My entry to Sheffield TenTenTen was a very last minute decision! I had been out running with the Front Runner crew on Tuesday, and everyone was talking about it… A bit late to the party I was fairly sure I wouldn’t get a place however as it happened the next morning TenTenTen tweeted to say they had had a few places open up – great news!
TenTenTen is a 10km race around Endcliffe Park in Sheffield that attracts over 1000 runners of all ages and abilities. It’s not my normal distance or terrain (I tend to be found about 3 hours into a run on the top of a massive hill at a much slower pace!), but I knew there would be a great atmosphere.
Arriving at Endcliffe Park on the day I was not disappointed. I had turned up early just in case there had been a queue for numbers, but I need not have worried, the organisation was great, and everything was under control – there was everything from coffee to clothes at the stalls, as well as from loads of marshals to lend a helping hand!
Ambitiously I placed myself at the near the front of the start… My goal was 45 minutes which by the faster runners standards is not particularly quick. All my training has been for endurance not speed, so I am not very speedy – I’d take a 10 mile run over a 10km any day! After a fun group warm-up we were off…
The route was enjoyable and well marked, lined with supporters the whole way – you would have to try seriously hard to get lost! It also made the most of the lovely trail running around Endcliffe weaving in and out of the woods and parks.
Everyone was so friendly, and although the front is competitive there was a whole range of paces. They totally mean it when they say it is open to everyone which is great – so if you are local to Sheffield and looking for an approachable race to work towards I would 100% recommend giving this a go.
Finishing in 51 minutes 58 I really would have like to have been faster. I had set off at my normal (long distance) pace, and by the time I realised I needed to be running quicker, it was a bit too late ha! Not to worry, though, I still got a shiny medal (great quality and can double as a bottle opener too!) and a fab morning out.
Thanks to all the photographers who worked free of charge to raise money for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity – to donate to this amazing cause visit their page here.
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