Herts 10k
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Official Results |
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Race Report.
Having done this event last year and enjoyed the
multi-terrain course, I thought that I would attempt it again albeit with a
slower time. However I held back applying until the very last minute as the
Bananaman Chase 10k almost killed me!
The event is held in aid of Grove House, a worthwhile charity, which has raised
a considerable amount of money to provide care and support for people living
with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
I was one of the first to arrive, obviously keen and eager, and was greeted by
two friendly marshals. To get to the actual event which was held at the
Rothamsted Research, there was a good walk up a long hill, which would be a good
little warm up for some. When I reached the top I was greeted by a man dressed
up as a pirate, holding his sword up, standing next to the ambulance...
hopefully he wasn't there waiting to do his first amputation!
Having booked online a couple of days prior to the event I went to the
registration desk to collect my chip, t-shirt, number and information. It was
pretty straightforward except I struggled getting the number correctly
positioned on my shirt. As the start time was getting closer, it was looking
like there were going to be about 3000 participants.
The group warm up - full aerobics workout (why?!!) - got underway and the
majority of runners took part whilst it was being filmed. Myself and a couple of
others hid behind a gazebo and followed the instructions from there.
The timing pens were out and I thought that it would be best to add quite a few
minutes on to last year's finishing time so I stood quite a way back. Quite a
few people gave speeches including a couple of footballers from a 'crappy' club
and gave their estimated finishing times (still beat you!). When it was time to
start it sounded like the horn that they were using was running out of batteries
as it was 'going, going, gone'. In the moments prior to running, I had spotted a
runner that I was going to use as a pacer or so I thought (I usually hovver
behind someone for a while until they go too fast or I need to be a bit
quicker). After a few hundred metres, the other runner started walking which was
no good for me and neither for her with the amount of jewellery she was wearing!
However, a few other runners had also been too optimistic with their times as
they also slowed down considerably. In the end I had to work out my own pace
but this changed every so often as a few parts of the course were very narrow or
difficult to overtake in due to the ground, hedges or ditches (which I found out
when I fell in one - nice scratches and bruises to match).
The marshals around the course were friendly and supportive and there were no
problems at the water stations. It was good to have some roads closed to traffic
for the race with other areas closed to pedestrians. However, approaching one
road I could hear a lot of shouting going on and runners stopping quite
abruptly. We were forced to stop by a couple of drivers who either did not know
what they were doing or where they were going to do and 'Little Miss Road Rage'
in her 4X4. Fortunately when they got out of the way, we were able to carry on
running on the closed road.
One thing that I had completely forgotten about was the never ending hill which
seemed to climb for over 1.5k. But for someone who absolutely detests hills and
will avoid doing any training sesssions with them, I was very pleased with
myself. When I got to the hill and saw everyone else walking up it I decided to
run....and I did - well, jog! It was really difficult and took a lot out of me
but I carried on going (and didn't walk once).
The course was a 10k loop and the only part we got to experience again was the
2k back. I found it extremely difficult to overtake anyone at one point on the
way back so in the end had to slow down. There was a point when I got a little
frustrated at running so slow so thought that I would ask the runner in front
to move slightly over for me to pass. Unfortunately with the heavy metal
blasting away in her ears she obviously heard nothing and I got an evil look
when I tapped her on the back. (Next time I make no apology if I push you out of
the way!)
The final push (not a runner!) to the finish was hard on the uneven wet grass
but I did it and that's the main thing.
Katarina