Woke up at usual at 0630 and went to munch my porridge. Bizarrely I wasn’t worried or stressed about this race. Im not sure why, apart from the fact it wasn’t a standard distance. In my head it was massively shorter than a 10k (ok so it was only .2 of a mile) so It didn’t really mean much to me.
Anyway we left the house about 0835 and headed the 2-3 miles down the road. I planned to drive the route as I like to pick out certain features that I can then use as waypoints. We picked the route up around the 2.75mi mark so whizzed around to the start area to do a full lap.

The start was downhill for about 700m then turning left over a bridge. Up a road for about another 700m then left again.
Along a slight down hill until the 1.5mi point then up up and up further until about 2.5mile where the road started to bear round to the left (approx where we picked the route up on the first lap).
Flat again to the 3mi point followed by a water station. Down another hill then left again towards the 4mi point. Into a small village then round the right then left whilst going up again. Down a nice long hill passed the 5mi marker then up the final road passed a farm back towards snitterfield.
I noticed that at the top of this hill there was a sign for the village on the left. This coincided with a flat part just before the start of the downhill finish. I made a point of remembering this as it would be a useful “kick” point, and it was a distance that I felt I could really sprint hard from to hold my spot/ gain one if I needed.

Parking up we were very early (I like being early) so I got out and wondered off to find the loo’s etc for the first time. Was quite pleased to have proper real flushing ones, although there was no bog roll in the mens (made mental note to take tissues with me next time).
Several more loo trips followed before I decided that it was close enough to start warming up. I made a point of jogging back from the start to the village sign that Id picked out. I then did some strides/ short sprints back towards the finish line. I find this helps me visualise the end bit of the race which helps me when things get hard as I almost think to myself “ive already done the end bit before”.
At this point I noted how warm it was and that the sun was starting to break through the clouds… time to get the sun glass’s out I felt.

I quick chat to Rich, Ros and several other club members that had arrived before making my way to the start. It was a fairly small event with probably about 150 people turning up so I decided I would be bold and stand forward; not front row, but around 2nd/ 3rd. I shoved ros through into a gap and pushed in aswell just next to her.

Horn went and we were off down the hill. I could see the leaders….OMG… this is a new experience for me in a race. A quick check and I felt fine.. maybe a little too quick to hold to the finish, but it was down hill so I figured I would slow down on the hills/ flats.

We turned left over the bridge and headed up the next little hill. I could see the lead three (inc Rich) turning left at the top.. hang on… 1,2,3,4,5 HOLY S@*T im in 6th EEEEEEEK… ARRRRGGGHHHH…. How the hell has this happened… but wait a minute.. im still feeling good, pushing hard, probably a touch too hard, but not massively OTT… oh well lets see what happens.
I reach the 1mi point and still in 6th although a small group had now caught me up and are chatting as if they are out on a training run. Oh well… keep going.

Most of the group pass me along with the lead female that glides by like she’s on wheels around 1.25mi. She settles down next to a young Stratford runner, but he quickly pulls up. It didn’t look like injury, I think he just went too hard too early.

By now the first long hill had arrived I pressed on conscious that I could hear footsteps behind and that the heat was starting to build.
I just about reached the top around 2.5mi when the 2nd and 3rd female pushed past.
I approached the water station and noticed that they were giving plastic cups. I realised I wasn’t going catch the woman ahead and a glance behind showed that I was a fair way ahead of the next person so I slowed down a bit to allow me to drink some water with out choking and also a glug over each shoulder to cool down a bit, at which point I heard footsteps behind so I sped back up to race pace again.
Nothing eventful happened until the 5 mi point when the person behind me shouted something:

Him: how far?
Me: 5mi
Him: what time?
Me: *fiddle with garmin* 37mins ish
Him: ok thanks

The cheeky sod I thought… then I realised that he was probably testing how out of breath I was. I felt quite smug at this point as I’d been able to answer without wheezing or panting. So i pushed on up the last hill.
The heat was unbearable with it coming from above and below but the thought of the person behind catching me spured me on.
By this point I reached my village sign and kicked on.. I felt good.. I could breath.. I though I was about to choke on my phlegm in my throat but im sure I can manage this bit without breathing…
Over the line and done it! Phew! A wobbly walk to get water and I see the other person come over that had asked me the time. He hadn’t even tried to kick. I then notice that he has a watch on!! I get my water and then collapse on the grass.

