Cheltenham 10km

On the 3rd Oct I did the Cheltenham 10km. I had to get up quite early to get over in time for the 10am start but I was hopeful I could get a good time. The run was run entirely on roads within Cheltenham Race course, starting in front of the grandstand there was opening loop of the TV/emergency vehicle road circuit inside the race track, a return past the front of the grandstand and a short out & back section before a second circuit of the race course circuit at the end before finishing in front of the grandstand again.

The weather was cold and windy so I ran in my running jacket and gloves. I really pushed hard to try and get a PB but the wind (which certainly made the undulations seem worse) and course (very soft ground) were against me and I only managed 00:44:56 (http://www.racetimingsystems.com/public/results.aspx?raceid=925) Still that did make me 36th out of 327 people. I had promised myself I would treat myself to Peter Kay's new book if I broke 40 minutes though.

In the afternoon I went for the Aquasphering session that my friends kindly got me for my birthday last year. This involves getting in a large inflatable ball with water in it and being pushed down a hill so it's like being in a washing machine. My friend Paul came in with me but unfortunately my experience with cold water last week seems to have made more of an impression than I thought. I had a bit of a panic attack in the sphere and really didn't want to do it at first. I got over it though and after I had finished I got dry and went for a really nice meal with my friends, many of whom had come a long way to see me. I really enjoyed that. The next day I ran the Ely run and did a lot of training in the week for the Peterborough half marathon that is coming up soon.

You can see pics of this race at http://www.perfect-timingphotography.com/eventshow.php?sid=3b8d8a9b31e63b5d6b8880c1e4a52063&e=20091003_Cheltenham%2010km and put in runner number 588.