Morpeth 10k

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Alister Robson

My 6th go at this race which is almost always the first back after our holidays. After two weeks all-inclusive holiday I didn’t have great hopes. It’s a great warmup for Darlington 10k, also 2 laps and with a long drag up a gradual incline. Morpeth also throws in a couple of small hills.

Megan Bell and I travelled up together and Becky & Richard Hall (2) were already there. registration had changed slightly this year, although you still park at the Piramol chemical factory and register at the Football Club, this year you didn’t get the mug beforehand and have to go all the way back to the car to keep that safe before making your way to the start (another good walk/warmup).

As I explained to Megan on the startline, the name of the game with this one is pacing, take a nice steady first lap and then speed up slightly for the second, picking off those who’d gone off to fast and getting a psychological boost in the process. I almost managed to follow the plan, just went out a little too hard towards the end of the first lap, no harm done though as I still managed to run all the way up the long drag that starts the second half (something that has to my shame defeated me in previous years).

Chasing Kirstin of Durham City Harriers who was having an absolute stormer kept me going and I only managed this in the last couple of Km. I gave her a few encouraging words which must have worked as she held, despite being tired for a massive PB and crossing the line with the same time as me. I initially thought that we’d both dipped under 45 mins, a course PB for me and a massive 2 minute PB for Kirstin but we were robbed a bit by the official results giving us 45.13.

Megan came in quickly after me in a season’s best time, and Becky and Richard (fresh from his Ironman exploits) followed in shortly after. A nice run and a good omen for the weekend.

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