From Sally Armitage…
Yet another fast, flat road 10k entered in the never-ending quest for fast race times! I ran this race 4 years ago, it was my first sub 40 10k. I’ve entered it every year since but COVID put paid to 2020, then injury in 2021 and illness in 2022 so I was glad to finally make the start line!
The start was interesting, I still had my hoodie on when the gun went, I didn’t hear a race briefing or a countdown, just an incredibly loud gun fire!
I couldn’t remember the early climb from my first time running this course, it arrives almost straight away, a kilometre long very gradual incline up Benetthorpe Rd, followed by a gallop round town then from around 6km you have a 2km long straight run in front of the racecourse to a turn around point then 2km back and into the racecourse grounds for a ‘grandstand finish’.
The turn around point was excellent for watching the leaders in their final kilometres, Christos was right on the tail of the lead runner, who looked absolutely exhausted, he even had time to give me a little wave as he passed, at that point I knew he had enough in him to win the race!
It was the turn around where I also clocked Mark Hall, who is also quite ridiculously fast! An M60 running 35 minute 10ks, amazing.
I was surprised with my own crazy time too! I’d hoped for sub 38 but didn’t think I’d get so close to 37!! I think I attribute it to having a tune up from Wistow a few weeks ago and Tadcaster last weekend, along with playing with my nutrition. I’m half way through a post graduate sports nutrition course and I think tweaking my pre-race nutrition, utilising carbohydrates and some proteins differently, is making a difference!
(Edit, these times are new club records from Mark Hall (M60) and Sally Armitage (F45), both improving their own records)
1st Christos Tzelis 30:59
100th Mark Hall 35:55
141st (8th female) Sally Armitage 37:07
2584 ran