I couldn't make my mind up whether to post this on the 10k forum or here, so I went for my usual haunt. It's visible to all takers anyway 
Actually the whole 10k race business has me confused! This was my second 10k, and I had yet to figure out how to approach the distance properly. I've been enjoying gentle 10ks around Brighton & Hove for a long while now, but the idea of racing that far was daunting to me! The other one I did was in Milton Keynes in March this year, and I had veggie curry and wine with the family the night before, and a rotten cold on the day, so I didn't take it very seriously really - although it was fun. This time I was nursing a dodgy Achilles on one leg, and a grumpy hamstring on the other, so my vague plan was just to take it easy at Beachy Head. I ran a slow 14k with hills and muddy trails the Tuesday before the race, and then stretching, foam rolling, and relaxing, for the rest of the time.
However, the idea of taking it easy was getting on my nerves! So the day before the event I decided I was jolly well going to try and run it in under an hour, and hang the consequences! I had a look at the course profile and figured I could try and push to run as much as possible of the first hill, go as fast as possible on the downhill parts, and power walk the uphill bits 
Anyway. The day had finally arrived, and we drove over to Eastbourne on the most beautiful of mornings, enjoying the sun rising, and wisps of mist in the valleys. J dropped me off near the Bede School, and I walked down to a scene very much like the previous year when I ran the marathon - a cheerful crowd of runners posing for photos in the sun, and queuing for England. I picked up my race pack and spent far too much time trying to fit the timing chip onto my complicated shoe lacing arrangement. I clearly wasn't the only one feeling a little incapable - I heard the announcer say that two timing chips and a phone had already been handed into lost property I wandered round to the school to look for a shorter loo queue, and was pleased to find one in the swimming pool changing rooms, where there was also some warmth (although it was really rather smelly in there!). In there I met a very charming and curious insect, so I stayed a while keeping warm and loosening up my hips.
After that it was time for the marathon to start, so I made my way back up to the road to see if I could spot benwill and wave him off (no luck). There were a lot of people still stuck in loo queues, but they seemed pretty philosophical about it, and I guess there wasn't really any rush. Eventually every marathoner had filed away up the hill, and by then I had already repaired to the bag drop hall for a bit more warmth! There were no queues at all after the marathoners had gone, so I just hung about in the sports hall until about 5 minutes before our 9.30 race start.
And so we were off! And I was near the front so I took off "running" unhindered up the steep steep hill that heralds the start of both marathon and 10k. We were warned that it was slippery, but there were no casualties that I saw. Past the highland piper we struggled, as the gradient reduced, but I was out of power and had to walk a bit. When I started running again it was hard going as I didn't have my breath back (a common theme of this race). At this point last year I was running fairly easily as I hadn't been able to run up the steep bit due to the traffic, but this time I was wondering when, WHEN will we start going downhill!! I was gasping and groaning for breath, just like most of the people around me, and I marvelled at the dogs that kept bounding past me pulling their humans (calling "dog on your right!") behind them...
Anyway, eventually we took a left turn and started to head downhill. I thought right, here we go, and settled into a tempo-run effort level pace, which I judged by the amount of puffing I was doing (not as much as when I was going up the hill, but too much to make coherent conversation). It was an almost-single track for most of the downhill bit, with lovely (although potentially treacherous) soft grass. Many people passed me at that point, I passed a few; everyone was quiet and concentrating hard. Eventually the track became the edge of a field, with lots of cow pats - I dodged round pats and people. The sea came into view, twinkling in the bright sun.
We reached the end of that first long downhill stretch and found the water station, where I stopped for a few seconds to gulp a cup of water, and to be tempted by the Mars Bars I hadn't expected to see there. I resisted them (a struggle for me!), and continued up the hill, feeling like I could have done with a bit longer to catch my breath. I had to walk for a short while at that point because I came over a bit queasy from the water, but I plodded on. We got to the Seven Sisters where I was jogging/ power-walking up the hills and running down crab-wise. I kept passing and being passed by the same folk. All of this last part of the race was familiar to me from the marathon the previous year, and I began to feel a great sense of peace as I admired the sea view over the cliff. I discovered I could keep jogging up the last hill, and my confidence grew when I found myself at the final mile, which is downhill all the way.
I picked up speed and was amused to come upon two male racers having a conversation about their kids. "Chatting???!!" I thought to myself. "Chatting???!!" said a spectator, similarly bemused. One of the men laughed and said, "Oh are we in a race? Oh look, there's the finish line". And off they pelted, overtaking me
We reached the final downhill (the same super-steep hill we started on), where to my chagrin I was passed by a great number of people. When I was in my twenties I used to do a lot of walking in the Lake District, and I loved to run all the way downhill as fast as I could, despite being a passionate non-runner at the time. These days I am terrified of falling (as I have done twice), and have little self-confidence when running downhill. It's time to address that, I think. Anyway, at least a glance at my watch confirmed that I was going to achieve my under-an-hour goal no matter what. When I hit more level ground I picked up my feet and sprinted for the finish. I grabbed my gorgeous medal and felt very happy
As I knelt to remove my timing chip, I felt a rumble - an avalanche of bottles of water was toppling over me!! I gave an undignified squeak and leaped for safety! A very apologetic man waved the bottle he had been removing from the shrink-wrapped heap I had foolishly knelt by Somewhat shaken, I grabbed a bottle for myself, and made my way to the queue for the results printer. I spotted the lovely Maddee_6333 chugging on an energy drink and being lead along by the almost impossibly glamorous Brontë, the Ferrari Pointer dog, who looked as though she'd rather like to go and finish the rest of the marathon! I was so impressed by them, and all the canicross runners I saw during the race. We had a brief chat before I headed off to gather my shoelaces, stuff, and husband, and have a lovely wander into Eastbourne in the warming sun.
I got my sub-hour result, 58:35 - yay! Somewhat disappointingly I ended up 201st, not 200th as it said on the printout (I do like a nice round number, but I'm not complaining!). It was a beautiful, fun, exciting morning run. My legs feel fine today, and I'm confident I can sort out the niggles in time for the next race. Onwards and upwards!!
Did it (but very slowly!)
I did it!
Belfast city marathon 2019 very good experience and huge PB!!!
