Splisby Show trail 10k

14/7/24

It’s Sunday morning, and both Anna and I are heading over to Splisby for a 10k race. When I first signed up, I thought it was a straightforward 10k road race, imagining a chance for a quick time. Oh, how wrong I was!

We arrived at the Splisby showground, which was bustling with craft and food stalls, a classic car show, and a dog show. After my usual warm-up routine, I headed out onto the course and quickly realized it was mostly off-road. Just a quarter of a mile in, the path led through a farmer’s yard and onto dirt tracks. I turned back, did some strides, and returned to the showground.

Meeting up with Anna, we chatted with some fellow runners and learned that the course was about 75-80% off-road, with a couple of challenging hills thrown in. Soon, we were called to the start line. I kissed Anna and wished her good luck, then positioned myself at the front. The gun went off, and we were away!

The first mile was faster than I intended, clocking in at around a 5:35 pace. Knowing it was a trail run, I decided to go by feel and maintain a strong effort. We quickly left the roads and hit the dirt tracks. The initial downhill section felt good, though I knew we’d have to climb back up it at the finish. I found a good rhythm and settled in, my legs feeling surprisingly strong.

The first uphill came quickly, but I pushed through it, enjoying the challenge. A brief flat road section soon turned back onto the trails and a nice downhill. Around the 5-6k mark, I found a second wind and kicked down the hill, maintaining the momentum.

The course featured an out-and-back section, and on my way back, I saw Anna looking strong. It was great to see her doing well. As I neared the final stretch, I dreaded the climb up the hill where we started. With a burst of effort, I powered up the hill, then hit the road back into the showground, finishing with a time of 38:28. I placed 6th overall and 1st in the V40 category. Anna finished with a time of 51:41, placing 3rd in the V45 category. I was very proud of her for conquering such a tough course.