Wye Valley 10K

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Boys perspective – written by Ben Rees

On a beautiful spring evening I made my way over to Hereford for the Wye Valley 10k. This would be my first 10k race.

On arrival I bumped into Slim Willy (Martin) and told myself to try and beat him as he had beaten me at Leinthall Starkes. So as the race started myself and Slim Willy were stride in stride, inside the top ten. We were together for the first 3k and then I tried to brake away from him. However, at 5k I could hear some breathing behind me getting louder and louder and then the sight of Slim striding off into the distance. Well done Martin.

The course was tough and undulating. The pace was quick and my legs were heavy for the last 2k. However I managed to come in 13th which I am chuffed with.

Eliot of Hereford Couriers won the race followed by our very own Stacey in 2nd in an impressive 36.11. also taking home the MV40 prize. Stacey told me after he still doesn’t feel he has his speed back (yes Stacey you are really slow mate). Martin was 11th in 40.40, I was 13th in 42.02, the returning Rob Jones was 23rd in 43.46.

Girls Perspective – written by Sam Harper

I am never at my best when running evening races when I have been at work all day.  Just so you know, I’m getting my excuses in early.

We had a girly journey to the Rowing Club with Sue Powell, Jo and I arriving together just in time to park next to the boys. Croft Ambrey were suitably represented in the field of only 60 runners. I have run this race for the last couple of years and numbers have dropped which is a shame as this distance is one of my favourites. It may be this year possibly due to the fact that there is a 10K with the half marathon in Hereford only a couple of weeks time.

My race felt like really hard work. I didn’t realise until I started running that my legs felt so heavy – still recovering from Sundays Shobdon Woods possibly. It was a hard slog all the way and it was very disheartening to see runners I had beat on Sunday overtake me and then become a distant blur. Peter Smith of Wye Valley kept me going from about 6K onwards – lots of encouragement and he didn’t let me flag on the hills and straight stretches. I came in just after him in 51st place overall- last of the Croft Runners in 50.25. Which at the end of the race was dissapointing but when I got home and compared it to last years time was an improvement of 50 seconds which did cheer me up.

My fellow female runners had a fantastic run. Sue Powell on really good form, finished 6th lady, in a time of 48.01, enough to take home the FV50 prize. Jo also ran brilliantly in 46.18, third lady and FV 45 winner – taking 2 prizes.

 

 

 

 

 

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