Summer Running by laurajehane

First of all, big apologies for not managing to meet up with anyone yesterday. I was in charge of work's entry into the Great Manchester Run Business Challenge, so had 9 people to look after at the start and finish, plus some friends who'd come up from down south to run it. It was all a bit manic!

I wasn't holding out any great hopes for this race as it's always so busy, so as I lined up I prepared myself for somewhere around the 51 minute mark. I've been getting much quicker recently, I've done 2 parkruns in under 24 minutes and some fast runs with running club, but there's just something about the 10k distance that makes me feel like I'm going to be slow!

Not wanting a repeat of last year's run when i was stuck at the back, I did the unthinkable and hoped over the fence to get near the start of the wave. I know it's wrong but being polite last year led to a pretty rubbish race, so i thought 'to hell with it'.

It was the usual bottleneck at the start, but despite feeling like I was being held up my garmin told me some encouraging things about my pace. Dead on 5 min/km pace and it felt ok. I got a bit held up by one woman at around 500m (yes 500m into the race). She was struggling to keep pace and, to be honest, looked terrified, people were charging past her and she looked close to tears. I then got a bit angry when I clocked her pink race number. I don't mean to sound unkind but what the hell did she expect by jumping up 3 waves. I've no sympathy and she caused a lot of runners problems trying to get round her. Hopefully she's learned her lesson.

Anyway, rant over. As usually it was crowded and tricky to find a steady pace until the end of the Bridgewater Way, but then after Old Trafford the road cleared a bit.

I hit 5km in 25:30 ish and by now I was deep in the dullest section of Trafford Park. The benefit of my marathon training kicked in and as if by magic the boring section flew by and I was suddenly back on the Bridgewater Way heading back into town towards the Beetham Tower.

This is the toughest bit, and this year was no exception, but I was holding my own as other runners fell away on the incline.

I'd clocked Paul and Anne-Marie on the Mancunian Way bridge on my way out, so I made sure I got a high-five on my way past. All I had to conquer now was the never endng 800m to the finish line. A PB was within my grasp as long as I kept pushing. I tried to catch Batman, but he wasn't having any of it. One final push and I was over the line. 49:39 - a new PB by 15 seconds.

Everyone in the work's team did brilliantly. Especially Ray who ran it in 39:16 and came 18th in his age category (254th overall out of 36,000). My firend Jamie from running club got his first sub 40 finishing in 39:30. And Mark from running club somehow managed a 41 minute race despite starting in pink wave. (he's very quick, he just got stuck with a last minute number)

Some fantastic stories from other RB/FBs. Well done to Jamie B for a courageous run. Pam - I hope you're not in too much pain today!

WELL DONE EVERYONE. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GMR.

Here's Team WRG at the start - and at the finish too.