Whilst driving round the back lanes, lost in the countryside the other night and trying to search for the appropriate house in the dark I had a flashback. This flashback took me to the first time that I entered a 10K and, coincidentally enough, it was the very same race that I’m about do this weekend.
Revisiting my first 10k and, of course, a route that has not changed in years. However, a route that still provides a challenge to the unprepared or unseasoned runner. The first time, that I undertook the run I was completely unprepared. Having absolutely no training behind me I put on my shoes and ran to the start line from the car of my, then, girlfriend. I recall, that the day was freezing and there was ice and hard ground. Perfect. I ran the race and, in typical first-time style, I got to the crossroads, turned right to tackle the 3K Hill and was fooled by the more level turn halfway up the hill. lulled into a false state of confidence, I thought I’d made it! However, coming round the corner I realised very quickly that there was still more to come. Looking back, my legs hurt. My chest hurt due to the effort of running up the hill and I wanted to stop. But I kept going and, crossing the line, I got my first 10k medal. That rocked!
The next time I ran 10k (in the same race) I was about 3K into the race when my third metatarsal snapped! Wow, let me tell you that certainly hurt! Of course, I carried on and finished the race in 50 mins. I would have smiled at the time but the foot was bothering me a bit.
The next time, that I ran the 10k (same race) was when I was training for my first Marathon des Sables in 2009. At that time, I ran a bit further. In fact, all the way from Henley to Woodcote and started the race (unofficially as I hadn’t entered). So I ran past the runners queueing at the start line, smiling and saying a cheery good morning. I then ran the whole of the 10k and as I got to the finish line I began to walk and take on board a carb gel. Immediately to my right, the wife of a competitor still out on the course, chided me. She asked me if 10k was too tough. I responded that I was merely taking on board a gel before running back to Henry and completing my 26 miles training run. Good fun!
In a few days I’m about to go back and do that very same 10k again. I’m really looking forward to it as I’m certain that there will be people and faces that I know. I’m sure that as I run the course, I will be thinking of the memories that I have shared above and even more about the memories to come as I continue my 10 Million Metres challenge.
If you have memories of races that mean something to you please feel free to share them too at www.facebook.com/10MillionMetres.
In the meantime, keep moving.