Keighley K

Nice early race, Linda and I set off picked up Jules and were all parked by the start with 40mins til 9am kick off.

The announcer/commentator started up and quiet soon we were transported by 30 years before the term polictal correctness had been uttered.

Met up with a few Dodgers and Harriers and others I knew through work - so felt like I was with family - but some edge too - couldn't let them all beat me!

Race was well marshalled - though an odd staggered start - letting us off in groups every 2minutes gave it more a sense of a time trial(apparently as lots of ginnels is was to help manage runner flow - and as such worked ok). As ever set off as did all my running colleagues like this was a 1km race, but pulled back on the pace at 1km.

Found it hard - 10km always a hard unforgiving distance as far as I'm concerned. We wandered around back streets, ginnels, allotments, railway embankments, ruby pitches and parks - and I really liked it - much more than the souless lanscape of the Abbey Dash.

I knew I was well below my best after a lazy 9months but this was a marker for the rest of the year. It was hillier than any 10km I'd done before so a PW at 46min but I'll take that.

Good runs from others, the competition will be hotting up from now on Dodgers!.

I need to pack now, off to Vilnius for the week teaching - it's -11c and snowing there so I'm leaving the running shoes at home. Long run next weekend and then Coniston 14+ the week after, then a serious sit down and plan the summer running with a view to an autumn marathon - to ground the winter work for 3 Peaks next year.

Well done Linda and Jules you were great today! - Happy Mothers Day.... and all you Dodgers too see you next Sunday.