I should have taken a printout of Rebecca Thorne’s article last week on learning to love the hills to my race yesterday. There were certainly plenty of them on the Dorking 10m race route. Admittedly, none of them was really very steep, or even very long – but there were certainly enough to please the committed hill-lover.
It was my first time at this race, which forms part of the Surrey Road League series. That means almost everyone is wearing club vests, with a nice low-key start and finish (though an added bonus of technical T-shirts this year for finishers, as it was the 20th anniversary of the race) and cheery marshalling. Also, a lot of sunshine and some very beautiful countryside – complete with views of Box Hill to make you glad the hills weren’t quite that sort of level.
Nursing a slight niggle, I didn’t have the greatest of races, but it was nevertheless thoroughly enjoyable. This in itself was a boost – I’ve been struggling recently with illness, tiredness, the usual travails – so it was a pleasure simply to run on pretty country roads in the sunshine, scoff some delicious homemade banana bread at the end, and enjoy almost every minute.
I do wish there were more 10m races; I think it’s my favourite distance. Long enough to feel challenging (and earn the banana bread), but without the seemingly endless last few miles of a half marathon. If you’ve never tried it, seek one out – if only because new distances mean a guaranteed PB. One of the next races in the Surrey League series is the Elmore 7m race, which I may have to do simply for that reason.
So, how was your weekend running – were you racing or training with a club, running for yourself or helping out? As always, share your triumph and woes below the line.
[Correction! It was actually the 30th anniversary of the Dorking 10. Sorry!]
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