We arrived in Winchester at about 7:45 (yes, really) and it was about two degrees with the sun just coming up over the trees. Outside the Guildhall we met a chilly bunch of Hares and OS Runners. The Lovely Mrs S wasn't running today, unfortunately (shoulder injury), but she became the unofficial bag wallah as everyone reluctantly peeled off layers to get in position.
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| One of Ali's infamous Hares selfies |
In the start funnel I met up with Matt Brown and Alex Prinsep. We set off, and both of them swiftly moved ahead. It took me a few minutes to loosen up and start to feel comfortable. Plenty of runners overtook me in the first km, but from then on I was slowly reeling them in and moving up the field - just as I like it.
The course was undulating with some steady climbs, both no severe hills. I was going at the top of my threshold, but felt strong as the kms ticked over. By about 7k we were starting the descent into Winchester and I realised that I was closing up on Alex. With just under 2k to go I caught up with him. We ran together all the way home, sometimes me a little ahead and sometimes Alex.
I recognised the hill that in 2017 was the end of the course. But we still that 500m to go on an altered route, and the final section through the park was a killer. Alex edged ahead and I ran like a dog to hold on. I didn't catch him, but I took out a couple of other guys which was reward enough.
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| Chasing Alex to the finish... at the end I was 1 second behind him |
I heaved over the line in a chip time of 37:22 (gun time 37:27). I was astonished, as this was my fastest 10k for ages... my previous best in recent years was 37:37 in Eastleigh in 1013. Here are my Garmin stats, and here is my head-to-head with Alex.
Many smiling faces at the finish, where the sun was warming us up nicely - everyone had had a cracking race and it felt like spring was in the air.
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| Happy Hares |
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| Smiling Surveyors |
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