Chester 10k - who would have thought it? - Bridge to 10K

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Chester 10k - who would have thought it?

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10
โ€ข65 Replies

The night before the Chester 10k I spent the whole evening grumping stompily about the house. What on earth was I thinking? Why on earth had I set myself up to do this? In November when we registered for the 10k my running was going well. Yes I was super slow but I was running three times a week and slowly getting faster and going further. Ian promised to run with me. There were months to go before the end of March. We had shared a bottle of wine and were sitting in bed with the details of the Chester 10k on the ipad. "Come on. I'll run with you," said Ian. Yes ok then, why not?

But when March arrived nothing had gone to plan. I had taken five weeks off training with first a sore knee and then a chest infection. I had tried to get back and been running again for four or five weeks but I was way behind in what I had intended to do. The furthest I had run since starting again was 7k. I really didn't think I could do 10k. I was just going to embarrass myself. Stomp, stomp. Grump. Grump again. Ian was sure I could do it and I eventually agreed that I probably could run and walk so yes, I would do it. I decided to regard it as training run, nothing special. Just a run. I would plan to walk if I needed to so that if I had to it would not be a failure, just part of the plan. It would be fine. Hmmm.

So on Sunday morning I left the house dressed exactly as usual for running, carrying nothing special, wearing my favourite leggings and my favourite jacket (and of course the secret weapon of my favourite running bra) and my trusty trainers.

Parking was easy in Chester and there were lots of runners milling about. I was reassured to see that there were all shapes and sizes and ages of runners. Yes there were plenty of long thin people whizzing around looking like athletes, but there were plenty of others. I couldn't see many other women as old as I am (65) but the runners were a real mixed bag.

I had admitted that I was planning to run the Chester 10k to a man in my Spanish conversation class who is a personal trainer. He was lovely. He didn't gasp in amazement or smile. He managed to behave as though it was entirely reasonable that a slightly overweight 65 year old with no running history whatsoever prior to C25K should be having a go at a 10k event. He gave me lots of great advice, the principal thrust of which was to decide the speed at which I wanted to run and to make quite sure that I kept to that and did not allow myself to go off too fast just because I was surrounded by lots of other people. This was Ian's advice as well from his half marathon experience. So we had agreed how fast we would run. It was just a matter of keeping to the plan. We positioned ourselves towards the back of the blue wave and off we went. Oddly, having been so stompy the previous evening, I felt quite calm and unbothered on the day of the race itself. Here I was, all I had to do was put one foot in front of the other and I would see how far I went.

It was surprisingly hard at the start not to go off too fast and as people went past surprisingly hard not to try to keep up with them. But I know that I am slow and I knew that if I was to have any chance at all of running the whole thing I would have to run at my usual slow pace of around 8 minutes or just over per kilometre. So off we went. The first couple of kilometres felt just as it feels when I run at home. You need to let the breathing settle and the legs get used to poddling along. You need to relax the shoulders and ignore as far as you can the fact that there are other people there. Just get in the groove. Just let it happen.

I had wondered about running 5k, walking 1 and then running the last 4k but as we got to the halfway mark I was clearly doing ok and there was no reason not to carry on. Ian and I had talked before the race about perhaps aiming to run 8k and then I could walk if I liked. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Shall we go for 8?" "Yes, OK. Maybe I will go for 7 and then decide about 8."

So on we ran. People passed us. Very occasionally we passed other people. Here at the back people were starting to run and walk so running along at my slow pace I would pass people, they would pass me when they started running again and I would pass them again. I decided to model myself on the tortoise from the Aesop's fable. Slow and steady. Slow and steady.

7k came up. It was fine. If anything I felt better at 7k than I had at 3. "OK?" said Ian. "OK." We ran on. When we got to 8 I just kept on running. I'll just see how far I can go, I said to myself. Ian didn't ask. He just kept on running beside me, occasionally getting fractionally ahead because his natural running speed is much faster than mine, but pulling himself back to keep me company. 8.5k went by and we began a long slow uphill. Marshalls shouted encouragement. I knew we must be towards the back but I really didn't care. I wasn't going to stop now. 9k. I was in new territory. I had never run this far in my life. But all I had to do was keep on going. My legs were tiring a bit but my breathing was fine. More lovely marshalls. "Great running. You've got this." "Only 400 metres, two more corners. You are doing great. Go, go, go!"

And now we came round the last corner. There were loads of people still lining the route. People whooped and cheered. It was just the two of us running together. The noise was amazing. Ian grinned. "Just like the Olympics!" And then from nowhere came a rush of energy and delight as we speeded up to cross the finishing line.

I never ever thought I could do that. I was never sporty. I was the girl at school who sneaked off to sunbathe during cross country and who hated PE. And I am not a big group sort of person. I like my slow and solitary running. Now I was slow yesterday I know. It took me an hour and twenty five minutes which was round about where I thought I would be. To my amazement when the results came out there were about fifty people behind us in a field of nearly four thousand, so I was slow but I wasn't last. I was also right that there were very other women in the 65-69 age category. In fact there were ten and I came ninth in my age group. But to me it is just amazing. I am still grinning like a Cheshire cat twenty four hours later. This time last year I never thought I could run for thirty minutes. I never thought I could run 5k, which still takes me about forty minutes, and I never in a million years thought I could run 10k.

