29 September . . catching up
After being challenged by gradients last week in South
Glos, I managed to find a fairly flat 10k in North Yorkshire today.
Di came over the Wolds to join in, although a severe planning fail meant that my orange top clashed with her purple one, and it was much to everyone's relief when she found a place on the start line some way ahead of me!
Starting and finishing in Sutton-on-the-Forest, the course took us through woody Sutton Park, across fields - fortunately not ploughed - and around farms, all connected by sections of road. For much of the second half of the race we could see the white horse at Kilburn in the distance, which I liked.
Through the woods were all sorts of obstacles - tree roots, mole hills, low branches (for me at least) and bear pits. Once out of the woods we had to contend with a strong wind which turned out to be behind us on the long, slightly uphill drag in the 9th kilometre, and very welcome it was too, although earlier in the race I'd been wishing it would blow elsewhere. It was very dusty out there too
There weren't many spectators, but the marshalls and their helpers were very enthusiastic. As we crossed the farm, I'd never seen hay bales stacked so high - three times my height, I reckon - and I did wonder how tall the farmers there are?
I had set myself some goals, and managed to achieve them all. I didn't walk (for the first time in a 10k since December), I beat last week's 5 mile time, my breathing remained under control throughout and I smiled the whole way round and enjoyed every step. I feel I'm on my way to my May marathon.
So a great little race which I hope to return and take part in again. Di did well after flying round Doncaster parkrun yesterday (and thanks again for coming over), and I just may have imagined the bear pits!
Di came over the Wolds to join in, although a severe planning fail meant that my orange top clashed with her purple one, and it was much to everyone's relief when she found a place on the start line some way ahead of me!
Starting and finishing in Sutton-on-the-Forest, the course took us through woody Sutton Park, across fields - fortunately not ploughed - and around farms, all connected by sections of road. For much of the second half of the race we could see the white horse at Kilburn in the distance, which I liked.
Through the woods were all sorts of obstacles - tree roots, mole hills, low branches (for me at least) and bear pits. Once out of the woods we had to contend with a strong wind which turned out to be behind us on the long, slightly uphill drag in the 9th kilometre, and very welcome it was too, although earlier in the race I'd been wishing it would blow elsewhere. It was very dusty out there too
There weren't many spectators, but the marshalls and their helpers were very enthusiastic. As we crossed the farm, I'd never seen hay bales stacked so high - three times my height, I reckon - and I did wonder how tall the farmers there are?
I had set myself some goals, and managed to achieve them all. I didn't walk (for the first time in a 10k since December), I beat last week's 5 mile time, my breathing remained under control throughout and I smiled the whole way round and enjoyed every step. I feel I'm on my way to my May marathon.
So a great little race which I hope to return and take part in again. Di did well after flying round Doncaster parkrun yesterday (and thanks again for coming over), and I just may have imagined the bear pits!
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