It is always a nice experience to be able to walk, from home, to the start line of a race and the Winchester 10K certainly fulfils that criteria. It is always a well attended event (due to Winchester’s high number of running clubs?) and had sold out with 1300 runners taking part.
As a team we were a little disorganised and I did not manage to arrange a catch up (photo opportunity) of those taking part from Wessex before the start. I did see Jay in the distance on my walk to the start, he was hurdling over the concrete blocks on the High St (I assume as part of his warm up). I then saw a Wessex shirt (they are good for spotting team mates) around the sub 50 minute gathering point and found Peter. He had managed to take some time off from skiing (all that time at altitude paid dividends later) to drop into his local race. I was aware there were three others running but were nowhere to be seen.
The route has been established for the past few years and starts at the Broadway, under the statue of King Alfred (I like to think he is looking down, approving of his image on the back of Wessex kit). A loop back towards Jewry Street and then out towards Kingsworthy – I was soon overtaken by Chris who looked to be running well. Cross over to Wellhouse Lane to the halfway point and then back into Winchester along an undulating Andover Road, heading for the finish at River Park.
A great run by Peter to finish in 45:18 just pipping Jay near the finish. The rest of Wessex home in the order of Chris, myself, Kevin and David H. A great warm up for next week’s final CC6 of the season.
Wessex Road Runners 