Cardiff 10k

This was my first race since a very disappointing track season, blighted by injury.  Up until the Solihull BMC in July, I was still managing to produce runs that weren’t too far from my personal bests, but I was hanging onto the last threads of last winters training by then and from that point onwards, every race has seemed to get worse and worse.  I seem to be going into races now thinking “can today get any worse than the last race?” rather than “you know what, I’m confident of a good race today!”

Things have seemed to turn around a little since the track season ended.  I’ve only stepped onto the track once since, I’ve binned pretty much every shoe I own and got myself new trainers and racing flats, as well as getting some new “Footbalance” insoles fitted by the guys at Sweatshop in Manchester Arndale.  The PF has eased considerably, which has meant I have increased my mileage, increased the volume and frequency of my sessions and I have felt a benefit immediately. 

I ran my last session in my old flats the week prior to this race and it was obvious I was limping.  What a difference a new pair made!  I was wearing the insoles as well and I think these helped too.  I felt fluent in my running for the first time in ages!

I was asked at the last minute to run for the North team which at first I was reluctant to do as I didn’t feel I merited the selection.  Apparently the offer of a vest had been turned down by a lot. 

We set off and the pace was brisk without being stupidly quick.  After 600m, a Kenyan athlete Milton Kiplagat Rotich stormed past the large leading group as if he had missed the start and the racing got underway.  Stuart Stokes, Josh Lilley and Joe Bailey gave chase while I was part of a large group chasing those guys. 

This was the best I had felt in a long time and I was at the front of our group in the early stages, contemplating trying to get on the back of the other three but I just didn’t have the confidence to try that on the back of recent results.  My first mile split of 4:47 was pretty much bang on 30min pace and I think my decision was correct!

The group was working extremely well together.  Richie Gardiner, Matt Janes, Dan Cliffe and Matt Dumigan were all looking strong as we passed through 5k in 15:24.  There were still 9 of us locked together at 8k and I was still feeling really good so went to the front as we entered Bute Park and started to try and stretch things out a bit.  The move reduced the group to seven, and I felt super, with just the Kenyan, Stokes, Bailey and Lilley ahead this could be my best result in ages.  At 9k, there was a bit of a confusing junction in the park, I lost my position at the head of the group and went from feeling awesome at the front of the group to hanging just off the back of it in a matter of seconds.  My final position was 11^th in 30:51, meaning I had run my second half just three seconds slower than my first half so a well judged run and although some way off where I need to be, my best result for a while.

The winning time was an outrageous 27:46 – over 2 mins ahead of the first British runner.  The course was very quick and I’d fully recommend it to anyone gunning for a 10k road PB next September!