Have you ever watched those wildlife programs shot in Antarctica? You know, the one’s where there’s this huge flock of penguins all huddled together against the freezing blizzard? Well that’s exactly what it was like at the start of the Boscombe 10k this morning.
Half an hour before the start, the rain stopped and it started getting brighter. This is good, I thought, just like Ilminster where it all blew over just in time for the race. No such luck.
The race started at King’s Park athletic track. There is one large stand with changing facilities and cafe on the home straight, the rest is all completely open to the elements. With ten minutes to go I joined the rest of the field out on the windswept track, one eye on the starter, the other on a huge black cloud that was approaching with ominous intent. The cloud won. With about two minutes to go before the start, the wind cranked up and the rain came down. Cue penguin imitations. Everyone trying to keep moving on the spot to keep warm, but also trying to bunch up against the driving rain. The droplets were hitting my legs with such force they felt like hailstones. The race started on time, but the damage had been done. I was soaked to the skin before I even left the stadium.
Because of the weather and the bunching, I didn’t have chance to work my way up the field a bit before the start, so as usual I got a bit held up in the first 1k which clocked in at 5:22 vs my target of 5:10 per k. I think the rain eased off after about 15 minutes or so, but there were huge puddles everywhere and you can never miss them all. Got back on track a bit with 5:06, 5:09, 5:05,and 4:55, then 5:26 on the only hilly bit. Then on the run back managed a really consistent 5:01, 5:01, 5:03. The final k was hard work, slightly uphill, bit muddy back across the park and into the wind, but picking the pace up when I got back to the track still managed 5:15 (in glorious sunshine I have to say). So overall time of 51m 29s when you add all the decimals back in. Very pleased with that, and looking forward to Southborne in the Spring when I’ll be targeting my old PB and trying to get under 50 mins.
Finally, thank you to all the organisers and marshalls. It can’t be much fun standing around in the rain holding up impatient car drivers whilst we runners lollop across the junctions.
