 10k

[redhat1]

Thought I’d update you on my 10k in Southampton on Sunday. Unlike all the other people who’ve posted about their races, I’d say it was a mixed experience for me, I enjoyed the run and was very pleased with my time but I’m not sure group running is for me! The worst bit was the queue for 20 minutes at the end to go through the bit to get your medal and t shirt. To be honest by then I just wanted to get out of the crowd and would have forgone the bling if I could have got out! I don’t know if that queue is usual?

I’m trying to decide whether to sign up for a smaller event. I did find having signed up for a race helped concentrate the mind and actually run 3 times a week rather than intend to. I also get great personal satisfaction in having run 10 k, even if only twice, something I never thought I’d be able to do.

Maybe it’s just that we’re all different and group running just isn’t my thing.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I’m sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your race last Sunday redhat1. I think I’d have been pretty miffed at having to wait 20 mins after the run too. In Bristol we went straight over the finish line to numerous stands allocated to the size of the T-shirt. Everything was in one bag so very simple. I was impressed with all the organisation from start to finish. There were 13000 runners, I don’t know how many at Southampton.

By contrast, I was a bit disappointed at a smaller race last month when I was running on my own a lot of the time and it turned out to be only 9.5km. Not chip-timed but classed as a fun run.

Do you do parkrun? I really love that because of all the people I get to meet. But some people don’t like that either.

Anyway, Congratulations on doing your 10k and I hope you’ll enjoy showing off that T-shirt and medal. 🏃‍♂️🏅👏👏

[redhat1 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5, I have done park run once ages ago which I didn’t enjoy much either, I think I must be a solitary runner, how boring!

I am thinking of doing the New Forest 10k in September because I think it concentrates the mind and you never know maybe in the end I’ll like group running.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to redhat1]

New forest sounds nice. I ran there in January (solitary) and it was so peaceful.

[Wimborne]

Big congrats on the 10k 🥳🥳. Gutted to read it wasn’t the group run experience you had hoped for though 😕. I think it’s brilliant you entered and you did it. I shy away from events and just run solo but am intrigued by the race events and everyone’s experiences and plan to give one a go next year.

[redhat1 Graduate10 in reply to Wimborne]

I’ve been running about 5 years and have finally got to 10k! In all that time I’ve done 1 parkrun and that 10k so I think I can safely say I’m a solo runner. Still it takes all sorts. What I would say is commiting to that 10k made me run more.