It seems such a long time ago I ran this race, being late July (the 19th), it was! So firstly my apologies for the long delay in posting about the race (and Mont Blanc/GNR/Leics Half, they’res coming straight after this), I’ve been trying to buy a house, cope with lots on at work, lots of nights out (I “had” to go out on them all…) and 100 other things. But anyway, time to write!

I’d decided on running the Sherwood Pines 10k to keep my running going (I’d be leaving for the Alps the following weekend), I fancied running a 10km race to see if 6 months of running half marathons would make a difference to my best time and because I’d really enjoyed it the previous year. The year previously 2 others from work had joined in, this year the contingent swelled to 7. I’d been training with a sub 50min time in my head, having never achieved this in a race it was a target to aim for if at all possible.

From the work group one in particular (say hello Matt!) was keen on similar time, so after a couple of exchanges about seeing each other at the finish line we found ourselves side by side at the start line, eager to get going and through the field to find a pace that’d see us round in a good time. The klaxon sounded and as usual, there was a lurch forward and then steady walk whilst those in-front started to run and clear space for those behind. Matt and me were off quickly, keen to get through the pack and establish a lead over each other early on, which meant for the first mile or so we were running too fast and pushing each other. Matt moved ahead by about 15m and then held pace; I was aware that if we kept pushing each other, that I’d most likely collapse and as we were only a kilometre i,n I was content to hold and wait. Then out on a long stretch without tree cover a runner tapped me, taking my headphones out I was told my laces were coming undone, so I had to quickly pause, re-tie the laces and crack on with Matt no longer in sight.

Reaching the first stop I was grateful for a drink and chance to walk a couple of paces to regain my breath before heading up another slight incline. The middle section of the race flew by, with me keeping to just under 5 mins a kilometre as I’d planned, until a steep section just after 5km forced me to drop my pace to regain my breath longer than I’d have liked. But on I went and after walking with some water at the final drink station and jogging the final incline it was just the last 2km to go and knowing it was mainly flat I was able to up my pace and start overtaking runners around me.

The final 500m or so really hurt, there’s a picture below to give you a feel for just how much, but with the finish so close, knowing I was on for a time under 50mins and still holding out a little bit of hope that Matt may not be all that far ahead I kept going. Crossing the finish line in just short of 49mins, I clocked it at 48:55 on my watch, I was really pleased to have come well within the target I aimed for. Matt had completed the race in 47mins, a really fantastic time given he spends more time cycling than running, but I’ll have a chance to “make amends” when we both run the Leicester Half Marathon in October.

When it means something, it often hurts a lot. I wanted the time…