With my confidence knocked after last weeks disappointing tempo session I decided to mix things up. I was due to run a 10k threshold on Friday but with the weather forecast looking fine, I thought I’d enter the Rye 10K Summer Series instead.

I spent most of my waking hours in the early part of the week checking the weather forecast, 18 degrees and a gentle 6mph breeze. Perfect.

My goal at the start of this training block was to target a sub 40 minute 10k, but it’s become clear in recent weeks that was far too ambitious. So now I’m looking to beat my previous best 10,000 meter time of 41:54, which has stood for nearly 2 years.

My training plan still has another 5 weeks left but I’ve been feeling strong and this felt like an excellent opportunity to have an early attempt at my new more realistic goal.

It soon become clear at the start of my extended warm up that the gentle zephyr forecast was in fact closer to a gale. Ok perhaps I’m exaggerating but it felt like 20mph to me, certainly not 6.

Anyhow, I went through my processes, 15 minute jog, dynamic stretches, A Skips, B Skips, Z Skips and strides. I was certainly well prepared.

I bumped into Phil Benton on the start line and we agreed we’d attempt to run together. One of these days a pre race buddy up will actually last more than 3k. Sorry Phil!

For the first half of the race I felt amazing. Almost too easy and I was holding back to try and conserve some energy back into the hurricane.

I needn’t have bothered because the moment I rounded the cone and felt the tornado nearly lift me off my feet (still exaggerating) I knew I had no hope.

Rye Nature Reserve is very exposed, there’s nowhere to hide and I failed to find someone to tuck in behind. I was struggling. Luckily, almost as if there to protect me from the ever increasing storm, a saint dressed in Orange overtook me. I sat in behind, blocking the wind slightly to conserve some energy.

Once we turned the corner the final kilometer was a cross wind and I matched my fastest split of the race, 4:03, again feeling relatively comfortable despite giving my all.

Sometimes elements out of our control will stop us achieving our goals. All we can focus on is our own effort level and keep a positive attitude. Everyone struggled in that wind and saw their pace tumble.

My fitness is there, I’m ready for a PB, I just need the right conditions to come along and all the hard work will have been worthwhile.

Congratulations to Fleur Record Smith who bagged the FV35 award. She’s new to Team Orange and is also training for a 10K. She followed her race strategy perfectly, and despite the wind came in under her target time.

Susan Mann and Catherine Cattaway also battled the conditions to complete the course in very respectful times. Switching a training run with a race will bring you big gains in your fitness. It might dent your bank balance (£20) and leave you with another shit medal for the junk drawer at home, but it’s a good strategy to adopt.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at Woodchurch in the morning.

Coach Simon.

Chip Time: 42:57
PB: 41:54
Position: 16th