I’m not completely crazy, this was meant to be week two! The event had been advertised a couple of months ago and being based at the Discovery Centre in Great Notley meant we would see a high number of parkrunners accustomed to touching the bird and already familiar with the hill of doom. Paul had advised it was 10km and a bit, that bit being a climb up the hill (that GPS still doesn’t record!). The route didn’t really concern me though, this would be another recovery run, as the groin strain continues to heal.
This would be Challenge Running’s debut 10km event, they’re usually creating crazy marathons and from my perspective what look to be bat shit crazy ultra runs! Paul is still hopeful one day I’ll sign up for the Stort 30 and it’ll lead me down that path to more ultra shenanigans. Never say never, 5 years ago I didn’t even run, one year ago I’d never volunteered at a parkrun, didn’t own trail shoes. Perhaps my injuries are the cause of speed work and distance is what I’m more suited to. I’m built for biscuits rather than sprinting after all.
I didn’t know what to expect from the event. Other than the basics, Flitch Way, out and back, hill of doom, cool medal, start time, information was lacking. A friend due to run their first 10k had asked about a course map and the response was, why would you want one?!? Seeing a slightly narky Facebook post the night before from the organiser didn’t hold out much hope, this might be one and done for Challenge and me. There hadn’t been a pre race email and the website could be clearer, or at least have a mobile friendly version. I suspected it was an adjustment to dealing with a different clientele. Ultras and marathons attract a different crowd to 10k, which is often the first race for many stepping up from beginner or 5k. As I’m finding parkrun, if folks are asking for information, that suggests the information you’ve published is either hard to find or insufficient. It is then that you take the feedback on board & look at what can be improved. Hopefully everything would be ok on the day & this was just a case of being tired / nervous / apprehensive ahead of a debut event.
The Um Bongo Avengers – rescuing people through the medium of sugary fruit juice |
Just ahead of me, starting his climb was my parkrun mentor, Len. This time I was the one giving some encouragement, shouting Len’s way.
For some reason unknown I decided to push myself up the hill, all notion of this being a recovery run was thrown out the window with the finish line in sight. Despite this being home ground for Len he was struggling up the Hill of Doom so I implored him to speed up or I’d slap his arse on the way past. Perhaps I have no future as a motivator as he didn’t speed up, either before or after the slap on his arse! Instead I carried on up the hill, forcing myself to eek out every bit of energy I still had in my legs. I’m well aware that some of my expressions are at times a bit scary or hilarious when running. Katrina captured this perfectly with what could easily be called my Crimewatch face.
It would be appropriate to photoshop an axe into one hand here! |
The finish line was actually just before the bird, but we’d been implored to touch the bird to claim the medal so runners and supporters were treated to me saying “I’ve got to touch the bird!!!” before I joined the queue for a medal.
And what a medal it was, a custom medal designed like an old school style train ticket. A nice touch that added something to the event that a generic medal wouldn’t do. I caught up with Alec, Emily & Paul, remembering it might be worth stopping my Garmin. Karl had also finished just beyond me & all were happy with the medals. As I made my way down the hill I stopped to cheer on any Hatfield Forest parkrunners I recognised, another new habit for this race, but knowing how much support can help me in a race, one that is well worth doing.
Post race smiles |
The Eat
Great Notley parkrun is the place that knows me as Mr Sausage Roll. There is an expectation that every time I visit I should bring a box of sausage rolls, ready for runners & volunteers to consume. The only downside to this is that it excludes Emily & Paul, who despite hearing how good the sausage rolls are, won’t abandon being vegetarians to try them. On this occasion I decided to try something different, My creation, non sausage rolls included roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions & asparagus. The vegetables were combined with goats cheese & chilli jam for a pastry snack equal to the normal sausage rolls. They were well received by all, even if it at first took some persuasion that a vegetarian pastry was worthwhile to our carnivorous friends.
As an event, on the whole very positive. Save for the slightly stressed post the night before the event & the need for a bit more information beforehand, everything else ran nicely. The distance would have ideally been 10k, being an out and back might make it possible to adjust in the future. The medal was an excellent addition to the event, good run bling is always appreciated and something that is really not hard to achieve now. A repeat event has been announced for September, 2 weeks ahead of Berlin. I’m tempted to sign up as it would be a nice book end, the same route at the start and end of my marathon training.
Awesome run bling! Straight onto the medal moose. |
In terms of my running form, I was very pleased with my performance. The fact it was a negative split was largely irrelevant as I purposefully started slowly in order to ease my various ailments into the race. Being able to progressively increase my pace as the run continued was good & lets me know that my cardio isn’t as far away as it has felt in recent times. The groin strain settled down quickly & didn’t give any further issues as both the pace & distance increased. A 5:17 last kilometre is far faster than I was intending to run, going to show what being an idiot & race conditions can do for you!
Even my hill of doom climb did not go to plan. I appeared to adopt the quicker you get up there the quicker it all ends strategy. The ascend was my fastest ever, 40 seconds, though my heart rate did go up to 180bpm.
The intentional negative split |
An enjoyable event & performance, a nice end to week one of the marathon training. It isn’t a performance I’ll remember in years to come, but it will form the foundation for what will be a busy few months.
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