Run Durham Hamsterley Forest 10k – race report

I’ve spent many a time on northeastraces.com looking at races, looking at the diary and not bothering to enter any.

Since I started running in 2012 I’ve barely done any races!

The only races I’ve attended quite frequently are cross country. I’ve only ever raced one 5k and one 10k! Pathetic really.

So I decided to provide a bit of motivation by trying to find a race I felt I could win.

Now I know running races isn’t all about winning. My main concern is to be the best I can be. But I fancied trying to find a race where I could mix it at the front, and experience having a go at winning a race.

I picked out the Run Nation (Run Durham) Hamsterley Forest 10k. Being from Durham I thought it would be close to my home town, not realising it was actually over a 1hr drive from Newcastle.

Not to worry.

It looked an interesting course in beautiful surroundings. It was out and back with what looked like a tough uphill first half and then back down second half.

My training started to come together a little a few weeks before the race apart from some shin pain in my left leg.

I’ve been through it before. I know it’s a bit of a stress reaction which tends to be overcome.

I did a 40 minute threshold on Wednesday which was a staple of my training when I was coached under Dave Tune.

The simple fact of the matter is I haven’t been running enough thresholds but I was very pleased with the 6.4 miles I put in and overall starting to get back to where I was. It’ll be important to keep these thresholds going and increase the weekly duration.

My plan for the 10k was to aim for 6 minute miles first half and then simply hammer it as hard as possible second half. I also had it in mind that I didn’t want to lead first half but I did want to be in the lead group. And I did want to try to lead most of the way back down. My goal was to win the race.

It’s easy to look at last year’s results and feel like you have enough to win but, still, you just don’t know who will turn up on the day.

I quite enjoyed the drive up to Hamsterley. After a few issues with parking (£5 quid all day) I did a 15 minute warm up and off we went to the start.

There were a couple of club vests on the start line but I didn’t think about it. I bumped into a fellow Elswick Harrier on the start line who ended up taking the V40 prize.

The starting sensors were literally set up before our eyes and in a few minutes we were away.

I just focussed on getting into my stride. I didn’t worry about maybe 5 or 6 lads getting off quite quick. I knew it was 10k and I knew it was 5k of gradual climb with a stiff km between 4 and 5. I needed to keep it steady.

But as usual the plan had to change. I was in 5th maybe half a mile in and a Morpeth vest was already getting away with another lad in Blaydon chasing.

I couldn’t just let them go. I was already running faster than 6min miles but I had to inject a little more. I got past a couple of lads into 3rd and had the Blaydon lad a manageable distance ahead. I forgot about the Morpeth lad he must of been running faster than my 5k pb pace.

First mile in 5.48. I felt quite good at that point.

But I’m not sure what happened mile 2. It dragged and I was aware I was sitting on 6min mile pace. Despite that being bang on original plan it didn’t feel steady and, because I knew it was losing me ground on first place, it was making me anxious already.

Perhaps the continual slight incline was also hurting me?

Anyway, I was now losing ground on 2nd. And the lad in 4th couldn’t be heard.

Here we go again… Another solo run…

I’m not sure why but I’ve never raced in a pack ever. The closet I got was the Blyth 10k last year.

Someone for company to try to work back may have helped. As it was I now had the incline between 4 and 5k in sight and I wasn’t looking forward to it.

My stride was laboured and slow.

I tried to pick up. I struggled up the hill. A bit demoralising seeing 1st cruise past back down. Then 2nd. As I got round the top I really tried to get going. I’d slipped to a 6.34 3rd mile which was not good enough. The strength and stamina just wasn’t there.

Feeling a bit demoralised I opened up the stride, heaved for air and got going. Got quite a lot of encouragement from other runners still coming up the hill which was appreciated.

I was trying hard. I really needed something well below 5.30 in the 4th mile. As it happened the 4th mile was definitely the fastest. But I don’t think I was running efficiently and relaxed. I was trying a bit hard and certainly not running relaxed and efficiently.

I managed a 5.30ish. OK, I had to keep it up.

To be honest at this point 1st and 2nd were gone. It was turning into a training run. A PB was unlikely (or was it, I struggled to remember what pace my 35.37 10k pb was) and chance of a win gone. That said, I was still keen to hold onto 3rd.

Only my 2nd 10k, naively forget it's quite a tough distance!

At this point some car issues proved to be a little annoying and off putting. I had one behind for what felt like a mile. I was supposed to keep to the left but there were runners coming on the right. So the car was just staying behind. But it was forcing me to look round.

Cars were coming the other way. Not an excuse. Just distractions I didn’t need as I was trying to keep on the throttle.

The 5th and 6th miles were gradual down hill rather than the pronounced slope of the 4th. I ticked off a 5.49 and 5.43. Actually I enjoyed the run in those miles despite not really taking advantage of the contours.

After the cars cleared the course was completely clear. I had the course to myself. A chance to think, to realise what I was doing… Something I love and want to do as best as I can. I am a long way from achieving what I know I can but I’m back trying. I smiled, I thought to myself this is great, enjoy it.

Coming to the finish there was some nice support.

And it was good to shake hands with 1st, 2nd and 4th. It was no disgrace like it had felt first half.

Official time was 36.24 which is less than a minute away from my PB.

It’s something to work with. Not a bad day out by any stretch of the imagination.

Trophy for podium finish

The key thing is I’m back, 6 weeks into training. I have a platform to get back to where I was and beyond. I know weeks 7 and 8 can see some nice gains in fitness and I’m excited by the prospect of a couple of relay races coming up (work travel permitting).

Onwards and upwards as they say.

Thanks for reading.