Monday was the Bupa 10000, (results aren’t out at the time of writing so don’t know else ran), but Ed Osbourne has filed the following race report……
All that mattered today was to go under 40 minutes. I nearly left the house at 9am only to discover that the start time was actually 11am instead of 10 as advertised in the magazine.
Went back to bed for an hour but started feeling groggy so decided to get up.Cycled over up to Surrey Quays and followed the marathon route over to Tower Bridge.
Continuing down the Embankment to Southwark bridge I was able to pick up some of the 10k route. Fairly strong wind but not as bad as yesterday. It’s so different when the roads are closed.
Jogged down to the start with 20 minutes to spare and spot David Scrimshaw. Have a bit of a chat. With a quick calculation he plans to run 15seconds per mile faster than me but I thought I’d try and keep up to the 5-6k mark.
After the announcement of the top 5 women and men elites we were off.Straight out of the park and onto victoria embankment. There were alot of runners who we were passing and it was quite tricky finding a good line and avoiding runners.
First mile in the bag at 5.58 Hmm maybe this is a bit too fast for me but who cares. Next mile 6.01 things are starting to thin out a little as the effort increases as we go up a slight incline past cannon street. Onto Eastcheap and left onto Seething Lane. Mile 3 at 6.19
I go past the 5k mark at 19.10 and heading back for home. Starting to feel it a little but know there’s not much further. I let David go but still manage mile 4 at 6.00 but then out of nowhere I pull up with a pain in my thigh. I have to get going again but at this point I’m not sure if I’ll make it round. Should I have done some proper stretching before the start ? Well maybe.
Ed finishing the Bupa 10000
I make it back on to the Embankment. There’s a huge crowd of people lining the side of the road. I hear a “Come on Ed” and see Clare Elms and Steve Smythe at the side of the road which gives me a real lift when I needed it. Leave the embankment and turn right onto horse guards avenue then right again on to whitehall and up to trafalgar square. The bad spell has gone and I check my watch 37 minutes… I think I might just do it this time. I turn left at Trafalgar Square. Head through the mall and see Nolan and give him a thumbs up. The clock comes into view. It’s still on 38 something but I can’t quite make out the seconds but with less than 400 left I know I can do it. I give it cheesy smile for the photographer. I cross the line and stop my watch at 39.23.
It’s a great course and fast so I’d be tempted to run this again.
Garmin Connect
Pleased with the time but know there’s more improvement.
Well done everyone who ran.
Ed
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