Southport Seaside 10k: Well the forecast for... - Bridge to 10K

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Southport Seaside 10k

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10
β€’33 Replies

Well the forecast for today was dreadful but it was a pleasant surprise to be in the start pens this morning with dry skies.

Organised by Run North West, the Southport race is a 2 lapper, setting out along Southport's Marine Drive running North East up to the end of the Marine Lake and then coming back via the old Promenade.

A pretty flat course running on tarmac, it was promised to be a PB course. Now my previous PB in a race was just under 70 minutes but my speed has increased since then, and my training 10k PB was 65 minutes and change over an undulating route with one huge hill. Set against that is the foot sprain that happened on my last race.

So I decided to set myself a fairly achievable target of 63 minutes and put myself in the 60-65 minute pen, at about the middle of the field of 1900 runners.

After a short delay at the start we were off, taking what seemed like an eternity to get up to the start line. But over we went and it was time to knuckle down.

Quite quickly I realised I'd started too far back and so began working my way up the field. At the 1k mark, I realised I was running a bit too fast at 5.42/k so eased back a little. And really the first lap (roughly 5k) was just spent pootling along.

Going into the second lap I ate a gel and got a lovely cheer from my friend who had come to watch. I passed her at just over 30 minutes and was thinking "do you know, this could be a sub-60 if I've got a bit more to give near the end).

And so we went into the third quarter of the race, which I remembered Coach Bennett saying was the risk point in any race. And, yes, I found my mind wandering and my pace slowing. Damn. Glanced at my watch and I was running very slow. So a bit of mental wrangling was needed to get the focus back.

K 7, 6.08.6. Ahead of my target pace but I'd got the hour in my head by now. So I decided to see if I could pick up my cadence.

K8, 5.59. Good stuff but not enough. Focus! K9, 5.50... this might be on!

Blimey I had to dig deep during that last K but then I'm rounding the last bend and the finish is in sight. One last push!

And I'm over the line and the clock says 61 minutes and change. Oh well, but it's 2 minutes under my target so I was delighted. Off we went to get a diet coke and a sit down.

But wait... here's the official results text and I realise that the clock at the finish is showing gun time! And I hadn't bothered to check my Garmin as I just assumed their clock would be more accurate. Oh what an idiot. So my chip time... 59.39! I actually shouted "OMG" and got a fair few surprised looks from neighbouring tables.

So, yes, a PB course. But also a very well-organised event and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

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Pianism profile image
Pianism
Graduate10
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33 Replies
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Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

Congratulations on your 10k run and that amazing time. I really love your medal. Well done you 😊😊

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toBuddy34

Thank you. I'm very pleased. :)

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

Well done! And great bling too!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toTasha99

Thank you :)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate10

Oh well done!!! :)

Delighted for you Pianism :) Great run, great Report :) :) :)

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toIrish-John

Many thanks. :)

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10

Ignore gun time, the time you see on the clock on the finishing straight, it's the chip time which counts, congratulations on your sub 60 minutes 10K, well done, I hope you celebrated in style. 😊 πŸƒ

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toAlMorr

Many thanks Alan. We took advantage of the 2-for-1 carvery offer that came with race entry and then I went and did the weekly food shop haha

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate10β€’ in reply toPianism

Good for you Pianism, half price, two for the price of one, or 2 for one carvery is a very good way to celebrate.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Yay! Great run report and great PB! Well done - love that you pushed for this!πŸ™‚πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ…

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toSandraj39

Thanks Sandra - I worried that I'd push too hard and injure.myself but I just felt really great on the day! :)

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate10

Huge congratulations Pianism. You deserved that sub 60. Well done on an epic run! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply tocheekychipmunks

Many thanks cheeky. Certainly.felt a bit epic given where I've come from.

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate10

Amazing. Well done, no wonder you shouted out loud πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ…πŸƒFantastic!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toBaddieThePirate

I know! I was totally shocked and soooooo delighted!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Congratulations Speedy Pianism. A brilliant time and I love the bling β›±

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toDexy5

Thank you - yes, it's a nice medal.

JonathanP profile image
JonathanPGraduate10

Well done Pianism - fantastic sub 1 hour time!πŸŽ‰πŸ‘πŸ˜€ Great to have good weather for itβ˜€οΈ

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toJonathanP

Yes, phew. We just dropped into a.little window between horrendous rain so really lucky!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate10

Congratulations, what a fantastic time! Very well done, very impressive stuff πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸΎπŸŽ–LOVE your medal!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toskysue16

Thank you :)

backintime profile image
backintimeGraduate10

Brilliant ! Simply brilliant. An amazing time and all the better to have it come as a surprise : )

Very well done

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply tobackintime

Thank you - I couldn't be more delighted!

Runningroni profile image
RunningroniGraduate10

Fabulously well done, you speed demon.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toRunningroni

Thank you... coming on a bit now. :)

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSueGraduate10

In a National Trust cafe (after a Freedom Run of the Clumber Park parkrun). So at last I have some WiFi to read your report.

Very well done - I was smiling for ages after I got your text yesterday. ;)

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toRunaroundSue

I was smiling after sending it! I wasn't even the time that I was eased with... it was the strength I felt in the last quarter of the race. Really cool! :)

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10

Missed this on the day. Well done you, and massive congratulations on the OMG pb. πŸ˜„πŸŽ‰πŸ‘πŸΌ Superb!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toGranspeed

Many thanks. I'm still buzzing. :)

MrFox001 profile image
MrFox001Graduate10

Fantastic run well done i love your positive approach so good to hear.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toMrFox001

Thank you :)

Run46 profile image
Run46Graduate10

Oh that's wonderful, and an enjoyable read! Well done you...and what a fab medal 😁

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate10β€’ in reply toRun46

Thank you - yes, it's lovely bling!

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