Way back at the tail end of 2019, having completed C25K earlier in the year and having just finished the Edinburgh 10k, I signed up for the 2020 Kilomathon (a 13.1k run along Edinburgh's cycle path network, between Ocean Terminal and Murrayfield Stadium). Little did we know how much the world would change in a few short months; and the race that was due for the first Sunday in April 2020 never happened.
The easing of restrictions early last year gave us a glimmer of hope that we might be able to do it in 2021, but it was just that little bit too soon in the easing process and so, the actual event was cancelled again. We were, however, able to run it virtually, and I posted 1:17:28 doing a route through the woods around my village. I got a medal with that time sent to me, but it wasn't quite the same.
Today, I finally got to do the actual run on the actual route, and to do it with other runners.
It was crisp and bright as we set off. The forecast earlier in the week had been for showers and a stiff breeze, but thankfully we got a perfect spring morning; sunny, if not especially warm, dry, sunny and almost no wind to speak of.
After the initial surge, I settled into my pace and just let my legs get on with it. I didn't have a specific time in mind; I'd have been happy with anything under 1 hour 20. My recent solo runs of around the 13k distance have been in the 90 minute region, but I knew that on race day that would be reduced.
Two things you need to know about this route:
1. It starts at sea level and is almost all uphill.
2. They torment you at the end by making you run past the finish straight on an out and back along the outside of the East Stand to make up the final kilometre before you enter the stadium for the finish.
Other than that, it's a pleasant route (on a nice day like today) although there is one section between kilometres 2 and 3 where it winds back and forth through a park and it looks like you're part of a giant conga line. The result of this is that the 2km and 3km markers are probably only about 50m apart as the crow flies.
Entering the stadium, there is the final pitch side sprint to the finish. It was lovely to have spectators there to cheer us over the line.
My time at the end - 1:12:34, with a host of other distance PBs picked up along the way.
Didn't manage to see Cmoi at the start or finish, but did meet a couple of my Strava VRBs in person for the first time.
Feet up and legs resting now, but definitely an event that was worth the wait.
Run Gatwick HM - Race Report
Aldershot Little Troopers 10k🙂🏃♀️
Chalkland Way Run Report
Brighton virtual 10k aka “BM10k [TheEdit]” run report
Virtual 10 mile race report
