The clocks go back this morning so this gives us an extra
hour in bed to mentally prepare ourselves or otherwise for today’s Sheffield
10k. This is a different Sheffield 10k to the Great Run organised one and is
run by Run For All, they of the
Jane Tomlinson Foundation, and
it’s sponsored by Asda.
These folk also organised the Sheffield Half
which I ran earlier this year and the course takes the same route out along
Ecclesall Road but then instead of disappearing up a big hill into the Peak
District it skirts around Endcliffe Park before return back along Ecclesall
Road.
Despite the omission of the ‘Peak District’
this is still a seriously undulating route and a real challenge. Although the biggest challenge of all is keeping up with the 45 min pacer which shouldn’t
really have been a problem for me considering my current form.
The pacer, however, sticks to his 4:30 per km pace with metronomic
precision even on the kilometres that are completely uphill.
This means that his initial group of around 30 runners is gradually reduced attritionally
to, well, probably nothing. I'm guessing here as I hung on longer than most but couldn’t stay the
distance either.
The inverse of this is that when the course starts heading
downhill later on he is hamstrung by his 4:30 pace meaning most of us
catch him and pass him. I finish in 44:55, so who needs dodgy pacers. Perhaps
we should have paced him?
After I have finished, I notice there is no queue at the
massage tent which is a rare thing indeed. I quickly go and get my rucksack back
from the baggage area, which works seamlessly this time, then I sign up for a
session on my calves. I must say that I get outstanding service from Sheffield
Hallam’s physiotherapy department who supply a girl for each leg and it’s well
worth the £2 charity donation I give them.
Just a word for the goodie bag which was excellent and
weighed down with snackie things.
On the way home we detour via Kennelgate where we attempt to
solve the ‘can’t see the dog ball in the dark problem’ without success. They
don’t have either a flashing or glow in the dark dog ball.
Then we head off to Leamington for meet Son and his gf for a
meal in the White Horse. I like the Horse but their food menu veers annoyingly from
arty to burgery without having much in between. The saving grace is always
their Sunday lunches but we are told today that they have none left.
Son tells us he is handing in his notice at his job. That'll keep L busy. Now she
will be busy job hunting for both Son and Daughter.
(Sunday 30th October)