Run > General

Bournemouth Bay Run 10k - Conditions were perfect for the race, slight breeze and about 11C with a few sunny spells. Got to Bournemouth with a good 20 ins to spare, quick kazzi stop and then found matt and his brother Tim. Very congested at the start, got to roughly half way between the 45 - 55 min markers and waited. The race started a couple of mins late, took around 15 secs from the start horn to crossing the start line. It soon begin to spread out and within a couple of hundred yards managed to find some space to pick up the pace. Managed t9o settle into a fairly comfortable(ish) rythm early on and was concious of not going to quick. 1st mile was in 7:48, which was good, although I did not want to go any faster this early on! Second mile was all about maintaining rythm past Boscombe Pier, along the prom and not going to fast. Mile 3 was pretty much the same, maintainng a good pace and I was feeling strong. The strt of mile 4 was the beginning of the zig-zags and although they slowed everyone down loads (a few people were walking) they were no way near as harsh as I feared they could be. Once atop of the zig-zags it was feeling a bit tougher and I was concentrating on trying to pick up the pace and recover a bit at the same time (it probably took at least half a mile to get over the zig-zags). Carrying on along Overcliff rd we eventually came towrds the downhill part, I let gravity do its thing as I ran freely down towards Boscombe pier in doing so I clocked my fastest mile 7:34. The finish was now almost in sight (well Bournemotuh Pier was at least). I learnt in last years half marathon that although the finish looks tantalisingly close, it's still a 1 1/2 to go. So I gradually (very gradually) picked up the pace and then really went for it with 1/3 mile to go. Heard Rachel and Jamie from the beach and looked round to see them all cheering me on. Had to dig deep for the last 100m and crossed the line in a new PB of 48:28 and 228 position out of 1322 finishers. Over the moon with that run. Matt's brother finished only 6 seconds behind me and Matt finished in 51:25 (both had sub 60 mins targets). Really enjoyed the race and am looking forward to going sub 48 next time