On Sunday I got up and looked out the window at the reservoir. The wind was whipping up the water and making it almost surfable. The perfect day for a 10k race. I hadn’t pre-registered for the Mornington Chasers Regents Park 10k. I was planning to pick up a bib in the morning at registration, but despite the weather, there was no chance of me ditching the race.

Several members of my running group would be turning out, many to take on their first ever 10k, and members of the Monday night Serpentine track session I coach would be lining up too.

I got to the start early, got myself on the waiting list for returned numbers (yep, races are the new rock and roll – expect the running equivalent of ticket touts soon) and met up with runners from all aspects of my life. I probably knew more than 20 people doing the race. It’s a long way since I lined up for my first ever 10k race with my flatmate who I’d convinced to do it so I’d have some company. Throw yourself into the running community and you’ll never race alone again.

We all lined up for the three lap course and before long we were off, scattered throughout the field. I like the laps of this race. I was still cautious about my leg, which is why I hadn’t pre-registered, but the first mile went by without any complaint from it so I relaxed and started to focus on finding the right amount of effort to warrant the £20 entry fee – a pace that I wouldn’t have run on a Sunday morning if I’d be running by myself.

I saw some more friendly faces on the way round offering words of encouragement and a wave. I saw Simon Lamb who took some photos and made me look a lot faster than I felt.

The speedy noodle that is @lazygirlrunning

A photo posted by Lamb (@sixsecondshigh) on

Parts of the course were sheltered from the wind and on others we took a bit of a pounding. On the last lap I found myself between two groups, unable to find any shelter. Then there were the pitter patter of footsteps coming up behind me – I waited for the runner to pass me, but he didn’t. He sat on my shoulder sheltering from the wind as we wound round the course. I gave him a couple of looks over my shoulder and weaved across the course to shake him off or make him pass, but that didn’t work. So on the last slight uphill (it’s really not hilly) I pulled away.

10k runners

One of my runners had asked beforehand what I expected to run “anything under 50 and I’ll be happy” was my reply. So having not looked at my watch all race, I was very happy with 46:40 on the line and 13th woman finisher. It’s not quite the 45:11 from back in the summer but it’ll do. This race wasn’t about me but all the runners I was there to support.

I grabbed a drink and my bag and stood by the finish line to cheer them all home – some of them completing their first 10k after only starting running with me this year. Well done runners. Well done running.