Having mainly stuck to park runs and a few 10K races, I thought it time to push the boat out and try something a little longer. Not quite ready for 10 miles yet so when I saw the Kilburn race, I thought why not. It was in the afternoon so no early start; it is called undulating so no serious hills (supposedly); it was in North Yorkshire (almost as nice as County Durham); it was a village fete so the family could come along and best of all there was a public house at the finish line!
So all the Rodgers family headed off with the constant call from the back of the car, are we there yet and will there be ice cream. We arrived to find plenty of parking and even toilets in the car park. We then bumped into Alister on the high street so I did what was right and let the kids pester him, while he tried to get them to become parkrun volunteers. So far so good as race time approached the kids went off and attacked the tombola and Mr Robson and I found our respective places in the pack.
With the words of Alan Sehault in my mind about pacing, I set off at a steady 5.00/Km with the intention of running round in a less than an hour. First mile done and then I started to appreciate the reminder from my wife to put sun block on as it was getting very hot and very sunny. The first portion of the race is quite gentle, a small couple of hills and a nice descent, then you realise that ‘undulating’ has a different meaning in Yorkshire, I would read it now as very hilly! Thank goodness for the helpers at the 3 water stations and 2 sponge points, they even had a car driving round offering water to those of us at the back.
So back to the run, I will admit to drifting to a powerwalk on one of the big hills and the constant changing of the running line to find shade. There was a chap of senior age running with me, never found out his name, but thanks to him for dragging me round the undulating bits.
At mile 6 I thought one more to go and managed to pick the pace up again especially when I found out that the last portion was downhill. Then a shock as I passed the 7 mile marker with no sight of the finish line, it seems that in Yorkshire racing they are generous with the distance and so I ‘sprinted’ the last 700 odd yards to be cheered in by Alister and my family with the best thing of all, a photo by Helen of me with both feet off the ground.
Now to the key point, the pub at the finish line allowed for 3 pints of carbo loading and an understanding wife to drive me home! Time just a tad over 1.03 so very happy given the hills and the conditions.
This is a great race and is worth a larger strider turnout, wonderful route, brilliant organisation and plenty for the family to do while they wait, although I am not sure what Alister will do with the coconut the girls gave him. Oh and there is a pub at the finish line.