London Vitality 10k

[ReyC]

I posted the below in the bridge to 10k forum and was told it could live here too.

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I’ve posted a couple of time about the run up to this event which was the motivation I needed to keep going after c25k.

I posted on Monday that I’d woken up with a painful knee, which felt more than a niggle.. as always I had amazing advice from this forum and rested, iced, elevated and compressed.. it felt a better on Friday and I tried a 15 min run which went well.

I’ve trained long and hard for this and I knew in my heart that I’d likely try the run unless I felt debilitated. (Side note here- I’m not advocating/ suggesting anything to anyone, I’m 43 and know my body, limitations and mindset - I’m not a person who pushes against pain and was fully accepting that IF I felt off I’d walk.)

So this morning I set off. It’s my first ever race (excluding parkruns) and I know the Vitality 10k is a busy one but I don’t think I appreciated how busy it would be! I’d realistically placed myself in one of the last waves so was happy to wait for the major scrummage to pass.

The race itself was great, closed roads through London and past the main sights. I was able to stick to my usual pace and plug along. I did love the samba/brass band and the cheering along the way (and bemused and accommodating tourists!).

I had a big energy drop at about 8k and was cursing dropping my only jelly baby on the floor at the start! 🤦🏽‍♀️ but the crowds were amazing and i my body felt ok, if tired, and I managed to cross the line in a yet-to-be -determined official time but maybe somthing like 1hr 6? Which would be a PB (out of my ever 2 10ks 😉)

Anyway. Really pleased to have done it and would never have even attempted it without this forum, c25k, bridge to 10k and the hu10k in May!

Thanks everybody ❤️❤️❤️

[ReyC]

it’s worth mentioning that it did seem chaotic at the start. Loads of people didn’t get their race numbers and packs so had to queue and missed their waves.

There were some very fit and fast types zigzagging though our section to make.

Which is definitely not ideal.

My only gripe was that I had changed my mind about getting a tshirt (ages ago and updated my registration) but my bib still said ‘no shirt’ so I couldn’t collect one. Ah well.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to ReyC]

Those very fast types seem to pop up in every race!

You could contact the organisers now and ask them about your t-shirt. I’m sure they could send you one.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to ReyC]

Definitely email the race organisers. There is a reasonable chance that they will be able to send you one out (they are posting to all the entrants who ran it virtually). It will be a nice souvenir of your first event, along with the fab medal i trust you already have. Your bling (medal) collection is started!!!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to ReyC]

I was really pleased when my bib arrived showing that I ordered a T-shirt in a certain size, as being a slower runner I have found that my size was missing by the time I got to the finish line in big races. They would have ordered the number of T-shirts based on the fact that a certain number of runners had declined them, and people that had said yes shouldn’t lose out on the day. However, there were probably many people who didn’t run in the end, and if you email them and explain, I am sure if they have any spare they will try to help.

Personally I’d rather have the T-shirt than the medal.

[Folkylass in reply to ReyC]

Definitely get in touch with them ReyC I’m sure they will understand and give you your t-shirt after all it’s part and parcel isn’t it a medal…and a t-shirt 😂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Hello and welcome 👋

We love reading about everyone’s races here so thank you for posting.

What a great first race! It must have been fab running past all those landmarks.

Well done for signing up and getting to the start line and an even bigger well done for finishing in a great time!

Your first race is always special and this one will be the first of many, I’m sure.

Shane about the jelly baby though ☹️😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I spotted this over on Bridge, but here is a great place for me to say congratulations on your first official event and on your PB too, Vitality 10k is a 'big one!!!

I did read about the many people who hadn't received bisbs and had to queue - that's most unusual for a big event, most unusual for this event, but clearly something went wrong somewhere this year.

Hope your knee is still feeling good today 😊

[ReyC]

thanks everyone! And it’s nice to be part of another helpful and welcoming forum!

Irishprincess linda9389 - thanks for the advice, I’ll definitely contact them about the shirt, I expect they manically busy trying to match temp numbers they gave out to actual registered ones 😬 as the results haven’t been posted yet!

Unbelievably my knee and the rest of me seem fine today! 🤞🏽

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to ReyC]

Have you looked for your next race yet…. ? 🙂

[ReyC in reply to Irishprincess]

Well I’m tempted to sign up for next years vitality!

And would love to hear from anyone here on recommendations for London races?

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to ReyC]

No doubt it will become a regular for you!

If you google ‘10K races in London” then you’ll get lots of suggestions. But try these organisers:

findarace.com/10k-runs/london

runthrough.co.uk/london-run...

timeoutdoors.com/events/run...

The London Winter Run is very popular and is in February…. just saying… 🙂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Congratulations on your first race ReyC . This was a big one and it can seem a bit overwhelming if you haven’t done anything like it before. I loved the London 10k last year and entered again this year but the timing didn’t work in the end. It is usually held in May. Running past St Paul’s Cathedral was an enduring memory for me, and then running up to Buckingham Palace.

Enjoy your first medal too.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

That is a great run ReyC, and that time on a second 10k shows just how fit and strong you are. When I had run a few 10ks one of the admins tempted me across to this forum with “ we have a 10 mile badge ….only another 6k or so….just saying” so beware the sirens’ calls 🙂

[ReyC in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yeep. I think I’d have to work hard to add 6k! I was flagging by 8k and cursing the loss of my one jelly baby! 😂

Luckily I found a song on my playlist that dragged me through!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to ReyC]

You could definitely do it if you want to….

A few more 10ks and you should be good to go….but only if you want to.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

That's great, congratulations! 😁👌