The much loved 10 km

I ran my first 10 km race before I had even run 1 km on the road.  It was a very laid back night race that is run every year for Valentines Day.  Being the day that it is, I promised my running man (who had already being trying to get me to run for a good year or so!) that I would take part.  I found a willing partner in pain to join me for a long 10 km out on the road.  She too was a new runner and so we promised to stay with each other every step of the way.  We ran/walked the 10 km in a shocking 73 minutes! But we did it...10 km! And believe you me, my legs felt it the next day.  Since that race I decided it might be fun to try a few more runs and races.  And so it all began.  Back in February 2009, 10 km felt like an almost impossible distance to run, but the more I ran the more I realised that it really isn't that far.  10 km is now a distance that I've come to enjoy so much that I usually run a little 10 km a few times a week in preparation for a longer race on the weekend....well this was before my break from running anyway. I've been back on the road for about 5 or 6 weeks now and while the first 4 weeks of that were filled with slow 5 or 6 km runs, it was finally time to face higher weekly mileage again.  So I started incorporating a few 7 and 8 km runs into my weekly training and I have even braved two 10 km training runs.  While they did feel never ending compared to the 5 km routes I got used to, it had to be done - and nothing beats the feeling you get after a good run!  So last week my running partner and I decided it was time to re-enter the racing world.  We entered our first 10 km race since the break during the long Winter.  But the sun is back out, and its time to get ready for marathon season! Old Eds 10 km and half marathon happened on Sunday morning at 08:00 (still a reasonable time to be up - soon races will start at 06:00 when it gets warmer!).  We approached the start line not expecting to set any new PB's, but rather to enjoy being back in the hustle of a race and see if we could in fact still run a little 10 km.  The race went by fairly quickly and passing familiar faces on the road who are also back for the first time in months is always fun.  There were a few moans and groans along the way, but all in all, a good race.  I finished the 10 km in a comfortable 53:20.  Quite far off the 48 minutes that is my previous PB for a 10 km, but not a bad effort.  With the first race done and the sun coming up earlier and earlier, marathon season is on its way...and I can't wait!