Bromsgrove Fun Runs (10k)
12th May 2013
Stuart Mugridge
Yesterday saw the 25th running of the Bromsgrove Fun Runs (in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research). The 5k and 10k runs take place over a scenic course to the east of the Finstall area of Bromsgrove. If you know the area you’ll know it’s a very pleasant part of the world but a bit lumpy (or ‘interesting’ I think Áine would call it according to her Chester report). I’m not really used to the hills at the moment as most of my training runs are along the canal and this race route felt fairly lumpy so I was surprised to see my GPS record a mere 116m of height gain –my mini training camp in Kent the previous weekend ensured my legs weren’t in complete shock though!
The course started in Walnut Lane with a descent down this dingy, well-potholed thoroughfare and then out into the rolling lanes of Dusthouse, Upper Gambolds, Copyholt, Sheltwood, London and then back through the start to finish at Bromsgrove Rugby Club. It’s a lovely time of year to be running in the countryside with small woods of bluebells, and the hedgerows coming to life. The weather wasn’t great but the last runners were in before the rain came.
I’m hoping for a sub-40 minute 10k soon and this wasn’t the ideal course to go for a pb but much to my surprise I did lower my best so far by about 30 seconds to 40:55 for an eventual 20th place. The event was won by Tom Kenerdine of Halesowen (he obviously likes these sporting courses as he won last year’s Blakedown Bolt) who led from the start and finished in 35:01 – 90 seconds ahead of the next man. First lady home was Sîan Powell in 42:02 (31st). There were some very impressive runs from juniors particularly in the 5k.
I’m not sure if any other BvHers took part in this event (the results don’t show clubs) – I didn’t notice any other teal – but it seems a friendly, well-marshalled, local event to take part in on small back lanes through rolling farmland with pleasant views in all directions. Organisation is ‘old school’ in the sense that there is no chip timing and my Garmin suggested a course of 9.93km but this could have been due to heavy tree cover near the start/finish. But all is friendly and well-supported with 235 runners completing the 10k this year (108 in the 5k).
Thankyou for your race report Stuart. Congratulations on successfully completing what appeared to be a `challenging` 10K course! Both you and Hilary had good `solid` runs,and I would expect you both to go much faster on a flatter surface.
Barrie Roberts
I did really enjoy it, thanks Lesley (Gill Tyler kept me going!)
Hey, well done Hilary. Great that you are getting there. Time is not important, hope that you enjoyed it.
Well done Stuart… I entered this one as my godmother runs the tombola stall on the day so thought I might come and give it a shot. Definitely ‘challenging’, especially as I’m not yet even running 10k on the flat without walking at the moment, so I’m really pleased with my time of 1:03:59 – about 7 mins slower than my PB but 7 mins faster than the last 10k I did!
Well done Stuart, good to see that hill training is paying off. Not as fast as you wanted, but good time on the course.