Harlow Running Club

Stortford 10K – 13th June

Race Length: 10K (GPS)

PB: 40.44 at Harlow MWL (June 2009)

Course Best: 40.53 (May 2009)

Target Time: 42.00

Outcome: 9th in 42.10

Nemesis Score: +1 (1 runner)

Splits:

I did not set out to run this race as I have a very busy schedule at home and would normally have run the 10 miler anyway, but I was glad I did. Since I am lacking in speed, had a window between coats of paint and this race is very local, a good blast what the order of the day. (Plus the 10 miler usually attracts the faster runners so there could be a high finish on the cards!

The start line soon saw me wipe away thoughts of glory as 2 faster clubmates were there! One would have won the 10k last year based on his time, so was possibly a reason for him running this rather than the 10 mile as he did last year. There was also a strong team of Saffron Striders, and a faster fetchie I met at the recent fetch mile.  Chances of top 10 were being reduced…

The course is very familiar to me as it is the same as in our midweek league and is certainly not PB territory due to the 2 tough climbs. The first Km is flat so I headed off at 10K pace towards the front. The 10 miler starts at the same time, so the runners around me were generally 10K’ers apart from the leader who was 10M. The field strung out quickly and I was in pursuit of the slower of the other 2 club mates. Just behind was the lady from Stortford who I went to the line with at the Orion MWL.

The second Km sees you head down hill. Here a woman went past that I have gone to halfway to before on this course in ~20 mins, so I kept her a few metres in front to pace me. Worryingly a group of 3 Garden city runners went past me, but I did not get to see if they were 10K or 10miles.  One of the Saffron runners also went past, but I knew the third runner was still behind me.

Km’s 3-5 see a flat section before a long drag uphill. I was climbing OK going though halfway in 20:15. As the climb wore off to the flat, I was starting to lose ground on the woman in front. I could not get my speed back to 4 min/km for the downhill 6-7km which was frustrating.:/

Km’s 7-9 are the toughies due to the big climb and it is always a case of just digging in here. In front I could see the Barnet lady and behind I could see another 2 runners including the ‘Stortford lady, but not the other Saffron man. They were catching slowly, so I knew I had to hold on for the final flat Km run in.

I ideally wanted a sub 42, so I tried to push for the final Km, but the will was not there. I was totally on my own for the run in, with no real impetuous to wind it up for a sprint. As a PB, place or course best was not on the cards and another 10K in 3 days time, I eased up.

At the finish, Vicky said well done and that she thought that we had won the team prize.:) I was 9th, with club mates 6th and 2nd. Two out of three Garden City runners DID do the 10 miler  and the ‘Striders were 1st, 7th and 11th – we had it by 2 points;  except when the results were read out Saffron Striders had won!

After the presentation, Vicky and I went up to see what had gone on. Apparently our other Harlow runner had not finished! Vicky had photo evidence of him being well infront of the second placed Strider, with 500m to go – I do not think he would have though “bugger this, I’m going home now and not finishing!” His chip/race number was clearly visible. It seemed that he had not been entered in the race software, despite the organisers having a record of him entering, therefore, when he crossed the line his chip was not recognised. :(This situation has now been rectified and it has been acknowledged that we won the men’s team prize.

In terms of a performance it was not too bad, about 30 seconds off pace. My speed is still not there and I would have loved to have got inside 42 minutes, but I can allow the 10 seconds over.