First event - Brackley 10K Chicken Run

[Peter_B]

Today was the day for my first ever race. An event in my home town known as the Brackley 10K Chicken Run.

Having seen previous years results I knew that my likely finish time would put me towards the back of the field.

I bumped into an old work colleague before the start so we lined up together.

At the start everybody shot off, myself included, despite trying not to I got caught up in it all.

Before the 1km marker I had dropped to a more comfortable pace and dropped to the back of the pack.

Where I stayed for the next 8.5km! There were a group of 3 ladies 50m or so in front of me all the way. I think they were doing the old "let's stay in front of him then we won't be last", as whenever they stopped to walk, as I got closer they would look behind, see me, and speed up again.

That made me determined not to be last.

With about 500 metres to go I passed one of them. Then I caught the other 2 just as we reached the final turn to the finish.

I kicked in the old parkrun sprint finish and, with the commentator saying something about chivalry being dead, flew past them and finished in a time of 1:16:49.

Coincidentally the same time as I ran for my first ever 10K a couple of weeks ago!

At the end I received a T-shirt, only size medium was left - it'll never fit me! And was greeted by the sight of my 2 boys running across the park to me.

[Vixchile Graduate]

It's a race. That means overtaking!! I would be cheering you on!! Well done and what a lovely finish seeing your sons!!

[Steve_L Graduate]

Fantastic, Peter - I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it!

[danzargo Graduate]

What a great read! Fantastic first race of many I hope!

[AncientMum Graduate]

All's fair in love and sprint finishes. Well done m'dear, you did brilliantly

[poppypug Graduate]

Brilliant ! Well done Peter, oh that bit about your boys at the end is so lovely xxx

Congratulations to you xxx

[Tomas Graduate]

Oh, got to love a bit of competitive spirit. In situations like this it's every man for himself, and well done for the strategic pacing and overtaking!

[Peter_B Graduate]

Thanks all.

Really felt rough after the race yesterday, but think that's because I'd felt the start of a cold coming on Saturday and it started to kick in once the adrenalin had worn off.

That and my thighs and glutes were a bit sore after all the uphill running.

Forgot to post a Garmin Connect link yesterday :- connect.garmin.com/modern/a...