I have to admit, I was very worried about this race. When I graduated C25k, I thought, it’s an iconic race and yeah - it’s a target, a scary one but I owe it to myself to give it a go. However, I’ve had months of niggles, two colds and my knees are a bit wobbly and creaky. Then my shoes looked like they were going to fall apart, and then there was the thought of all the hills: I’ve done as much hill training as I could manage (not many where I live) and you always feel you could do more. And the last week: tapering, I hate it - it ruins your routine and makes you feel like you aren’t training enough.
It turned out that all my worries were for nothing, it was actually a great run and my knees are still in one piece and so are my shoes. Thankfully all those hills put more pressure on my quads than my knees, and I have cyclists quads so they are pretty strong. They are complaining but not as much as my knees usually do. All the physio exercises I’ve been doing seem to have come up trumps and my faithful Launch 4’s have lasted to see one more race.
The race starts at Warwick Castle, after a great warm up by a team from The Warwickshire health club. You are fed/kettled through a path bordered by embankments, through the main gate into the freedom of one of Warwick’s (normally) busiest roads. The first hill awaits after about half a km but luckily I saw someone I knew and chatting to her was a great distraction as we made our way up. I was careful with the downhill as I didn’t want to crunch my knees, so I took it very steady as we approached Hill and Leek Wootton. More hills and the first water station was based under the A46 bridge. Another hill up and into the welcome shade of trees by the Warwickshire Police HQ. I had to walk for a bit as I haven’t mastered drinking and running at the same time yet. After days of rain it was hotting up and I was grateful for my decision to wear a strappy top and shorts.
I had planned to have a gel just before the big hill into Kenilworth but I didn’t want to let go of my water bottle and I couldn’t fiddle around with both. I took up someone’s kind offer of a jelly baby (there must have been thousands held out on offer by the fantastic crowds) and attempted to run, breathe and chew at the same time (something else I need to master methinks!). It got me up the big hill and just after the top I walked again, took a sip of water and chucked a load down my back and over my head!
Onwards we went and the crowds got busier. Nearing the main road to Kenilworth Castle the 9km sign came up but I had to walk again for a bit to sip and chuck water over myself again. Then I pushed myself on as I knew the last hill was coming up.
By now there must have been hundreds lining the road and they really helped my flagging legs to carry on. I got passed by two people I knew from parkrun but I was too tired to shout their names or anything else!! Into the castle grounds and towards a 400m sign, nearly there.
Up the main, dirt track into the grounds and there really was a huge number of people. The feed into the main castle grounds was quite narrow so the crowds were really close to you as you came in, I saw my mad hairdresser waving and shouting frantically, which was priceless and gave me a massive grin - it was absolutely fantastic! What a buzz!
I got over the finishing line, checked my watch and found I’d recorded my second fastest 10k, just 90 seconds over the hour. I’m so chuffed because I really thought it was going to be a slow one.
It really was as hard as I thought it was going to be but I did it and in a good time so I’m really happy. Hopefully Katnap will join me next year cos I really want to do it again now (damned endorphins, getting me into trouble again!!).
Just to finish, the organisation of this was superb, so many marshalls and no problems with any traffic and you knew you’d be looked after if you got into any trouble. Full marks to the Rotary Club, Leamington C & AC, the Girl Guides, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and everyone else involved 👍👍👍👏👏👏
You're a speedy one
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
morning run
