Kirkby Stephen 10K – 17th May
by Brad Wight
While most of the club were tackling the Blackhill Relays, I was working away in Lancashire. Again, the Runbritain race listings gave me options, nothing on my doorstep but I decided the 30 min drive to Kirkby Stephen for a 10K road race made more sense than 5Ks in Workington or Stockport.
The race was hosted by Howgill Harriers and was a friendly event with approximately 40 runners and a junior race was held beforehand. Another local club, Eden Runners, were using it as their 10K champs and the majority of competitors were from those two clubs. Others came from Kendal, Ripon and Harrogate but I was the sole representative from Co. Durham.
Having scouted out a bit of the course on my warm up I knew an over eager start would be bad news so decided to start in the middle of the pack and take it easy. The first mile was very up and down, quite steep climbs but not long enough to cause any difficulty before you found yourself flying downhill again, just about getting your breath back before the next climb began.
After the one mile marker it got tougher with a series of very long uphill slogs all the way to the four mile point. We did get a slightly unwelcome breather when we had to squeeze up tight against a stone wall to let a farm lorry past on a single track road. I suppose for eight quid entry you aren’t going to get roads closed, however, there was a water station halfway round.
At the four mile point it was all downhill and, thanks to a bit of Strava snooping, I was aware of this and had made sure I’d held something in reserve. There were five runners in front of me, strung out over 200 yards or so, and I had them all in my sights. It took half a mile to catch up with the lads in 4th and 5th but there was no catching the front three who were also giving it pelters down the very steep downhills.
At one point we were running under five minute mile pace and I was worried I was going to trip myself up, don’t think my legs have ever moved so fast and I’m not sure good running form includes wildly windmilling arms. There was one final little climb where I was able to pull away from the other two lads and with 400m to go I put the afterburners on and grabbed myself a 4th place finish.
Despite the 650ft elevation I was only 20 seconds off my 10K PB set in January on a flat course with Lee Thompson pacing me so I think I might have improved a bit! I was very happy and slightly surprised to win twenty quid for coming 1st in my age category.
Andrew Douglas of Eden Runners won in 40:05, I was 4th in 42:19, the first lady was Sally McCullock of Eden Runners in 45:38.
I’d quite like to do this one again next year. It would be good to get a car full of red and gold vests over!
Brad
