Netley 10k, 2022

We set off early to Royal Victoria Country Park on a damp morning, to find the place already buzzing with people. This being a Hampshire Road Race League event, we were bumping into friends as soon as we got out of the car. There was a super atmosphere, and the conditions were good.

I'd only done this race once before - that was in 2017, when I burned out in the first half and struggled on the last lap, finishing in a lacklustre 38:36. This race hadn't been a particular focus, but I was looking forward to seeing what I could do several weeks after my last 10k races at Eastleigh and Calne.

We set off, and I tried to set a sensible pace. The track narrowed fairly quickly, and the traffic was actually quite useful in keeping me steady. Nevertheless, after the first km the route opened up on a wide descending road, and I enjoyed breezing past many people.

Into the second half, and I was focusing on enjoying the day, the race and the course rather than worrying about splits. A few runners overtook me, including Jamie Foster from Itchen Spitfires, and I knew that my second half would be slower than my first, but I was nevertheless feeling strong and comfortable.

Lap 2, weather good

At some point during the third lap, the slightly damp air became drizzle, then light rain and soon enough an absolute downpour. It made the finish all the more exciting, splashing through puddles and enjoying the cooling rain. Into the final stretch... Jamie had pulled a little way ahead, and several people were saying 'well done first lady' to someone just out of view, challenging hard. I never saw her, but used the challenge as a spur to push the pace heading to the line.

Pushing to the finish line in the rain

I finished in a chip time of 37:22, well above my 2017 time, and pipping my Eastleigh 10k chip time by a single second. Here are my Garmin stats. A very satisfactory Micawberesque result!

The souvenir towels made for great soggy headgear

I still went off a bit fast