We collected our goody bags and our medals. We walked back to the car park, grinning like loons.

"Well how was it?" asked Ian.

"I'd like to do another one."

Thanks love.

Written by
Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1
Graduate10
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65 Replies
โ€ข
grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

Fabulous, fabulous post Gwen, huge well done. (I also used to sneak off in sports lessons) ๐Ÿ˜

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply togrumpyoldgirl

Oh thank you! It is odd isn't it how the sense of yourself from schooldays stays with you. I was thinking last night that I am actually doing much more than most of the sporty people I knew back in the day. How odd that is!

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate10

Brilliant, well done Gwenwillian1, what a great way to run your first 10k! I was mentally cheering you on as I read your post - great run report. Hope you're still proudly wearing your medal! ๐Ÿฅ‰

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toDebston

Thank you so much Debston. I still don't believe it!

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

Fantastic effort and great story, I was with you all the way.m what an amazing confidence boost. So happy for you ๐Ÿค—

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toGrannyhugs

You are so right about the confidence boost! I so thought I couldn't do it that it's amazing how sure I am now that I would like to do another one!

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

I love your post and your race description. Congratulations to you and Ian , no wonder you are still smiling. ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ…

Your new badge looks great

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toBuddy34

Thank you Buddy! I am sure that I could not have done it without Ian's support. He believed in me more than I believed in myself!

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate10

Oh bravo! You did that do well. ๐ŸŽ‰ Excellent Running and a lovely post. Three cheers for you, and an extra one for lovely Ian the Supportive. ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ Well fine both of you. ๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ‰

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toGranspeed

Still smiling over here! And you are very right about Ian. Made a huge difference to run together.

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate10

Fan-bloody-tastic, and what a great run report ๐Ÿ…๐ŸŽ–๐Ÿฅ‡

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJell6

Thank you! Isn't it extraordinary what the body can do!?

K8nno profile image
K8nnoGraduate10

Love it!

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toK8nno

Thanks a lot! I love it too!

ktsok profile image
ktsok

That was a wonderful run report, thank you Gwen. What a great event to be a part of and you nailed it! Well done for sticking to your pace and saving your running legs right through to the finish line. The first of many, by the sounds of it!

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toktsok

I am not sure about the first of many! But I will definitely do another... And when I started my biggest ambition was five k.

Jazzyrunner profile image
JazzyrunnerGraduate10

Thatโ€™s a wonderful, inspirational post! What a brilliant run, and I loved every word of your write up ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJazzyrunner

Thanks so much. Now of course my big ambition is to do it just a very little bit more quickly! I appreciate I will still be at the back!!

Jazzyrunner profile image
JazzyrunnerGraduate10โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Yes, of course! ๐Ÿ˜ Iโ€™m hoping to do a 10k soon - if itโ€™s not cancelled ๐Ÿ˜– But I will be around the back of the runners, assuming it does go ahead. As long as I complete, thatโ€™s the aim for me ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป Then once Iโ€™ve done that, Iโ€™m sure Iโ€™ll be thinking, maybe a bit faster??? Thatโ€™s certainly happened with my 5k runs!

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toJazzyrunner

I think I am coming to the conclusion that I am so much not built for speed I had better concentrate on distance! I have only managed one 5k under 40 minutes in months!

Jazzyrunner profile image
JazzyrunnerGraduate10โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Enjoying it is the most important bit! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Leosmit profile image
LeosmitGraduate1060minGraduate

What a great post. Honest and very inspiring. Total top marks to you. 10k? That is absolutely amazing. Well done, a great achievement.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toLeosmit

Well nobody could possibly be more amazed than I am! Would be not at all surprised if I woke up and found I had dreamt it!

Leosmit profile image
LeosmitGraduate1060minGraduateโ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

๐Ÿ˜‚

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate10

What a fabulous post Gwenllian, I was running that with you. Congratulations on your 10k what a fabulous achievement. When I was at primary school in the 60โ€™s (Iโ€™m 66 and did my first 10k race last month) our mantra was โ€œgirls can do anythingโ€ and we CAN! Well done you. ๐Ÿ‘โญ๏ธ๐Ÿฅณ

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply tolexi6

It's funny really. I would be totally with you on the girls can do anything, but I might perhaps have qualified that by saying "except run". Wrong!!

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate10โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ and no body parts fell out either, like they thought (only in the 70โ€™s too) if women ran distances. ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐Ÿคญ

Mands50 profile image
Mands50

Brilliant, well done you. A very inspirational post. Iโ€™ve only just got to the 5k stage so canโ€™t imagine running 10k, this post makes me think that maybe one day it might be possible. Excellent job ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘x

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toMands50

I hope what this makes clear is that anyone can do it!!

โ€ข in reply toMands50

Just keep running 3 times a week. You will get there. Time isn't important but putting one foot in front of the other is. Keep running ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ and stretching.

