Exbury 10k, 2023

This was the first time we'd run this local race. It was a boiling hot day, and thank goodness it started at 9am, when the temperature was already heading into the mid 20s. Yikes.

We both imagined that it would be a low-key rural affair, but no - the place was rammed with a thousand runners plus families. It took ages to get ourselves parked, and there was minimal time to get ourselves sorted once we arrived - there was just time for a bog visit and then off to the start line, where I found myself next to Alan Graham and Chris Sansome from Lordshill.

I tried to be sensible when we set off. The first km took 3:43, the second 3:37, which I knew was not sustainable. I loved the scenery, some of which I dimly recognised from the Solent Half. The terrain was a gradual downhill.

Before long I had a view of the sea and was on the dog leg to Lepe beach where we were turned around. Quite abruptly, I found myself having to work harder. It was now net uphill to the finish, and I was really feeling the effect of the heat. I kept my position, but I was starting to struggle. I was really steaming by the time I reached the entrance to Exbury Gardens, where the adventure started.

There were two entrances to the gardens, and I didn't appreciate that we were directed back a different way to which we had emerged on the road. My mental map was wrong; I was set on bearing to the left for the final approach to the finish. I saw the gravel path bearing to the left so I followed it, while vaguely hearing an amplified voice announcing my name... but I didn't hear the bit about taking a wrong turn. A young bloke arrived in my field of vision waving like mad. I turned around and saw the huge finish gantry to my left. A Hardley Runner was running towards the line. No you don't, pal... I pushed frantically to get over the line before him.

My highly original route to the finish line

I finished in a rather unsatisfactory 38:38, having seriously slowed down in the second half. Here are my stats.

Green out, blue home

Check out this video from 3:20, which shows how I lost 5 places as a result of being a right eejit.

Meanwhile, the lovely Mrs S had an absolute blinder of a run, nailing her best 10k time this decade, having started conservatively, picked up the pace and hung on to pacer extraordinaire Rob Kelly. And poor Tom Wharton, the Romsey vicar, really lost the plot. He had to be helped over the line (he remembers none of this) where he collapsed and really thought the end was nigh for him. Thank goodness he's now OK.

I have unfinished business with this race!