Decided that after last weekends big 20 miler, it would be advisable to do a shorter race.........
The literature says that the Bradford 10k is a fast, flat course, with good PB potential. So I decided to take advantage of this and run it flat out all the way (well that was the plan anyway!)
The race started at 9.00 which is earlier than normal and meant we had to be up at 6.45 for pre race porridge. We were out the night before, being mesmerised by Elbow at Sheffield Arena. Great gig but it meant we weren't in bed till midnight and didn't sleep well. The whole morning was a bit of a rush really. Does it sound like I'm making excuses?!!
Got to Bradford in plenty of time, with our fellow runner Sal and supporters Graham and Rachael. Hmmm what can I say about the city of Bradford..................hhhhmmmm...........eeeerrrrrr................Let's just leave it at that shall we?!
It was bloomin' cold and I was nervous, because in my mind I wanted to go under 45 mins. The start was a bit of a mess and there were lots of people to dodge. We (me and Alex) set off at what felt like a sprint and seemed to be getting carried along with the crowd. We worked out that we needed to do 4.5 min kms to be in with a chance of going sub 45.
This race is flat (for Yorkshire) but there are a few uphill drags, which slowed us down a little. We don't really do much speed training and tend to run longer distances (which makes sense when you're training for a marathon!) I'm a slow starter (!) and like to bide my time for about 6 miles ( the length of this race), then speed up. Which is probably why after a couple of kms, I got a stitch and felt a little out of breath.
We get through the first few kms without any drama and very little conversation! We can see the half way point in the distance as the leader passes us on his way back, running flat out! At this stage, we're still on for about 45 mins and agree to hold back a bit on the short incline as we double back on ourselves. We didn't stick to this and ran at the same pace uphill (nothing compared to what we're use to running up!)
At the 6km mark (where I ignore the water station cos it's sodding cups again!) I decide to push on a bit and start picking off people ahead of me that I need to catch up and hopefully pass! Go through 7 and 8kms with some excellent encouragement from the Marshalls. I actually feel like crap at this point (just not comfortable) and start negging myself out about going to bed too late, starting too fast, eating the wrong thing for breakfast etc.
Get to 9 and decide to kick for home. Having a little game of cat and mouse with a woman in an athletics club vest and short shorts at this point. I can see the town hall where the finish is, but it doesn't seem to be getting any closer and feel like I'm about to blow chunks!
I reach the finishing straight (I think it was ever so slightly uphill?) and look at my watch. If I get a move on I could just duck under 45 mins (whether I could do it without projectile vomiting all over the crowd is another matter!) I am running flat out to reach the line but not with the normal spring in my step (maybe the 20 miles last weekend has taken it's toll) and cross it in 45:07. This is 1:27 faster than my previous PB but I'm still disappointed that I didn't go under 45.
Alex comes in not far behind (having stopped for a strategic chunder!) We collect our t-shirts and go to the finish to cheer the others on. Our mate Sal (pretty in pink) appears in the finishing straight and takes a while to realise that we are screaming at her to do a sprint finish. She obliges and picks up the pace to cross the line in style!!
Feel fine afterwards, get home, shower, eat, feel like death, console myself by buying a new pair of asics, go to bed. If only I'd run 8 secs faster...........................................
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