Newrunner76 profile image
Newrunner76Graduate10

Congratulations, fantastic achievement, you totally deserve that grin ๐Ÿ˜

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toNewrunner76

Thank you. Now about to have a celebratory glass of wine. Actually if I am honest I had one last night too!

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate10

Wonderful post. I was with u all the way there. ๐Ÿ˜. Well done. Excellent achievement!! Whoop whoop. Love the fact that now want do another.

Ps I'm sometimes the same the night before ๐Ÿค”. Not sure why. But u smashed it

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toDeals1

I am glad to hear that someone else has the night before thing. I suppose I was nervous but it manifested itself as being cross!

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Yep. My last event I was in right strop the night before ๐Ÿค” ๐Ÿคฃ

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate10

Wow well done! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toTasha99

Thank you Tasha. I know it's not a big deal if you are a real runner but it is still pretty amazing for someone like me who doesn't think of themselves like that!

That's fantastic Gwenllian1 well done.

Loved reading about your race. ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ It's funny how we think we can't do something, but just setting off one foot in front of the other and we get there. Enjoy the 10k feeling ๐Ÿ˜€

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply to

You are so right. It is simply putting one front in of the other and carrying on carrying on!

Cantstopmenow profile image
CantstopmenowGraduate10

Fantastic race Gwennlian1 and congratulations, ๐ŸŽ‰ I was there too, that last 2k uphill slog was certainly hard going. Have you seen the official photos?

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toCantstopmenow

It certainly was! Long slow going! Yes I've looked at the photos and bought one just to have the record! Did you enjoy it?

Cantstopmenow profile image
CantstopmenowGraduate10

Yes I did. What a great day. I'm still smiling too. Everyone was so friendly. It was just amazing to be running through the beautiful buildings in the city centre to the cheers and roar of encouragement from the crowd! I met up with Run46 before the race, it was really nice to meet someone from this forum. X

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toCantstopmenow

Yes I have chosen a photo where you can tell it is Chester, with the lovely half timbered buildings. It was a great atmosphere!

Bladerunner2049 profile image
Bladerunner2049Graduate10

Well crafted race report, you brought me along with you. Big congratulations !

I'm training for 10k at the moment, wish me luck.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toBladerunner2049

Very best of luck for yours! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

FMS50 profile image
FMS50

Youโ€™ve made me cry ๐Ÿ˜ฎfab story

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toFMS50

Oh goodness. I nearly made myself cry writing this. I suddenly realised all over again what a big deal it is for me.

Exbox profile image
Exbox

Fantastic result . So much of your post sounds familiar to me . Eighteen months ago I ran my first 10k , followed by another four . I had to have 12 months off due to illness and I'm now at week 8 of C25K with plans to get back to doing 10ks .

Well done you - onwards and upwards !

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toExbox

Oh wow. It must have been so hard to achieve all that and then need to have twelve months off. Very best of luck with getting back to running again. I bet it will feel very special!

Exbox profile image
Exboxโ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

I also had a place in last year's Great North Run which enabled me to re-enter this year . Seems a run too far at the moment but I am determined to do it . Blasted bowel cancer is not stopping me this year !

And I will be 60 in April .....

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toExbox

I'm rooting for you! All the very best xx

Exbox profile image
Exboxโ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Why thankyou .

Looking forward to hearing about your next 10k

Oldlady57 profile image
Oldlady57

Well run Geenllian on a fantastic achievement ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toOldlady57

Thank you. Still wondering if it was really me!

Oldlady57 profile image
Oldlady57โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Certainly was!! Stand proud of a very well run 10k... Phenomenal!!!!๐Ÿ‘

Claireep profile image
Claireep60minGraduate

Inspirational!

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toClaireep

I find that very hard to believe but it's lovely of you!

Claireep profile image
Claireep60minGraduateโ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

Not hard to believe at all! You did it. I have recently completed C25K and so find stories and experiences like yours very inspirational. ๐Ÿคฉ

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10

What a lovely post! Iโ€™m the same age and have a very similar story - never ran till 2 years ago. However I have also run 10k (once) but unlike you not a race. I enjoy solitary runs too. Such a great achievement- I wonder if you signed up to another race quickly before you changed your mind?!! ๐Ÿ˜† many congratulations

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toSybilw

Haven't actually signed up yet but have found two reasonably local possibilities in June! Think I'm going to just as soon as I have got out again and proved to myself that I can still run!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate10โ€ข in reply toGwenllian1

๐Ÿ˜†

Run46 profile image
Run46Graduate10

Oh Gwen, I'm so pleased for you...you sound thrilled as well you should be super job ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜Š

Shame me and Cantstopmenow didn't manage to meet up with you to give you a big cheer but maybe next year, if we all decide to do it again ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10โ€ข in reply toRun46

I really am thrilled! And I hope in some small way this shows people that you don't have to be athletic, or fast to reap rewards from running. In fact if I were naturally sportier maybe I wouldn't be so chuffed!

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate10

Fab post Gwenllian - I was with you all the way there!! Good luck with the next one๐Ÿ˜†!

Upamanyu profile image
Upamanyu

Thats super inspiring!! Thanks for sharing your experience, cheers :))

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