Having run this race last year & enjoyed the route I decided to sign up again. It’s a fairly low key event with 345 runners competing this year but a really well organised race from Pocklington Runners. The route is a fairly flat course with a few undulations around the halfway point, a picturesque route that takes you to High Catton through to Low Catton & back to Stamford Bridge for the finish which was along an old railway route next to the river Derwent.

I woke up feeling like Bill Murray from Groundhog Day as all I seem to be racing at the moment is 10k’s but unlike him I was happy at the thought of another 10k. Having only just recovered from an epic battle with Lee Alcock at the Beverley 10k I was feeling confident about getting a PB as the predicted weather forecast was looking good and the few niggles I had been struggling with were clearing up. For the journey to Stamford Bridge Tony Cross was our designated driver, also in for the race was fairly new harrier Paul Bennett, I have to say Tony’s sense of timing needs a little work as we arrived two hours before the race start time so a good warm up was had, that said both TC & Paul have been putting in some great times recently which is all down to their hard work in training, for me it’s great to have guys like them along with Chris Monk, Lee Alcock, Danny Wilson, Steve Taylor, Darren White & Sara Rookyard at around my pace as it keeps me sharp & hungry for more.

The race:

As 10am approached we all made our way to the start line & after the usual race briefing that included a no no on headphones we were off, I’m not going to lie I really wanted to beat TC & Paul but I guess that’s just my competitiveness & I’d like to think they feel the same way. I went through two miles in 12 minutes so I knew a PB was on the cards, it’s now seems the norm for the first mile to under 6 minutes & myself & Danny Wilson have shared many a joke about this & I named our group the suicide squad b team after the first summer league race at New Ellerby, anyway I’m rambling, back to the race….. Having gone through 5 miles in just under 31 minutes I knew something good was about to happen, I managed to maintain my pace for the last mile which is something I struggle with at times but I’m working hard at this. In the last 200 hundred metres I went past a couple of runners to bump me up a few places & got to the finish line looked at my watch which said 38.56, I’d finally hit that sub 39 which was a goal of mine I set at the beginning of the year. I’d started to think I would never make the promise land having had a few failed attempts already this year.

Tony also ended up with a PB of 39.16 edging ever closer to that sub 39 & Paul got another solid sub 40 under his belt 39.28 just 6 seconds off his PB. For me personally I was really proud of what I achieved from that first 10k I did back July 2012 thinking I’d get about 50 minutes but came away with 43.38 to now be at 38.56 makes all the hard work well worth it. I may not be the most gifted runner but what I lack in natural ability I make up in effort & determination. Next up is the Vitality 10k in London on bank holiday Monday followed by Woodhall Spa 10k & Hull 10k in June.

Mike Petersen