Thank you to Nita for her GEAR 10K report:
I’d signed up for GEAR straight after last year’s, along with Rob and Zoe. It was my 2nd time at the run, and their third, Sarah C joined later in the year after we persuaded her it would be a good first 10k. We sussed a car share, and then a good parking spot through local knowledge but missed the RntS group photo as we weren’t as prompt arriving as we’d hoped (aka almost late ) GEAR always needs thought as to parking because of the road closures.
When we checked results we realised there were 30 RntS there! There was always someone from the club in front, behind or passing in the other direction. One of the great things about this run is the couple of times you double back and see the faster runners on the other side.
It’s a lovely run for seeing the town, and crosses out and back over the river too. The penultimate K along the river bank was windy ( it always will be) and knocked a few seconds off, but personally I was just enjoying running, not pushing too hard, as I’d not trained for any time or even focused on the distance)
Rob and Zoe got a new pb, Sarah C a very respectable 1st 10k time, I got all excited cos I thought I’d also got a pb, but then realised I was a little bit off my best ever, if I’d have known, I’d have pushed it, but I thought I was so far off I didn’t even calculate from my watch times as I ran, so I had no idea whilst running…just shows how much of running well is in the head for me.
I’d highly recommend this as a first 10k, although it is very very busy and the start is packed, it is well managed, it has a lovely vibe, local support is great and it’s also reasonably flat, with enough twists and turns to make it pass quickly and not so many to be tedious. Consider where to park, in good time, and enjoy the rest. It is very popular, so not one for a late sign up.
Awesome turn out from our club and lovely to see so many faces new, familiar and in between, and a wide range of speed and experience, a great run for all!
Nita
