Elmbridge 10K

I've been bonkers busy, so this entry is just a little bit late.

The race was the Elmbridge 10K on July 20th. This is a favourite with many from my running club, but I had yet to experience it. This year I decided to join in the fun.

This time I arrived in good time. No trains were cancelled, so I reached the closest train station, Waltham-on-Thames, without any grief. There I met up with a couple of friends and made it to the start where we met up with more of our team.

To the race. It turned out to be was similar to the recent Dysart 10K. Half was along the road,then the remaining 5k took us along the edge of the River Thames. No problem. Well, except for the raging heat and a sore knee, twisted while I was running up the escalator at Waterloo station.

The first 5K was toughest. All of it was out on the open road, which was both HOT and quite a bit dull. I was keeping good pace though, keeping up with some of our better runners. Then we turned onto the towpath along the edge of the Thames and into the shade. With some cover and a much more interesting route, I started to apply some more effort. I was keeping my place, and passing one or two more than those who got the better of me. The only real concern was seeing one of our team surrendering the race to a hangover. That wasn't going to stop me though. With less than 500m to go I went for it. Quickening my pace I decided to leave nothing for after the race. I was tiring quickly, but not slowing, passing 4, 5, 6, and more in the last 50m then over the line. Yeh! I knwew I had a good time. Weather and injury be damned, this had been a good race.

Result: 45:38. That's 50+ seconds up on my last 10K. With a bit more effort I reckon I can break 45 mins and go for a personal best (sub-44:15) next time round.