Laura Gale reports: I know this is a popular race, and I imagine many of you have run this before as this year was it’s 30th anniversary.
A beautiful morning for a 10K race! After extensive emails from the race organisers about how bad the traffic was going to be, and how bad the weather might be, it turned into a well organised, traffic-free, sunny race. Plenty of runners milling about in the beautiful grounds of Warwick Castle, also plenty of peacocks milling around too. A very regal and classy start to the event.
I was impressed with the kit drop-off service, where you sling your labelled bag in the back of a transit van ready to collect at the finish. After a fun warm-up session (which most other club runners were far too cool to join in with) we were funneled down a rocky steep sided, narrow lane to the inflatable start arch. The race is all on tarmac roads which are fully closed for the duration of the run.
I would say this is a pretty flat course, just a few gentle slopes which were over before you knew it. Three water stations along the route were manned by enthusiastic children. These were very much needed as it was so hot! I have been trying to perfect my drinking-while-running technique, as previous efforts have involved me throwing squash in my eye, and also on the runner behind me…. think I did okay today. There were also plenty of water pistols, garden hoses and bowls of jelly babies too.
Coming up towards Kenilworth Castle for the finish was exciting and there was plenty of support – i dug deep and nipped past a few runners who had been in my sights for most of the race. A medal, a t-shirt (non-technical) and a drink were in the goody bag. The finish was as well organised as the start as I found my kit bag quickly and boarded a free (rather sweaty) bus that took us back to the start. Finished in 50.21
It felt rather special running between the castles, so I would definitely recommend this run, I only wish I’d ‘done an Oralndo’ and worn my sunglasses, as it really was super sunny.
I see that 2 other BvHers ran too – Katie Hughes and Kevin Oakes – well done guys!
I have a message from Alf Price (Sale), who for some reason cannot get on this ‘award winning’ website*.
Well done, to selfless privateer, Giles Clayson who finished in 294th position in a time of 45.07… smiley face… smiley face.
* subject to being nominated in some sort of competition, and then winning an award…. hip hip hurray x3 anyway.
Well done to all the BVH runners who took part. I really enjoyed the race and I definitely want to run it again next year. The setting between the two castles made it a special race and it helped that the sun was shining too! Great atmosphere and really well organised.
Well done all , was a great day running even tho a bit hot in the morning . It would be great to see alot more harriers run this event in the future .
Great Race Report. I may have a go at the Two Castles Run one of these days Laura as you have described it as `a pretty flat course`with `just a few gentle slopes!` Congratulations to Kevin Oakes(40:22),Laura Gale(50:21) and Mike Shally(58:03) (who was running in Kenilworth colours on this particular occasion/but is also a BvH member of long standing) on successfully completing this popular annual 10k race.
Barrie
What?…pulled A mussel?…at the seafood disco?…and why not?…whatever makes you happy… it is 2012 for chrissake!
Well done Laura, sounds like you had a really good run. I don’t know if club runners were being ‘cool’ by not joining in the warm up – the only time I ever did one of those, I pulled a muscle and had a really miserable 10k, so I keep to tried and tested warm up drills now! See you soon.
Well done on mastering drinking water whilst running Laura, perhaps next time move on to g+t?xx
Well done, though only Orlando can do an Orlando