Rodway 10k - 8th March 2020

I was pretty nervous about this…I had never run a race (not since egg and spoon at school), I had never won a medal, and I had never run 10k! I joined EGRC last May and had seen enough people go and do races so I decided this was my year. Little did I know that this would be one of the last races before everything got locked down. It seems impossible that so recently we mingled innocently in Mangotsfield School entrance hall, passing around cups of tea and dipping in to cakes on a tray! Little did I know that just weeks later I’d be relying on parts of the route to provide daily exercise, walking and cycling with my family, whilst boring them with my race memories!

In the lead up to the race it was the 10k distance that worried me- how would it feel? Would I manage the steps? Would those lovely EGRC members who were marshalling witness me crashing out big time?

It turns out that I was worrying about the wrong thing as always! I found this out on the Thursday night training session before the main event, which was advertised as a Rodway recce. Do we need trail shoes, asked one savvy member in the Facebook comments. Trail shoes? For running round the cycle track? 2 hours later I had my answer. A portion of the race which detours from the track at Siston Common was a quagmire. My worn out old trainers had no grip and I am grateful to fellow members for holding me up at various points and for the whole party for waiting when I got separated from the group and couldn’t see a single head torch to guide the way! It was clear that I would definitely need those trail shoes. I bought a pair of Salomon trail shoes 5 mins before Sports Direct closed on the Friday night. They seemed to fit like a glove. My plan was to try them out at Parkrun ready for the race the next day. It was a toss-up of whether to do this or rest, but it was Lucy’s 50th race and International Women’s day, so no contest. I ran it in a Cleopatra wig and my feet felt fine. Not only that but I felt the difference as they propelled me up the hill.

I felt a new sense of confidence about the race - I knew where I was going and had done it in the dark with no grip. This could only be easier. I eyed up some of the other competitors without trail shoes and wearing pristine white running gear somewhat smugly. Thanks to team EGRC I knew what was to come.

I tackled those muddy fields with comparative ease. The shoes were comfortable on the path and I was encouraged by so many friendly faces at marshalling points, the water station and those who turned up to support and cheer us on enthusiastically, plus fellow competitors ( I came tantalisingly close to Wendy on a few occasions, but not close enough!)

Fortunately I had been warned about the final part where you come past the school then loop away again, but it still felt cruel. The final ascent up through Pomphrey was definitely the hardest, and the point at which it started to rain. I crossed the finish line and collapsed, but I’d done it in 1:06:53. Not bad for a first attempt and an off-road race, so I am told. My first medal ever!

What did I learn? Ask about the terrain next time, not just the distance! Oh and don’t go to the toilet when they are about to take the team photo.