Aldbourne 10k revisited

On Sunday I competed in the Aldbourne 10k. This was the first time I had competed in a race for the second year - you will find an article on my experiences last year in the archives on this blog.

I really enjoyed the event last year, and was very excited to be taking part again this year. You are allowed to enter on the day (it attracts surprisingly few runners, especially given the time of year - maybe it has to do with all the hills), but I took no chances, registering well in advance.

I had a nice surprise a couple of days beforehand. The race organiser, Dave Jordan, called me at work and asked me if I would like to appear on the Sandy Martin show on BBC Wiltshire Radio with him! He does not actually run himself, so wanted a runner's perspective - I apparently fitted the bill perfectly!

Obviously I was not going to pass up an opportunity like this. It would be a completely new experience for me, and a chance to get my name known.

I arrived at the studio on Saturday morning not really knowing what to expect. When we were introduced to Sandy he soon put us at our ease, and before we knew it we were live on air. I was very nervous - as I say this was a new experience for me. But I think I gave some interesting answers to the question asked. It certainly added spice to the weekend!

Speaking of spice, the pre-race Saturday afternoon film was "Crank" with Jason Statham. It was all about a man who, having been injected with a rare Chinese poison, has to keep his adrenalin flowing to stay alive. Fighting, car chases and sex in public places are all part of the thrill, and I thoroughly enjoyed this action-packed and at times highly amusing yarn.

I didn't sleep too well before the race. One of my lodgers went to bed later than me and woke me up coming upstairs. After that I couldn't get off again. I don't like other people going to bed after me - something I inherited from my Dad - but I do realise I have to be more flexible if I want other people to live in my house and pay my mortgage for me. Nonetheless I was in a pretty foul mood Sunday morning, and made my feelings known. I was tired and crabby.

Not that I really worried about how I would perform in the race - Anthony called me on Saturday and told me to take it steady - part of his advice for the last week before the big day.

I turned up in good time - Aldbourne is just outside Swindon. I collected my race number and started to get ready. I saw on my phone I had a text from my mate Andy wishing me good luck, which really gave me a boost - always good to know there are people rooting for me.

Soon the race began and I started off nice and steady. I remembered the route from last year - twice through the village before out into the hills. And those hills are probably the steepest I've climbed in a race.

This year, however, they didn't seem nearly as bad as last year. I actually found myself accelerating up them, past all the people who had overtaken me at the start and were now walking. At the 2k marker I checked my watch and saw I was making good time - if I kept it up, I could be on for a PB.

About that time however, a really bad chest pain kicked in. It really hurt - it made breathing hard and must have slowed me down. I was determined not to stop though, and carried on running despite the pain. It never went away - if anything it just spread.

I didn't quite manage to maintain the pace, and soon my hopes of getting round in less than 50 minutes faded. There was a steep descent into the village for the last 2k, and I did manage to stretch out a bit without taking risks. For most of the last half of the race I was neck and neck with a chap who had a greater impediment than me, an asthma sufferer who had to stop and use his inhaler from time to time.

Coming into the sports field at the end I knew I couldn't get under 50 minutes but I was going to get as close as I could. I sprinted for the line and finished at around 50:55 (50:45 by my watch), narrowly beating the man with the inhaler.

Of course I shook his hand afterwards and he said "well run," to me, which was nice. It turned out that his PB is 44 minutes, and he got it on this course last year, before the asthma kicked in. The courage some of my fellow runners have is really quite extraordinary.

I picked up my water, banana and t-shirt at the end. The cheeky sod asked me if I wanted large or extra large. "Large-ish" he commented. "I'll just take a medium," I replied. And do you know what? It fitted perfectly. In that, I had to take it off later to check it really was a medium, it was that loose.

I was keen to get home and watch the cricket, but before I did I stayed and stood in the sports field, which was drenched in sunshine, and clapped the slower runners coming across the line. All these people deserve applause. Without them, the sport wouldn't be the same, attracting all ages, shapes and sizes, and levels of ability.

I was a little sad to be heading home - the Aldbourne 10k has a special place in my heart now and it's a shame I won't be back for at least another year. I just hope by then I can knock another big chunk off my time. At this rate, I'll be surprised if I don't.

And so home - no beer of course, but I did manage to chill out and watch the rarest of things - an England victory in one-day cricket! I also watched "In Good Company" on sky movies, a film I am finding I can watch time and again and still enjoy.

As I sat there however, my thoughts turned to next week. How will I be feeling then? A lot more tired for sure, and possibly in a bit of pain. I shall be enjoying something stronger than orange squash I've no doubt, and hopefully I shall be reflecting on one of the greatest achievements of my life.

I'm quietly confident I'll be doing just that.

Copyright © Jonathan Weedon, September 2006