10 Things I Think About Running

10 Things I Think About The Fen 10 Mile

1. Leicester Says No

I think that I was very lucky that the Leicester Half Marathon was sold out. Despite having past winner Ryan Creech trying to get me a number I couldn’t get a late entry. I was in Leicester for the weekend so a race in Leicester would have been the easiest solution to the never-ending search for a race so instead I had to consult runABC for a suitable replacement.

2. To Wisbech or to Wisbeech

I think that there is no better man to ask about a 10 mile race than John Walshe. A 10 mile race in a place called Wisbech (apparently pronounced Wisbeech) seemed like a good idea so I asked John if he had ever done it and sure enough he had back in 2011, very flat with a nice t-shirt were his main memories. That was enough for me, only problem was that it was sold out. Not to be deterred I contacted the organisers on Facebook who offered me a transfer which I gladly took.

3. 40 Year Anniversary

I think I was worried when I heard that the 2025 edition of the event was the 40 year anniversary. I wondered if like Ballycotton this would be the last event. Although on arrival in the small quiet town of Wisbech it seemed like a field of 300 runners was not an unmanageable task and that everything was very much under control and organisation via an object you will only see at races in England, a clipboard.

4. Our International Athlete

I think that it was very nice of the chief organiser to give me a shout out during the pre-race briefing. “Our international athlete, from Glanmire A.C” which was met with surprise by the two people who I was standing beside who also happened to be from Glanmire which was very strange, Rathcooney and Caherlag to be precise. Once the pre-race briefing was over we all lined up under the arch and off we went.

5. Pumas on Grass

I think that having the start and finish in the same spot in a field beside the local school is a great idea. It made the event very safe and manageable. There was a minimal walk to and from the registration with a playground right by the finish to entertain Billy. The only problem I had was that the first 200m and last 200m were on grass which is not the best for the new Pumas. I made sure to take it handy on the grass before we turned left onto the road which I accomplished without incident.

6. Stranger in Purple

I think that it is great to be completely unknown at a race. It was clear that all the other runners had an established pecking order like we would have in Cork having raced each other all the time so they all grouped together for the first 400m. Because of this I was free to do as I pleased so I did what I normally do and went straight to the front and went as fast as I felt the Pumas could maintain for 10 miles which was surprisingly fast.

7. Dave and Mitch

I think that I was very lucky that two other fellas seemed to be at a very similar level to me and my Pumas. After about a mile I was joined by Dave and Mitch, I know they were called Dave and Mitch because the people on the side of the road were cheering them on. I got cheers too just without a name. We had a good group going with a pace that I continued to be surprised by. There were absolutely no hills which made maintaining the pace a little easier than normal.

8. The Thin Blue Line

I think that we were lucky that the race didn’t have to be cancelled. After about 3 miles we were carefully overtaken by two police cars. I thought they were just out policing the roads for the race but it turns out that there were five more police cars behind us and that they were carrying out some sort of raid. I tucked in behind the front two police cars until they pulled in and we continued unaware of the drama that was unfolding behind us.

9. The Merest Hint of a Hill

I think that I thought I could have a chance of the win until about 7 miles. I was suffering majorly but somehow, most likely due to the superior energy return of the Pumas (94% apparently) I was still hanging onto the back of David. Then came my worst nightmare the smallest of small hills, David powered up it at an uninterrupted pace while I lumbered up it like a giant, a small gap opened, and I was left in second place with cheers for Mitch still within earshot.

10. Winner’s T-Shirt

I think that I did very well to hold on for second. I could tell by the cheers that I had about 15 seconds on Mitch. Mitch looked like a fella that could easily launch a 3:00 last kilometre so I knew I was in trouble. Luckily the Pumas are very excellent and responsive so when I pushed for the last kilometre, I managed to hold him off even on the grass run to the finish. Once across the line we got a medal, a nice purple t-shirt and a free beer. Then into the hall where I got two prizes one for second and one for first senior. I might have to come back and try and win it though because the winner David got a unique t-shirt with Fen 10 winner printed on it, a nice touch at a nice race.