I sit dripping then wonder over to see how rich got on. Find out he was second so congratulate him as required. And cheer ros over the line.

My watch recorded 5.79mi but the course was officially measured/ certified so im taking the 6mi esp with my first mi being a 6.39min mi and the last .79 being at 5.55 pace.

Final result: 15th Overall (12th Male) 00:43:05(unofficial atm according to watch)

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Kenilworth Runners | Doing hill sessions makes you a better person!
Challenged by RichardSimkiss: Sub 40min 10k by the end of 2010

Running is like mouthwash; if you can feel the burn, it's working.

Nice report Beasty.

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My Running Blog -

Challenge 1: set by Ray/d87heaven - Run a sub 50 10k - The Timeless Challenge

Challenge 2: set by Richard Simkiss - Run a sub 6 minute mile by July 2010

Cor blimey- great time Beasty Well done you!!!!!

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www.rpmsportsmassage.co.uk

Runs for the sheer hell of it and because i can

Well ran pete, you make it sound so bloomin easy, like a Sunday jog! I died on that course, completely in no-mans land, with the hills and heat getting the better of me. You're fast improving and I don't think you'll need until the end of 2010 to make that 10k challenge

Out of interest, did you have a look at your route in google earth to see if it lost signal at any point? (hence the shorter distance), though I think Ros clocked something like 9.3km, (= ~5.8mi) and the winner (Jack Mee) also reckoned it was baout 5.8mi... I'd happily say the course & weather was equivalent of a 6mi race difficulty though!

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

Thanks both...
If the course measurment was acurate 6mi then I was on tArget for a new 10k pb of sub45... Damn those pesky .2 mi

Congrats Pete - sounds like hard work. Much cheekyness by the other runner, unless he didn't start his watch...

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It didnt loose signal and .2 of a mi is a fair amount.

according to the litrature the route is certified and i know the chap with the glass's and the stop watch at the end is from the AAA as he seams to be an official at quite a few events so i guess he was there to make sure it complies with the certificate.. so im claiming it...

ive not compared my mile splits to appox markers

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Kenilworth Runners | Doing hill sessions makes you a better person!
Challenged by RichardSimkiss: Sub 40min 10k by the end of 2010

Running is like mouthwash; if you can feel the burn, it's working.

Sounds like a great effort Pete! Great pace as well.....

O.

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Nice work beasty

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To complete each section of Jurassic Challenge, 26.2m, in under 4hrs 45mins..ta Grant !!

You should've just carried on running to the bottom of the hill would've made for a cracking unofficial 10k PB... tbh I don't know why they don't move the start line back
0.213mi and make it a 10km race!

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

Because it would ruin the alliteration

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My Running Blog -

Challenge 1: set by Ray/d87heaven - Run a sub 50 10k - The Timeless Challenge

Challenge 2: set by Richard Simkiss - Run a sub 6 minute mile by July 2010

the alliteration in 'snipe six' is borderline at best

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

Snitterfield Snipe Six.

Now say that 4 times fast

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My Running Blog -

Challenge 1: set by Ray/d87heaven - Run a sub 50 10k - The Timeless Challenge

Challenge 2: set by Richard Simkiss - Run a sub 6 minute mile by July 2010

Thought I might be on for a quick one when I was still fourth after a mile....and that first mile was sub 6mins! Eek. Well pleased with a fourth place finish anyway, especially having just celebrated (mourned more like...) my 42nd b'day ten days previously! Amazing what a year of non smoking can do...

Mr Simkiss, I think we might have exchanged a couple of words by way of 'well done' at the finish...I was the old boy in the (pretty much) all black gear.

Q: where do the results go up?

Well done beasty and atko and anyone else who ran this!

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