Castle Rock 10K

Tonight the Castle Rock 10K at Nottingham University, this was formerly the Jägermeister of course. It is the seventh time I’ve done it, having done the Jägermeister version five years out of six from 2007 to 2012 and in some ridiculously good times. Now known as my good years...

I’ve only done it once since and this was in 2016 after Castle Rock took over. This year we find out they’ve changed the course. How dare they! We all need some certainty in our lives and this was it.

I don’t know if it’s a permanent change or not as their website says that ‘due to ongoing work around the lake area the course is subject to change’. It’s not a totally bad change, it’s just disconcerting. Actually it is a bad change because the second lap is no longer shorter than the first one, which was always nice.

Clearly my legs don’t like it as I’m three minutes slower than I’ve ever been in 48:34. Apart from that, everything else about the race was great. It was as well run as ever with some 'nice' hills.

The other thing about this race, and another dose of certainty in our lives, is that they’ve never given out a t-shirt that I’ve felt was socially wearable. No change there. So some certainty remains. Phew.

Castle Rock 10k

I have entered this evening’s Castle Rock 10k, which was known for most of its existence as the Jagermeister 10k. it is basically two laps of the campus at Nottingham University. It’s not particularly thrilling and certainly not flat but it’s a good workout.

It’s also a workout I need. Amazingly I’m feeling uninjured and slightly confident for it. Probably won't last though.

I take the bus to work and then hop off outside the Uni on my way home. I collect my number and then commence a huge warm up which is all about calf preservation. L informs me she is on the way up with the dogs, which could take a while given Doggo’s elderly gait. She also tells me to make it quick as she wants to get back for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I sincerely hope she’s got her times mixed up as I believe due to the time difference it doesn't start until midnight.

The race HQ is on the grassland opposite the Sports Centre where it usually starts. The Sports Centre is closed and being rebuilt yet again. This seems to be almost an annual occurrence so soaked in money these Unis appear to be these days.

We set off and I soon see L and the boys by the Nottingham sign offering vociferous support. 

She shouts that one of our Thunder Run team mates is just ahead, so I put on a spurt and catch him. We exchange ‘pleasantries’ before I move on ahead, now of course feeling under pressure to stay there.

I try to maintain 45 minute pace all the way around and although at one point I was hopeful of dipping under that, it is what I ultimately achieve. I've got to be happy with that after running a 49 just a month ago at NotFast.

We skip the, not very tempting, Harvest Pale and head home. Ceremonies to watch and all that.

(Friday 5^th August)