Endurancelife Sussex 10k, 2021

This was our first race of 2021, and for me a bit of a punt after 10 weeks or so struggling to recover from a tender Achilles heel. Not wanting to tempt fate, I had downgraded my half marathon place to a 10k.

It was kind of appropriate to be returning to the Sussex race as the first step out of racing lockdown, as the race in March 2020 was our last before the Covid shutters came down.

We arrived nice and early in Eastbourne, where it was bright and chilly. The start zone was familiar from the Beachy Head marathons. The lovely Mrs S was doing the half, and she set off  ahead of me on her staggered start.

Mrs S starts her half marathon

 

Back to the car, change, loosen up a bit and then jog up to the start. By now it was warming up nicely. My official start time was right at the beginning of the 10k window at 10:30. A few minutes before this I wandered over to say hello. I wasn't at all surprised when they said 'oh, you can start now if you like'.

And so that was it - I was racing again for the first time in over 4 months. Fantastic! And my ankle was feel OK - even better. The course was a a reverse direction of last year's race (which had started in Birling Gap), and the coastal route was familiar, including the stonking 110m hill about a mile in. Hands on thighs, pushing and panting and up to the top of Beachy Head and the most fabulous view of ahead of me. I tried not to gurn too badly at the photographer, and enjoyed the long descent.

Luckily my running form hadn't deteriorated whatsoever over 10 weeks

Soon enough the 10k-ers separated from the HM-ers, and I was surprised to see so many folk ahead of me... the allocated start times really were very theoretical. I went up a hill and seeing no sign, went through a pedestrian gate at the end of a field and turned left (straight on had a red X sign), and I found myself running in the same direction as everyone else, but on the wrong side of barbed wire fence. Luckily the wire was not too taut and I managed to do a swift legover crossing.

A sharp right turn a short while later, and we were heading north-east on a long, long uphill drag into the wind. I was trying to diligently follow the signs, but somehow yet again I ended up on the wrong side of a fence. I climbed onto a gate wrapped in barbed wire and had to do an awkward balancing leap to get clear of the electric fence on the other side. For a moment it was touch and go, but thankfully I got over without any tearing or shocking of the flesh.

This was a seriously attritional, sapping drag of a hill. I know the score well; get in gear, focus, and pick off the runners ahead one by one. And then some guy in black came cruising past me, and it wobbled me a little, reminding me that I really wasn't match fit.

Eventually I reached the top of the hill and Eastbourne and the sea opened up ahead of me. All down hill now. I picked up the pace, dodging the brambles, thickets and roots, and was chuffed to overtake the MIB before descending to the road, into the park and across the finish line in 46:54. Soon after returning from getting changed at the car, Mrs S came tearing down the hill for her own finish.

Straight on for the finish, love - don't end up in the headmaster's office!

The race had been tough, but great fun. It was lovely to be able to run competitively and chat to others at the finish line. Here are my stats, and here are the results which came out later - I'd managed to grab second place. A fantastic outing!