This was my second race and the local race of my brother-in-law, Pete. The first kilometre was all uphill and steep with it. After that it was largely flat and the finish was down the same hill that we'd gone up at the start. Running up the hill was hard work but down was fantastic - I really enjoy opening up my stride and going flat out downhill.
Pete finished in 49:something - I did 55:48 which (especially considering the hill) was a good improvement on my earlier 10K time.
Wednesday 26 March 2008
Wooburn Park 10K - 20 May 2007
Clandon Park 10K - 12 April 2007
This was my first race and it was great. I didn't really know what to expect but this turned out to be largely on fields, along tracks, around lakes, etc. The sun was shining and it was a great day.
I hoped to complete this in under an hour and did so, finishing in 59:06.
My lovely wife has entered the 2008 Clandon Park 10K so it'll be my turn to do the cheering with the kids.
First post time...
In autumn 2006 I weighed not far off 16 stone. I started what turned out to be a bit of a mission to lose weight and improve my fitness. I started calorie counting and virtually cut out alcohol for a long time. At first I did a lot of Spinning at the gym near work. After a while I started going to BodyPump classes too. Over the next 6 few months, I lost a lot of weight and my fitness improved dramatically.
I wasn't until March 2007 that I started running. I had seen a flyer for a new local 10K run - Clandon Park 10K - which was taking place in mid April. I thought "I could do that" and entered. I did a few weeks of training and had a vague aim of completing the 10K in under an hour. I did it - 59:06 or something along those lines. I was hooked.
I tried running once or twice before - I recall running near my parent's house in my late teens but I really didn't enjoy it and I didn't really give it another chance.
Since March 2007, I've run in many races - lots of off road 10K trail races, a half marathon, etc. I've had a steady weight of a little under 13 stone for the last 6 months or so and I feel great. I run around 20 miles a week - I'd like to do more but most of my training runs are quick 4 milers at lunchtimes and the occasional longer run at the weekend when I can fit it in around family commitments.