I almost didn’t compete in the Bradley Stoke 10k this morning as I was feeling a bit bleurgh, but since I was awake in time and had to run anyway I figured I would go along and just enjoy it. Brilliant blue skies and it was looking like a hot one, so no thoughts of a fast time, I was planning on just running to feel and getting round. The course loops through Bradley Stoke, which reminds me of bits of Reading that I did my driving lessons around (identakit houses, very easy to get lost in). It’s a bit hilly in places and was a mix of pavements and gravel paths. Towards the last few km the marshalls (who were great) started telling me I was 3rd lady (which I didn’t believe) and I started reeling in the lady ahead of me. I knew Antonia (who trains at WISE on a Wednesday) would be way out in front, so just concentrated on catching the person in front of me and then staying ahead of her.

The route had to be revised last minute due to a police cordon, but I hadn’t run this race before, so I had no idea where the finish line was. I went through 10k in 44:44 (only 33 seconds slower than last week), but there was still another 2 minutes of running to do and I finished in 46:52 and 10.48km. I was 64th overall and 2nd lady, winning a bottle of wine which was presented to me by Nick Rose (I don’t drink).

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