My favourite races to date
I’ve been thinking about listing my favourite races to date for a while now so in no particular order, here goes;
Bristol Half Marathon
Big grin for a PB!
This is one of favourite races. Not only did I get a PB here, it was also the biggest race I had ever been involved in. Of the few races I had run before this event, all of them had been in small towns so taking in the atmosphere and surroundings of a big city environment was something else. I still remember the buzz I felt coming back into the city centre and hearing the steel bands and then seeing and hearing the crowds around Queens Square. I can only begin to imagine what it feels like to run London Marathon. Really looking forward to going back to this one in a few weeks time.
Bristol 10k
Smashed a sub 40 10k
The main two reasons for this being on the list are the same as those above but this was different. I think the number of entrants was higher and I was a much improved runner by the time this race came around. My 10k PB going into this race was 41.40 and I somewhat ambitiously targeted a sub 40 minute time. I remember starting the race with Gary Lewis from Clevedon AC, husband of Jemma (@thisgirlcanrunfar), and thinking that I had set off too fast. I let him go but managed to keep a steady pace and even caught him with less than a mile to go. I found out afterwards that he had passed out before the finish which put a bit of a dampener on the day. However, I crossed the finish line in 39.51 meaning I had achieved one my goals for the year, a sub 40 minute 10k!
Burnham Half Marathon
My one and only running trophy
Ah, my home race. This was actually my first ever race way back in 2008. At that time I didn’t really have a clue what I was doing with my running and I literally would just run 4 and 6 miles a few times a week. That was the extent of my training but I still finished in a respectable time of 1hr48. Fast forward 8 years and I was back. I was a completely different person and I was a man on a mission. I hadn’t run a half marathon for 2 years before doing the Bridgwater half a few weeks before this where I smashed my long standing 1hr48 PB finishing in a time of 1hr41.55. I then followed that up with my run at Bristol half which I finished in 1hr40.23. I was tantalisingly close to going sub 1hr40 so I when I rocked up at Burnham that was my goal. It was only a week after Bristol so I wasn’t sure how my legs would react but I smashed it. Knowing the route well helped mentally as I knew in my mind where I was at all times and when I would be able to “drop the hammer” as I like to say! I crossed the line in 1hr37.20, 3 whole minutes off my Bristol time. I was ecstatic and finished 3rd local male which earned me my first and currently only trophy. It would be my last half for about 6 months.
Tewkesbury Half Marathon
Failing to hide my initial disappointment despite a massive PB
So fast forwarding 6 months and we get to my only half marathon of 2017. This may be starting to read like I’m just talking about all my PB races but to date, most of the races I’ve enjoyed the most have resulted in PB’s. This however, despite resulting in a massive PB, was not enjoyable. “Why is it on the list then?” I hear you ask, well its on the list because its the first of only two races I’ve ever run where I’ve had to really overcome adversity. Having trained ok for this race, my pace was great and I was coming off the back my sub 40 time at Bristol 10k but my long runs just didn’t happen, I somewhat foolishly thought I could achieve a sub 90 minute time having been informed it was a fast and flat course. It didn’t happen. I completely misjudged my goal and ability to achieve said goal. I went off fast and was keeping a pace of around 6.45minute/mile but it was hot, a lot hotter than I had expected it to be. I was taking on water from every station, thankfully they had added more, and I took a gel uncharacteristically early at the 4 mile mark. It was between miles 6 – 7 that the sub 90 dream ended. I started getting a sharp stabbing pain down my right side, almost like a stitch, and it got so bad that I had to stop and walk. I had never walked during a flat race before and it was demoralising. It was also when I learnt for certain what I’d always thought, I had mental strength in abundance. Despite the initial fears my race was over, I started a slow jog the moment the pain started to ease and I ran it off. So much so that I was soon catching and passing everyone that had passed me while I was walking. One guy I caught was arguably the reason I still PB’d. He knew I’d been in trouble and we briefly discussed times so he dedicated the rest of his race to pushing me on. It worked. I managed to get my pace and splits back to sub 7minute/mile and I finished with a massive PB of 1hr31.57, 6 and a half minutes off my previous PB 6 months before. Despite my initial disappointment, I quickly realised just how well I had done and the target of going sub 90 continues on.
Cary Canter 10k
A fun, wet and muddy race
This was my first proper muddy and wet off road race. I didn’t even have any trail shoes. I had no time aspirations, I just ran to enjoy it. It was tough in places as it was pretty hilly but it was actually really fun.
Brean Down Challenge/Santa Scramble 10k
The evolution of a runner!
The race that started all of this. Other than three half marathons spread over 6 years, the Brean Down Challenge 10k was my first race as what I would call a proper runner. I have done the standard race twice as its held twice a year, once in the winter/spring and again in late summer/autumn. They also do a Christmas version in December where they provide Santa suits and beards for everyone to dress up in which adds to the fun/challenge depending on how you look at it! My times have dropped considerably each time I’ve run this race and I even achieved a 5th and 6th place finish in the most recent two. I am looking to do this again in late September but for those that may be interested in doing it, be warned, it most certainly is a challenge and there is a 5k version for you more sensible folk!
Brent Knoll Race
After coming back down from the Knoll
Another local race. This race, held in late October, is the final race of the Somerset Series which is a point scoring format over a series of 18-20 races throughout the year held across Somerset. Being that it has a lot of importance on the outcome of the series and includes all the official prize awards, its a popular little race for such a small event. Its run by my local club, the Burnham Harriers who also do Burnham half and our local Parkrun, and its a thoroughly enjoyable race. It measures about half a mile short of 10k and involves running up and around the top of the Knoll before coming back down the other side. When I did it for the first time last year, it was wet and muddy with people struggling going up AND down the hilly parts which for me just adds to the fun!
The Cotswold Way Challenge 100k
More races should have champagne at the finish line!
This was a no brainer. By far the most epic race I have ever done and it will take some beating in those stakes. As I’m yet to finish my review/write up of this race I wont go into detail, I will say that this is the other race that’s involved me overcoming adversity, but if you want to know more then check out parts 1 & 2 in the race review section and look out for the 3rd and final instalment that will be posted soon.
So there you have it. I could have added more but I’m sure over the next 6-12 months I will have a lot more races to chose from and this list will no doubt look different. Feel free comment or let me know on social media if you’ve done any of these races, would like to do some of them or even what your favourite races are.
