Birmingham 10k - Track

First off a good effort by the BMC to put on a track 10k and hopefully will be a few more next year as I need some practice if I am going to get the time for Commonwealth games next year (29.20). It is so different to a road 10k; you tend to play safe first few 'k's where on the road everyone goes out pretty hard from the start. Seeing lap markers as well keeps you on your toes and sort of holds you back again where on the road you see 8k and give everything you have and hang on for that last k. Also gaps seem much bigger when they are made, getting lapped isn't nice either!

Andy Vernon was racing himself and I would like to think we helped in our own way once we were in sight and he had something to chase in the second half. Anyway in my own race I sat in as Ryan ran at the front, the first mile felt like we were jogging and thought maybe a few more seconds faster wouldn't hurt us really but wasn't to bothered. I tried not to look up but at one point saw 15 laps to go and took a deep breath. I was following Dave Wardle and as an experienced runner I was happy to go quite close to his heels knowing he would jump about although there were some sharp jumps in the first few miles as people found their feet.

As Ryan pulled off Kev Skinner Jumped out of the pack and made off but unfortunately I was in a bad patch with a stitch and trying my best to forget about and get rid of it so I wasn't up for a chase. Dave Wardle and Ben Fish did their job and kept the pace up while Dave Norman started making all sorts of noises behind me! With a kilometre to go the stomach wasn't great but better so as we got to 700m to go I went to the front of the pack and tried to do something for all the guys in the group and just pushed on best I could, with 200m to go a couple went past but managed to get one back on the home straight.

Happy with the run and I know with better race week, not thinking I will have to pull over for a 'pit stop' and getting to grips with all those laps I will go faster.

It was a night for Kev Skinner as much as Andy Vernon though and after a few near misses he finally broke the 30minute barrier and I was really pleased for him as he is a genuine, nice, hard working guy....its not his fault he looks 50!

Simx