first 10k – RunningBean

first 10k

June 5 2023

Turing 10k in Milton Keynes

Hannah Homepage, Running first 10k, running, turing 10k 0

My first official timed 10k! I did one 10k event a few years ago, I wasn’t much of a runner then and I walked some of it. It was more of a fun run and there was no chip timing. This time, no walking! The Milton Keynes marathon weekend is a brilliant set of events and superbly organised.

This was me having just collected and attached my race number. I told myself that I was just going to take it easy and not aim for a quick time haha! Needless to say that mantra went out of the window and my competitive spirit kicked in shortly after crossing the start line.

If you’re like me, you just think of MK as the shopping centre, a bit of an ugly concrete city. It is a city now isn’t it?? However, there is actually a lot of greenery and pretty parts to Milton Keynes! We started in Campbell Park. I was worried as this was next to a pretty big hill and I thought this was a hint of what’s to come.

It’s a great course, all on concrete paths or pavements. There is a time limit as there are road closures that need to reopen. We passed by Willen lake twice and went through a cute village, Milton Keynes village I think? People had even come out of their houses to cheer us on! At the 8 or 9k mark though there was an unexpected hill and at the same time my laces came undone, so I was pretty pleased when saw that my time was under 1 hour!

I had just stepped over the finish line and this text came through! It was nice to hear through my headphones that I had done it in 55m30s! Properly chuffed with this time and then it was time for a large glass of wine in the pub with my husband.

I celebrated again when we got home with a nice gin and tonic. Check out the brilliant medal too! I would 100% do this event again 10/10.

March 19 2023

First 10k!!!

Hannah Homepage, Running first 10k, run club, running 0

It felt like a big step up to join the 10k group. My overthinking threatened to hold me back as usual. “Can I manage 10k?”, “will I hold everyone up?”, “it’s a new group, will anyone chat to me?”. These are just some of the thoughts trying to stop me pushing myself!

Well, I put my big girl pants on and I did it. It was unusually cold, it tried to snow and the wind was blasting us in the face. I forgot my ear warming head band which made me really sad half way! I struggle with sore ears when running even when its even a smidgen cold!

Let’s talk about the group though. At this club there are 6 groups in total, with varying distances and paces in each group. This was the 10k group that run around 10-11.5 minute miles. There was around 8-10 of us, I can’t quite remember. The pace was perfect for me, I didn’t feel like I struggled, but my legs did tire towards the end. We did some looping to keep everyone together and meant a little extra mileage!

Every month the start point of the club changes and therefore the routes change too. It keeps things fun and different. It helps me learn new longer routes too. I’m starting to find my usual routes from home boring, so the more new routes I learn, the better.

I liked this route; it had a bit of everything. A nice big loop of Bedford ending up down by the river. There were some short hilly sections but nothing too steep. Hills are not my favourite and I’m still working on the running up hills thing!

Everyone, as usual, was really friendly in this group. I think they were all a little dubious whether I would manage the 10k though! The chat often turns to food, as we run pre-dinner. I am always starving by the end, and running past fish and chip shops doesn’t help! We were also joined on our run by a shopping delivery robot. These things fascinate me!

So I booked a 10k a little while ago for the summer, thinking the distance was a bit daunting, and I’d have to work up to it. Now, I want to book more 10k races, and sooner!! I really want to do the vitality 10k in London, which is in May. It looks like a fun route with a nice goody bag and medal at the end. I’m trying to convince my husband to join me. Any suggestions for any interesting 10ks are most welcome!