Puma Stockport 10 2012

Distance: 16km
Time: 1:18:03 (Garmin - chip tbc)


This is my first race since the Rochdale Kingsway 10k back in September and this was my first race at this distance which I thought was a nice intermediate distance between a 10k and a half-marathon.

I've been suffering from a bazaar knee pain when going up and down stairs for the past couple of weeks so I was initially concerned I wouldn't be able to run at all. But then God bless parkrun; yesterday's parkrun solved the problem I got home from it and my knee was fine. The only downside to that was I hadn't done as much training in the past two weeks as I'd like.

I've heard nothing but good things about the organisation, atmosphere and race in general so was looking forward to this.

The race starts with two laps round the running track; as it was a chipped timed event I started near the back - I was passed by the front runners before I'd completed the first lap!

Out through Woodbank park and onto the streets of Stockport. I don't know Stockport very well so you'll have to check the map to see where I went. What I will say is that is the first race I've done that goes through a farm; the back of my legs were caked in mud!

I got to about 10k and while I wasn't at my fastest felt like I was doing well until I started getting this odd paid in my left hip. My left knee has been giving me problems so I'm guessing it's connected but not sure. I wasn't for stopping - had it been a training session I would but not a race!

I'd heard the course had to "significant" hills on it so I've been training round Saddleworth, and I'm glad I did. The hills were significant but nothing like the ones I've encountered in Saddleworth I didn't have to worry too much about them.

The finish was again on the running track which made the end easier - I was pleased to get over the line and even more pleased to receive a text message giving my official time as 1:13:33! I'm sure they are looking into that as others also had about a 5 minute discrepancy in their times.

The time might not be as fast as I'd have hoped for, but it was my first race at this distance; races are different to training so I'm sure I can improve next time.

Time to book a half marathon place I think!