Small race report for a small race. I had a number of reasons for racing this morning: I wanted to assess my condition after the holiday break, kick-start my training again and regain some enthusiasm, but most importantly just enjoy myself with a race in the local countryside.
This was a typical Volkslauf (race for the people), organised by one of the athletic clubs in the area. Very cheap race fees, €5 for the 10k, only €1 extra to register on the day, low number of participating runners (167 for the 10k), interesting well marked course, friendly helpers to point the way or offer drinks at the finish, and of course home made cakes and coffee in the sports hall to raise money for club funds. These are races organised by runners for runners, I’m fast realising this is what I like best. I don’t need gimics, free sportsbags, t-shirts, exhibitions, videos, photos at €10 a shot, I digress.
Race start 9am, short warmup beforehand, quick chat with someone in the lineup to ask about the course, uphill 40m to km3, then sharp down 40m, uphill again for 60m to km 5, then down hill with another short ascent of 30m at km 8, all on asphalt on small country roads.
The garmin splits: 3:44, 4:09, 3:45, 4:01, 4:07, 3:48, 3:37, 3:52, 3:58, 3:41.
Effort was pretty constant and hard but at no time did it feel all out, I’d placed myself in the front 1/3rd at the start to slowly overtake throughout, reeling in runners one at a time. One young lad impressed me, a 13 yr old who I didn’t pass until km7, he finished 15th in 38:55. I was outchicked? at km8 by the 1st woman who crossed the line in 38:09. The final positioning was settled then, I finished strongly and happy to be under 39 today, not as bad as I expected. Time for the coffee and cake in the hall with the trouble and strife, what an enjoyable way to spend a morning. | 