Cambridge Town & Gown 10K race.

[Curlygurly2]

Sunday 6th October.

This one was my first ever race way back in 2016, when I ran it with Madge50 . Last year I volunteered, and marshalled the finish line, people seemed to be coming in with big smiles on their faces looking like they had had a great time, so I decided there and then to do it this year,

I cheekily asked for a volunteers discount, after all the Cambridge Half Marathon volunteers get a fantastic package, and managed to negotiate 25% off!!

It was a lovely day, just perfect for running, a tad chilly at the start, but sunny and not too warm on the way round, with a gentle, refreshing breeze. Although this is advertised as "closed roads" most of the roads we ran on were in fact pedestrianised anyway, and meant dodging bemused tourists, some wheeling very large suitcases over the cobbles. It didn't detract for me, I'm used to it as I run here regularly, and I'm not overly bothered about time.

That said - I was thinking as I went that I did it in 1:16 back in 2016, so it might be fun to try for 1:24 in 2014, and that's exactly what I did!! At least that was the time as I passed 10K according to my Garmin, the official time was 1:25, but I measured the course at nearly 200 MTs long...

So, I was really chuffed with my time, some of you might remember that when I ran our Spring 10K this year, I struggled to finish at 1:35, so 11 mins faster was fabulous. I have made some changes to my daily routines, lost quite a bit of weight, and done strength and flexibility every day - I think all this has paid off.

The only fly in the ointment was that they gave me the wrong medal - can you believe that? They also do a 10K in Oxford, same medal, different ribbon, and I got one of the Oxford ones. Not really very good is it? Luckily I live near by and walked back over and was able to swap it for the correct one before they had closed everything up.

The picture is of me running past the very lovely King's College.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Congratulations! How great to be doing your 1k0 on familiar roads and to finish so quickly.

I sometimes wonder about the distances for these events. My local Parkrun only ever registers as 4.88 km. Making you run another 200m is not kind.

Giving you the wrong medal is a bit annoying, glad you managed to sort it out. Despite the glitches it sounds like a fantastic run.

Well done again

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you YLG. I thought the same about my local parkrun, they recently extended the course, probably because people complained.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Congratulations, I'm so impressed, what a great time too

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SAR xx

[nowster Graduate10]

My local parkrun recorded as short on my old watch and records long on my current one (with a better GPS chip).

Was the ribbon the wrong shade of blue? Ought not to be allowed!

We recently binge watched Ludwig on iPlayer and, unlike Professor T, they actually filmed a bit of it in Cambridge (mostly drone shots of Silver St Bridge, a spot of location filming in All Saints Garden and on the river, and some B-roll of King's Parade).

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I think they were actually filming on Silver St Bridge, people saw him, we saw all the lights and stuff, and the Anchor was shut

The ribbon said Oxford Town and Gown, May 2024

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

What a faux pas! I suspect you won't have been the only one to get a dark blue instead of a light blue.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Great photo Curlygurly2 - and well done on completing your 10k in an eerily predicted time! Yes, not great being given the wrong medal but glad you were able to change it!🙂🏅

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

SUPER...just great... Huge well done to you... on so many levels... Just fabulous and so good that you got the right medal too !

You look wonderful! x

[Madge50 Graduate10]

Well done curly! We’ve got completely out of synch with the run calendar at Cambridge! ……I’d completely forgot about chariots too…..and we were down there that weekend…..

Anyway, sounds like you had a good time and got the bling sorted 👍

Well done lovely

Mxx

🏃‍♀️🏅👏💪

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

I volunteered/marshalled for Chariots of Fire, it looked like a fun race but I don't know enough runners to make up a team....

Hope you're both doing ok xx

[Katnap Graduate10]

Lovely run report CG2!

😺 Katnap 🐱

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate10]

Fabulous running ! Brilliant picture too

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

This sounds like such a brilliant event (apart from the medal issue!) and you had a blast! Super time and it sounds like you had a super time!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Well done CG! And how clever to finish at your requested time 🙂

I remember your first race here with Madge all those years ago. Blimey, and we’re still here 🤗 Who’d have thought?

That’s bad about the medals though. I’m sure there are others who were given the wrong ones and couldn’t return them so easily. I remember one race where the medal was the exact same one as the year before and I was so disappointed ☹️ I mean, come on…

But delighted that you got the right one in the end. Is it a good one?

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Yes, they used to give the same medal for this one year in, year out, I bet Madge has got a few! Also - when Race For Life was cancelled due to Covid, they said a 2020 medal would be a nice souvenir the next year - who wants to remember Covid?

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Not especially good, the Oxford one was the same with different text

Medal and bib

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

Bling is bling 🏅

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Yes, I do a lot of virtual challenges, usually the medals are far better than real events theses days, but they all go on the rack

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Wow congratulations on that fabulous time CG 👏👏👏

[misswobble Graduate10]

Great stuff Curly! Well done 👏👏👏👏👏👏😀💪👍🏅👌👊✊

Pleased the weather was kind 🙏. The backdrop looks amazing. As do you 😁🏃‍♀️😘

I hope you’re recovering well 👍🙂

[00marks Graduate10]

Well done!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done Curlyygurly2! It must be beautiful running there.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

It is, but a bit touristy! I had some lovely runs during Covid. I probably should just get up and out earlier.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

Yes we have that problem on the sea front in school holidays, and I’m not very good at getting out early either. However on the odd occasion I do, I just love it.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

There used to be a definite Tourist Baiting Season, but nowadays I assume it's year-round. 😆

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes, pretty much. Mostly Orientals in big groups. They drive me bonkers as they just sort of blunder along following the guide and not looking where they're going.