My second 10k race

[HoagyM]

My second 10k race this morning, a race organised by Emmer Green primary school as a fund raising event. This was a race that was so local to me, it would have seemed rude not to do it! If it hadn’t been raining so heavily, I would have walked to the start, it’s that close.

It was of course quite a contrast to my first one, the Cardiff 10k. Cardiff was thousands of runners on a flat course in the sunshine, this was a couple of hundred on a hilly, muddy course in the cold and rain. But both were really good in their own way, and (unlike Cardiff) there can be no complaints about the organisation of this one, the school did a really great job.

At the start, I ran with one of my golfing buddies - then he zoomed off and finished a good 15 minutes ahead of me, but my time (somewhere around 1h 10m?) should be similar to Cardiff which, given the conditions and elevation, I am very happy with.

Interesting that Strava says my HR was very high, and in fact my two races show as the most effort of all my runs (even though I’ve done longer and faster training runs). Something about the adrenaline of a race day?

The weather was tough, my running jacket (a recent birthday present) got its first outing, and my waterproof trail shoes did the business - on several occasions we were running straight through huge puddles of water.

Most importantly I paced myself much better this time and so achieved my primary objective... I finished with a smile on my face 😀

Next up is the Cardiff MoRun in November...

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Looks just a wee bit wet 🌧😂. It's nice to have a race so close to home and a school fundraiser....how fun. Sounds like someone's been bit by the racing bug 😁

[Ripcurlrana71 Half Marathon 10 Miles]

Well done Ian - you are a racing pro now!! 🏃🏻‍♂️🥇🥇💪🏼😊

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Fantastic well done!sounds like a good event 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That sounds great - despite the rain and mud! Go you! I've notied my heart rate seems to spike when I try to drink on my longer runs - all the choking and spluttering as I try to drink and take in oxygen at the same time

[HoagyM Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yeah, just checked and there was a bit of a spike at the midway point, where the water station was, but tbh the big spike was towards the end, when the route produced one final “killer hill” to deal with 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Ahh yes! that would do it. Evil!

[over61andstilltrying 10 Miles]

Well done you! Such amazing progress! I am in awe! Congratulations and all the very best for Cardiff. 😊🎉☔

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done - and a great time on a hilly, muddy course! As you say, there is a very different atmosphere at small local races but like you, I enjoy them both too.🙂

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

Oo it does look squishy underfoot 😂 But a brilliant run given the conditions, and it's always good to give a birthday present an outing 😁