Penicuik 10km

The multi choice Saturday came to be and I opted for the 10km race. STV was not showing the FA Cup Final. Instead they were showing the Alan Titchmarsh Show and Midsommer Murders. The race was not in Pencaitland as I carelessly put on the previous post, but in the town of Penicuik. A lovely backdrop to this race is the Pentland Hills and the course itself is rather hilly too. So much so that the talk in the post race feed & chit chat was it adds around 60-90 seconds to most people's runs.

188 runners set off, narrowly avoiding the huge archery tournament that was going on next to us. I felt sorry for any Mods passing through Penicuik today! Anyway the course takes you immediately up a hill. The well wishing marshall lied and said it leveled out...but not for a long way was the bit they forgot to add. It's been about 3-4 years since I ran a 10km so I couldn't decide how to pace it. I decided on trying to keep up or even pass those in front. It worked mostly but after 5km I realised that the more experienced racers of this distance use their first 5km to warm up and then step up a gear or two for the last 5. This meant a number of runners passed me but I was confident I would be in the top 20. I could hear the snort of a runner behind me for ages. As supporters kept saying 'keep going Adele' I realised a woman was on my tail. I held her back for most of it which was a nice downhill stretch, but in the last 800 meters my lungs were making some strange noises, my spirit was dim and then I got a fly in my eye and I lost the edge. Still happy enough with 17th place and 5th in my age, but I was not happy with my 39:12....but if I take 60-90 seconds off it gives me an idea of how I'd do on a flat course. I am after anything near 36. I'll try and find some more to do and see what I can get. I have also spotted a couple of 10km in Barcelona that are on when we head there for our holidays. I would like to give them a go.