I am usually on my phone pretty quickly to write a race post but I was totally whacked by the time I got home yesterday. Having sent a post to confirm it happened, I really must tell you all about it. Be warned, it’s a long one.
For those who don’t know, Exbury in the New Forest is the home of the Rothschild family and the beautiful gardens are famous for its camellias, azaleas and rhododendron and have national collections of several species. It is a must visit in April/May with a riot of colours throughout.
Thankfully, the run was starting at 9.00 am, but that meant an early rise, and picking up Oldgirlruns at 6.30 to arrive at the event car park at 7.30. That gave us time to pick up our T-shirt (a choice of aqua or fluorescent yellow), plaster on the suntan lotion, meet Mudita11 and use the facilities, before dropping our bags and heading for the start area in front of Exbury House
With a cut off of 1000 runners, there was a great atmosphere with members of local running clubs meeting up. Oldgirlruns got a shout out for running her first 10k race, and there was a loud cheer from other runners from Portsmouth. After warming up, we all lined up in different positions according to finish times.
The klaxon fired and off we went. We ran along narrow paths towards the exit, through the car park, and onto the road through Exbury village. Residents were cheering and one kind lady was spraying us with her hosepipe (a shame she didn’t live further away from the start). I fell into step with a lonely goat runner from Dorset and we ran chatting for around 3.5k before I said for her to run on as I saw I was faster than I should be at this stage. I’d seen Mudita was ahead of me as we left the gardens , and unbeknown to her, we had taken turns in overtaking each other along the route. I didn’t distract her as she also had a running companion who seemed to be talking non stop. I ran on the side shaded by hedges and then we saw the 6k water stop, across a junction and the speedy runners on their return. We were 4k in.
Our scenery then changed to a coastal road to Lepe Country Park, the tide was out, the Isle of Wight was in clear sight. The smell of seaweed was in the air. There has a shout of Dexy and I saw UpTheStanley looking very comfortable running alongside a pacer (later found out to be 55mins) and I waved. Then before I knew it there was a marshal at a turning cone at 5k.
Did I tell you it was extremely hot 🥵 25C, little breeze, no shade! I had 2 small bottles of water in my flip belt and took sips every now and then. I took a few pics (I know it’s meant to be a race). There was a higher number of female runners and it was friendly with lots of chatter going on where I was running.
We reached the water stop and I grabbed a cup and walked so I didn’t spill this precious commodity. I guess the early runners had had more than their rations and our cups contained less than expected. But the organisers had also asked us to bring our own water, due to the high temperatures, and I still had one little bottle left.
4k to go and did I tell you it was hot? I was wearing a peaked cap, sunglasses, vest and shorts. My flip belt was bulging with phone, bottles and a melting power bar. We were now running back along lanes but the sun was higher, so less shade, and there was an incline, in fact several inclines. Most of us were run walking at this stage, and taking turns in overtaking each other. I think I walked most of my 9th km chatting with another lady from Winchester, and we agreed that completing the run was an achievement in itself and time no longer mattered.
It wasn’t until I reached the grounds that we started running again. I was a bit quicker than my companion. I could hear the tannoy announcing runners as they crossed the line, and people along the route were cheering me on. There was actually a cool breeze, and big old trees giving shade, and I had a new lease of life. I overtook 2 runners and then UpTheStanley was there to encourage me and lead me to that big red finish arch.
I have to say that this was the hardest 10k I have run, purely down to the temperature and bright sun. I’d love to do it in September! A lovely wooden medal in the shape of a camellia, a banana, a bottle of water and Jaffa cakes! What more do you need?
We waited for Oldgirlruns to appear and accompanied her to the finish line too.
A quick meet up with Mudita, near the bag drop, the obligatory group photo, a much needed change of clothes, and then a grand picnic in the grounds. A trip on the old miniature steam railway gave us views without effort and then ice creams finished the day. Garmin had an outage and telephone reception was not good so didn’t see the stats till I got home.
I think this says it all:
1k 7:24
2k 6:56
3k 7:09
4k 7:05
5k 7:13
6k 8:17
7k 8:06
8k 8:53
9k 10:22
10k 8:28
Garmin time 80 mins
Strangely, chip time 81:04
Well done Mudita, we had the same time at the turning cone but you did much better in that 2nd half.
This was a brilliantly organised, and a well presented local run. Marshals were enthusiastic and everyone was made to feel special whatever speed they ran or walked.
Heathfield 10k Race Report