Exbury 10k Sunday 20th March
Having had this race recommended to me a number of times I thought that it was about time that I gave it a bash. Sunday 20th March produced a lovely Spring morning perfect for a gentle jog near the sea!
The race started just outside the entrance to Exbury Gardens at 09:30 with the route along quiet country roads, a brief stretch along a shingly path on the coast at Lepe Country Park and finally a 1km stretch through Exbury Gardens themselves.
A well marshalled enjoyable circular route, a bit of off road but generally fast and flat. My aim was to dip under my Winchester 10k time of 39’40” and was well on track for this at the 7k point. But despite the good surface I was flagging towards the end and annoyingly finished just outside 40mins. Oh well – plenty more 10k’s where that came from!
It was though good to see Annie and Andy Tomlinson again. They’ve moved away from Whiteley and now live in Winsor, New Forest. Annie now sports a Totton Runners vest (traitor) but Andy still intends to run in the RR10s as a Stubbie (there’s loyalty for you!). Didn’t see any other Stubbies at the finish but there were 2 more in the results spreadsheet. Annie had a good run finishing 2nd woman.
I left before the prize giving not expecting any personal reward. Imagine my surprise when Dinger (deceptively mincing runner) Bell called me in the afternoon to tell me I had finished first in the MV50 category – there’s life in the old fossil yet! My thrill was somewhat dashed by Dinger though when he told me I finished 25 seconds behind the MV60 winner! It’s good to have mates!! Still an enjoyable 10k making a change from the HRRL circuit and with a field of 500ish, plenty of targets to chase! Highly recommended. Tim Sullivan.
Paul Ashley Hardley Runners 34’56” 1st man
Stubbies
Tim Sullivan 40’14” 14th 1st MV50
Annie Tomlinson (ex-Stubbie!) 46’31” 2nd woman
Matt Abbott 52’ 46” 149th
Elizabeth Weighell 58’ 26” 234th
499 runners in total