Telford 10k …by Kate Marchant
Billed as a flat, fast pb course I was excited at the thought of eventually beating my 7 year standing pb of 43.07 at this race. It was a fairly cold, dank and dull morning – this 10k was spilt into 2 races the elite (sub 40) and the masses (everyone else and ME ME ME).
Kate realises she has another 5k left.....
Just as I set off I heard that Clare Elms had won the elite race, so no suprises there then. The start was somewhat crowded and a bit disorganised with local ‘power walkers’ at the front. So I gave them my best nasty stare and they moved out of the way. Off we went. The start was a steep 500m downhill follwowed by a 50m sharp uphill. Not the flat course I was expecting ….anyway it soon evened out and I found myself running along a narrow path with an ever so slight ascent and then an ever so slight descent. Round a traffic cone to start on lap two and I passed the 5k mark in a pb for me at 20.48!! Surely my 10k pb was in reach?! No. I started to run out of steam and found it hard to keep the pace in lap two (how typically me – will I ever learn?) so back up the 50m hill and then the slightly up/down path again. Managed to finish in a 3rd best time for a 10k for me in 43.36 (the official time). I think I was about 4th woman in the masses, so quite pleased but as Nolan has already so kindly pointed out…..’pacing Kate!!!’
Would I recommend it? Dunno – it’s a flat course overall but not very interesting, I found it hard to settle down into it and still think the Brighton 10k has the better PB potential ….but its all down to personal preference at the end of the day. And I didnt wear my lucky purple nail varnish….’
kate
