Beachy Head 10k 2017, I did it my way... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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Beachy Head 10k 2017, I did it my way...

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon
45 Replies

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 :D

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 :D

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 :D 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!!

Written by
roseabi profile image
roseabi
Ultramarathon
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45 Replies
benwill profile image
benwillMarathon

Great report and sounds like you did well and well done on getting your time hope left and right legs are feeling ok today :) Thanks for looking out for me i was very much in the OMG am i actually going to do this at the start!

Glad you like the medal - when I first saw it someone was telling me to keep going in softly spoken voice on the top of the beachy head. I thought he was one of the vicar's that go up there to stop the jumpers as it does look a bit like a cross! so my verdict is still out on it!

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon in reply to benwill

Funny you should say that about the medals, the first dozen or so I saw were all silver side out, and my first thought was ‘CND’ badge. ☮️.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333

LOL!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to benwill

Thanks Ben! Legs are good, both hamstrings are equally sore, which I take as a good sign :) I've just made them go for a bike ride to let my quads take some of the heat :D

I see what you mean about the medal, and that's a pretty creepy story! I still like it though :)

benwill profile image
benwillMarathon in reply to roseabi

haha glad you still like the medal! although i think last years looked better.

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

WELL DONE! ☺☺☺☺

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Irish-John

THANKS JOHN!!!!!!! :D

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Half Marathon

Really well done roseabi! That is a fantastic time for a hilly 10k - amazing! ..don't know how you resisted the Mars Bars though!😀

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Sandraj39

Thank you Sandra! It was very difficult, Mars Bars are the ultimate marathon food, so I was naturally drawn to them. I suppose that's why they changed the name of the Marathon bar to Snickers, they realised their mistake :)

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon

I knew yours would be better written than mine 👍

I didn’t see the Mars Bars, but wasn’t that water lovely and cold? It was lovely to meet you, if only briefly.

Well done on your result - I was only 213 places behind you 🤣

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333

I wouldn't say that! But thank you!!

Maybe I hallucinated the Mars Bars? Yes, the water was lovely - I debated having a second cup actually :)

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon in reply to roseabi

I expect they were there. I was busy making sure Brontë had drunk her fill while also making sure we weren’t going to trip anyone up.

Well done, a fantastic run and time! I think I would have snaffled up a few mars bars for energy, don't know how you resisted! Sounds like beachy head gave a few good runs today.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to

Thank you! Beachy Head is brilliant, I definitely recommend it, although Ben made a good point about the weather :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

Well done Roseabi 😃 Very quick time too! 💪👍🏃‍♀️😃✔️🏅

You should be proper chuffed.

Never been to Eastbourne. Is it good? 🙂

Brill medal by the way 🏅😃👍

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to misswobble

Thank you MW, although I'm not in your league for sure :)

I am extremely chuffed!

Eastbourne is beautiful, the sea front has been managed very prettily, it's quite genteel with its Victorian pier and elegant gardens - not so much for the nightlife maybe, though. But the walks with Beachy Head and all are stunning.

poppypug profile image
poppypugMarathon

Well done !

Brilliant write up , fantastic result , great bling - Jobsa good 'un ! :-) xxx

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to poppypug

Thanks, Pops - it is indeed! xx

C3PO profile image
C3POMarathon

Nice medal! Congratulations on the sub-hour as well. I hope I get there sometime.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to C3PO

Thanks 3PO! You'll do it, sheer bloody-mindedness wins the day :D

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

wow great racing roseabi ! lovely medal too! :)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to aliboo70

Thank you Ali! I love it, it's so glamorous :)

Tomas profile image
TomasMarathon

Loved the write up, it was like being there with you. Sounds like a hard race that you managed perfectly, and congratulations with the time - always lovely when things work out the way you had planned! Well done you!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Tomas

Aw, thanks Tomas! xx Yes it is fabulous :D

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Half Marathon

Phew, sounds a hilly one! What a fantastic time, very well done 😀👍. I find running downhill tricky too, apparently landing on the forefoot is recommended but I am still trying to master that! Lovely photos and nice medal.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to skysue16

I love hills, the feeling when I get to the top is hard to beat, and I do really love running down, really must work on my confidence! That's interesting about the forefoot striking, I will look that up :)

And thank you, Sue!!

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon in reply to roseabi

Yes. The Guys at the trail running workshop I went to a few weeks ago say we should go down on our toes.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333

The trouble is, it sounds much more scary than the traditional heel-striking method :)

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon in reply to roseabi

I have been giving it a go. It’s fine* if it’s just me, and I could probably attempt it with Taylor Beagle, but there is no way I’d try it with a really strong dog.

*And actually easier if the hill is steeper as far as I can tell.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333

... and engage your core. An oldy but a goody :)

Maddee_6333 profile image
Maddee_6333Half Marathon in reply to roseabi

I’d engage it if I could find it 🤣

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333

:D

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Well done and what a great time! Beachy Head sounds like a challenging, hilly run, so that’s even more impressive. I don’t know how you resisted the Mars bars either!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Decker

Thank you! Hmmm I think I may have to pop to the shop for a Mars Bar...

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Half Marathon in reply to roseabi

You deserve one!

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon in reply to skysue16

Or two 😀

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Decker

Indeed! :D

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Marathon

wow well done you!!! That time is so fantastic....love the pics too :)

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to ju-ju-

Thanks Ju-ju :)

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon

What a fantastic time! And a brilliant report, well done! I'm a scaredy-cat about going downhill as well, so I'm most impressed that you legged it for the finish line :) And eeek! for getting buried in an avalanche of water bottles :O

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to Anniemurph

Thank you!!

Yep, the Beachy Head 10k is fraught with dangers :)

GeorgiosA profile image
GeorgiosAMarathon

I just booked a place in the beachy head 10k... I hope I can do it in less than 2 hours! Thank you for the wonderful review!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to GeorgiosA

Oh it's a lovely event - enjoy!! xxx

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoUltramarathon

Superb! Well run, great result 👍🏻💪🏻😁

Just realised how old this post is! 🤣🤣🤣 still a great result 👍🏻🤣

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo

Ha ha - thanks! It's nice to re-read it 😊😊😊

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