Well, this was a race I could so easily have not run. My mum died on Monday after her long struggle with lung cancer, so it has been an emotional and organisational rollercoaster. I went for a "clear my head" run on Weds but felt awful and stopped after 4k of a planned 5. However, after speaking to some people both online and off (thanks TT for your words ) I decided it was something I needed to do, and I would just go out and run and give it all I had, despite emotional fatigue setting in and one or two strange niggles that seemed to creep in the day before (but disappeared on race day).

Anyway, when I took the dog out first thing it was starting to rain, but when my taxi arrived it cleared up and I had a nice chat with the driver, and arrived at the venue quite early, there were already plenty of people around warming up and an atmosphere building. I felt quite nervous about the race, as I was probably investing a lot of emotional energy into it and thinking "I will run this for Mum". I found a locker and the toilets and did what I needed to do, wandered round for a bit, then started chatting to this guy who said he hadn't done a race before and he was going for about 50 minute pace, he said he would run with me, but I misplaced him when I went back to the locker to get rid of my jumper I think it was for the best - I just wanted to run alone, with my own thoughts, today.

The start was a bit mad, with runners instructed to wait on the pavements and not in the road, my Garmin took forever to find satellites, but got there, and then we were off. My plan was to run a sedate pace for the first few K and then accelerate, but it didn't seem to work out on this occasion - although I felt I was running quite sedately, the first k ticked over in 4:59 and I thought "just keep to this pace". The next k ticked over in 5:01, so far so good, but for a few k after that I started to slow imperceptibly and by 4k I was hurting quite a bit; I think I had gone off a bit too quickly to be honest in the early stages - but I pushed on, determined to keep going, although I didn't feel there was going to be much acceleration in my legs. I was happy when a few k ticked over in just under 5 minutes and when I got to 6k I knew I could just about maintain the pace I was at then see what I had left. I overtook a few people on the way, but also got overtaken, but I was running my own race today so it was largely by the by. I know I can run a kilometre in 4:30 flat out, and by the last k I was 30 seconds or so off a sub 50, so I gave it all I had, accelerated past a few runners and left them behind, but the finish line seemed to reel in so slowly and my legs were gone. I had given everything, had to throw myself over the line, and was in a kind of daze. Took me a bit of time to recover.

Time was 50:36, a PB by one minute and 4 seconds, and almost 3 minutes faster than my time on March 15th. Am quite pleased seeing as I'm barely running 15 miles a week at the moment, so who knows what lies in store. This guy accosted me and said he had won first place in the vets 60 with a time of 35, and said I should be running sub 40 at my age - I didn't have the energy to explain I am healing my body after 25 years of a self destructive lifestyle - or to say that there are no shoulds or shouldn'ts in life, as long as you give of your best in any given situation

Didn't do a sub 50, but I got a PB I can dedicate for Mum - and will be able to go for sub 50 in a few weeks at the Bolton 10k, once she has her final farewell next week.

Wishing everyone well this Easter Weekend, give of your best and enjoy

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My Running Blog - My Self Help Blog - My Poetry Blog -
Challenge 1: set by Ray/d87heaven - Run a sub 50 10k - Finally achieved April 2nd 2010 - 49:24
Challenge 2: Make the next year one I would love to live again

Congrats on the race!
What a 'veteran' plonker! Im surprised you dind't chase him out of the area doing sub 5 min miles!!!!

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Steve goes off topic more often than he runs......

I'm so sorry to hear about your mum RRR, I know she had been suffering but it must be a hard time for you.

You did fantastic in the Salford 10k and you most certainly will hit a sub 50 in the very near future....Well Done

Take care Rob

Great report Rob and sorry to hear about your Mum. I'm sure you did her proud with that result. All the best with your Sub50 target.

O.

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Great race report RRR, but sorry to hear about your Mum.

Well done on your PB, fingers crossed for you in the Bolton 10km.

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Sub 1:50 half and sub-4 hour marathon (Thanks, Badz)

I was at Salford 10k today Rob and I thought I passed you - now wished I stopped you to say hello. Good on you for running for your mum I'm sure she would have been so proud of you.

I was aiming for a sub-60 today just to sharpen my legs up for my marathon in 2 weeks. I didn't quite achieve it as I finished in 1:00:48, but it was closer than my last attempt in Leyland so was pleased that I had progressed.

Enjoy Bolton Rob - its not as flat of Salford but slightly prettier in places.

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Steady Eddie marathon runner

Sub 2:16 HM at Four Villages 17/01/2010 set by Twinnies

Well run both of you..and sad to hear your news Rob.

Thanks SE - you'd better say hello next time, I won't bite Am sure we'll cross paths again, and I am sure you will achieve the sub 60 (or even sub 59) soon. Best of luck for your marathon, will look forward to hearing about a strong and steady run

Thanks for the other replies too - I lolled at Ray's idea of chasing that chap away at blistering pace

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My Running Blog - My Self Help Blog - My Poetry Blog -
Challenge 1: set by Ray/d87heaven - Run a sub 50 10k - Finally achieved April 2nd 2010 - 49:24
Challenge 2: Make the next year one I would love to live again

Well done Rob and I am so very sorry about your Mom.xxx

Hi Rob

Great result on your race and I am really glad you ran it, you did yourself and your Mum proud, it takes alot to get going on a normal day let alone what you have gone through.

Good luck for your next race at Bolton.

I know SE mentioned Bolton wasn't as flat as Salford, I was at a race last year and Dave was there too we were standing at the line up and he asked me what I hoped to do that day and I said I didn't expect much as it was a tougher course, Dave said he PB'd on the course only the year before after having done a flatter course only a few weeks earlier, so with this info I mind I didn't rule out a PB and guess what, I got it too

So best of luck

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A loser is not the one who runs last in the race. It's the one who sits and watches and who has never tried to run. Bird in Boots

Great run, and like everyone else has said, so sorry about your mum. And I'm astounded at the comments by the vet. Should have just told him to F off and walked away

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Running Goals for 2010
1. Sub 5 minute mile(Done in 04:53)
2. Sub 17 5k (Done in 16:57)
4. Sub 1:20 half marathon
4. Sub 36 10k

Yes quite right LOL JB

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A loser is not the one who runs last in the race. It's the one who sits and watches and who has never tried to run. Bird in Boots

Just save something for the long hill about 6/7k in at Bolton

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Steady Eddie marathon runner

Sub 2:16 HM at Four Villages 17/01/2010 set by Twinnies

So very sorry for your loss Rob, a lovely report and fantastic race under the circumstances. Sub 50 for sure next time

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www.richardsimkiss.co.uk
'The minimum requirement to achieve something is to believe that it's possible'

Really sorry to hear about the loss of your Mum Rob. It was a really good run under the circumstances.

Will you be doing the City of Manchester 10k again this year?