Psycho, hills and a personal best!

Ever since the inaugural Nottingham 10k was announced last year I've been looking forward to it. I love the city, and the chance to run through some of its streets in the company of an absolute legend (Football legend Stuart Pearce, not to be confused with the other Nottm Legend, Robin Hood) made for a very exciting race.

Originally, I had planned to do a couple of spring races under my belt before this one, but life, post xmas poorness and that bloody injury had other ideas. So all in all it's been six months since I pinned a number on myself and set off on my merry way with hundreds of other runners.

I woke up on Sunday being about 80% excited, 20% nervous. It was a huge relief to see the weather was decent and I had all my family en route to cheer me on, yet I couldn't help being a tad nevous I'd have a repeat of last week's feet fiasco!

As I got into the city there was a fantastic buzz about the place. I don't think I've ever been into town at 8:30 on a Sunday before, but I expect it's usually a world away from the hive of activity it was this week. As usual, the pre race hour went by in a flash and it was time to get in the starting position. As I walked past the rows of runners ready and waiting I quickly noticed this was the biggest race I'd done competitor-wise, it's not a great photo but here's the gathering (and I was only about half way down).

After what seemed like an age, it was finally time to get going. It started with the normal awkward shuffle to the start line and then the attempt to break free from the crowds and set a good pace. A couple of hundred meters in and all was going well, I'd trotted up towards the castle, down into the park and was making my way though some nice leafy streets.

Then I turned a corner and before me was what felt like the biggest hill I've ever seen! Who ever had the cruel idea to put that in there is completely evil! To show I'm not being dramatic, here's the incline map...

Told you it was a big hill, check the ones at the end as well!!

One lucky thing is that as my running has progresses, I've got a lot better at running down hill, so I do find those bits quite fun now at least.

The middle 5k of the race was fairly uneventful. It was lovely how many people were outside their houses in the Meadows, clapping and cheering. There was even a drummer band at one point, I'll miss them next time I'm galloping around The Embankment. I won't miss the warm spring sunshine which was beating down, though!

As I reached the final few kilometres, I got the now familiar endorphin rush and the "Come on, Knowles, you've got this!" feeling. And it was a bloody good job because as you'll see from my earlier diagram, the last bit involved a lot more hills. Fortunately, it also involved lots of clapping and cheering (and that was just from my endorphin-drunk self...). Despite being difficult, meters ticked by quickly and before I knew it I was flying past some of my favourite watering holes and back down into market square.

I'd been avidly checking my watch all the way around, an I knew I was bloody close to a PB so, in proper Nottingham speak, I bloody 'legged it' down the road, past Primark and over the finish line.

My official time clocked in at 1:02:13, a personal best by about 40 seconds and ever closer to that sub 60 mark! Needless to say, there was lots of celebrating for the course of the afternoon.

Next event (I think) on the running calendar is the Women's Running 10k in July. I'm really looking forward to it as it will be back to where it all properly kicked off last year. It's a good, flat course and one I know back-to-front so I'm absolutely determined to get that sub 60... watch this space!!