Beckley 10k Race Report

[pianoteacher]

Yesterday I took part in the Beckley 10k - a small event which is part of our Club Championship. Alongside the 10k there was a kids race and a 2 mile Fun Run which set off with the main race. As pianojunior is not quite old enough for the 10k he was doing the 2 mile run.

It was a beautiful day for a run - sunny and surprisingly warm for November! We arrived to find lots of other Hastings Runners - I think 49 of us ran the 10k! I really do love being part of a club - some super fast, some not so much so but the support everyone gives to each other is fantastic.

This was always going to be a tough one for me coming just a week after Beachy but my son was keen to race so I thought I might as well join in. Unfortunately I woke with the headache I had gone to bed with on Saturday night and was feeling a little sick on the start line. I positioned myself alongside other people I know to be about my speed and off we went. Pianojunior had started nearer the front so as not to get stuck but I could see him up ahead. It is an "undulating" course and with in a few hundred metres we were going uphill. As I wasn't feeling great I hadn't warmed up and I was beginning to regret it! At around 2k there was a water station and the main race turned left and the 2 mile race right. I resisted the temptation to turn right 😂

On we went through beautiful country lanes. There seemed to be quite a bit of downhill but as I had been warned about a steady climb between kms 6 and 7 I was conscious of pacing myself. To be honest I never really got going - stuck running at HM pace seemingly unable to go any faster! Quite a lot of people around me were stopping and walking so I was pleased that I managed to keep running. I managed a mini burst of speed downhill to finish in a slightly disappointing 57:32. When I crossed the line I realised my headache had been non existant during the run!

I found my son - he had completed the 2 miles in 3rd place in a time of 15:12. He was a little disappointed not to have gone under 15 but his watch showed the course to be a couple of hundred metres too long and as he doesn't like hills I think he did extremely well.

Unfortunately my headache returned with a vengeance and by the afternoon it had become a migraine - I'm still suffering the aftereffects as I type this. Strange that I didn't feel particularly unwell whist running but I think it must have affected my performance. Anyway onwards and upwards to my next stupidly hilly 10k in Crowborough at the end of the month.

Happy running everyone 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Wow, well done both!!! xxx

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks Abi xx

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations, don't be too disappointed with your time, it was sub 60 minutes, I assume that you would have been happier with sub 55 minutes, the main thing is that you and your son enjoyed it, well done. 😊 🏃🏾

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al I would have struggled with sub55 on that course I think but I would like to have been nearer 56. But you're right it was enjoyable and that's the main thing 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Well done to you and your amazing son - you definitely don't make life easy for yourself!

I'm convinced that running adrenaline masks a lot - I was only aware of a dull ache in my foot when running the last HM than resulted in a stress fracture, but within less than five minutes of the finishing line it was too painful to walk on let alone run. Hope that migraine eases soon, horrible things!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda! Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I thought I was magically better then - bang it hit me 100 times worse.

Went off to work with a headache but it's much better now. It's times like these I'm grateful I'm not a brass teacher 🤣

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Small mercies. Glad you're feeling better 🙂

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon]

Well done to both of you! But special shout out to you for managing it after Beachy Head! Blimey. Hope your head eases soon. x

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie! It's a lot better now thanks xx

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Well done both of you. I always find my running pace has slowed drastically after training for a HM or longer run and I have to really work on speed before doing a 5k or 10k.

However, well done for even getting to the start line after you last epic run. I hope Crowborough goes well!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

That's a good point about the longer distances - I definitely need to get back to some speedwork.

Crowborough is two laps with what I've been told is a stupid hill so I think I'll need all the luck I can get 😁

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Nah, you are the hill master 😂

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

😂🤣😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Well done both of you. I hope you are feeling better today.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy 😀

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Wow you did fantastically well especially with a sore head. Sorry to hear you are still not 100% . But that was an excellent time achieved. And an excellent time by your son,super speedy😊xxx

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you xx

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Well done to you both! Happy to hear your headache has eased off now too.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks Decker xx

[Franglaise 10 Miles]

Brilliant times both of you...well done speed demons.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon]

Thank you 😀