The following report from this fast and flat Manchester race is by “our kid” Andy Walsh.
I decided to enter a notoriously fast, high standard 10k race in a bid to push myself out of my comfort zone at the start of the year – and see how my training is going after being injured for most of the winter. The field for this race is absolutely insane…both races were won by Olympians (Nick McCormick and Helen Clitheroe), and the first 7 guys home completed in less than 30 mins (winning time was 28:56). It was a bit scary seeing so many national standard runners warming up and then fly off at the gun, but it was inspiring and also meant that there were plenty of people around my pace to drag me round.
The course itself was amazing – quiet, slightly windy, very flat country lanes – only a couple of slight inclines and canal ‘hump’ bridges to negotiate. I seemed to have given a bit too much respect to the fact that there were clearly loads of amazing runners there, and started quite far back – meaning that my first kilometer was slow as I had to try and pick through some slightly slower runners. I then got back on target pace in km 2, and pushed on from there…and finished with a really strong last 2km and a big pb – 36:51 by the chip. Way beyond my expectations, over a minute quicker than my previous pb. I finished 177th out of 1000 with that time, which is quite mind boggling – it just shows that there is lots more improvement to be done!
I’d recommend this race to anyone looking to push out a new pb and get inspired – really well organised and friendly race, insane competition at the top end (but lovely course and great marshals if you’re not at that level!) and probably the best course that I have run on. I will definitely go back next year. And be faster.