Date: 11 May 2006 01:45:24
From:
Subject: Kingsbury Classic 10K - evening race
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A smashing evening race that was suprisingly challenging but delivered for me another good time of 49.11 (my time officail time + - 7 seconds I reckon). A small race just over 90 taking part meant a good mix of club runners took to the start line so it was obviously going to be a fast race. Held in the delightful surroundings of Kingsbury Water park - near to The Belfry Golf course that has hosted the Ryder Cup - it was a two lap course that took us on wooded paths round the various lakes , various surfaces tarmac , grass, muddy trail, bark , fields , the sunny weather of the last few days had dried the surfaces but it was still hard going on the uneven bits that caught me out and showed by inexperience at trying to keep pace on anything other than good flat surfaces. I was still able to get a good time but my work rate during the race meant that I couldn't relax for a moment - constantly watching the path for the best line - when I run slower this doesn't have the same effect and it's highlighted a weak point in my running I feel. At times due to the small field I was running almost on my own especially on the second lap , with noone pressuring me from behind and noone near enough to chase down it felt like a furiously fast training run at times. I was also caught out by the heat - suprisngly as it was a 7.30pm start I thought the hot day would have subsided by then but the open parts of the course still had quite a heat rising from the ground. Having been battling with a chest cold for a week and having hayfever rearing its ugly head I was quite congested so I really felt the heat and this added to the somtimes dodgy moments I had on the few hilly bits on the far side of the course - I thought how on earth am I to get up this next hill without slowing to a walk? . Fortunatly I came supplied with a hankie for such emergencies and it was put to good use! The water station was particulary well recieved by me and I got a greatly needed big cupful of water - I think I would have been much slower on the last lap had I not had that. So all in all a delightful but challenging race in superb surroundings organised superbly by www.cambraevents.co.uk - they really made a differnce here I thought .
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