Blenheim Palace 10k, 2019

The lovely Mrs S and I beetled up the A34 early doors on this chilly morning to Blenheim Palace for what has become an annual pilgrimage to the Rotary 10k race.

We were expecting more of the charmingly Britishly quirky organisation that comes as part of the deal, and we weren't disappointed.  The compere took up his sonorous monologue on the PA system, and a team of ladies earnestly explained how to pin our numbers.  An Olympic Rower (we were never told who, which we figured to mean that he hadn't done very well in the Olympics) led a warm up, and we were encouraged to get in the position, with elite runners at the front. (Elite meant sub-30 minute 5k and sub-45 minute 10k. Priceless.)

Chilly start

The first km was gently uphill and into the wind, and the exuberant start by many of the field faded away quite quickly.  At the turnaround in front of the palace two runners ahead turned left for the 5k, and I was in fourth place.  I caught number three a few minutes later and then number two (as it were) at the halfway point, just at the start of the long climb.

I was feeling good, albeit working hard at the top of my range.  The park landscape was fabulous.  Close to the end we took a long triangular detour off the tarmac path on to a bumpy gravel track and then wet grass.  Push as much as I could, every step felt laboured and slow.

I deliberately hadn't looked at my watch during the race, so I was delighted to see the clock at the finish showing 37-something.  I finished in 37:55 in second place, 30 seconds ahead of last year and over a minute up on 2017.  Here are my stats.

Mrs S came storming home after a cracking run, narrowly missing out on a category prize.  The prizegiving didn't disappoint in its slightly bumbling charm.  I had to go forward for both a second and a V50 prize, and each time I had to be photographed having a handshake with the Rotary chairman... the second time the photographer got distracted by some ladies (we've all been there) and I had to stand there for about a minute in a clench with the old chap.

This has become a firm favourite family fixture!

Wait for it... wait for it...

Splendid pedunculates