Leeds Abby Dash

After a hard few months of running with 2 half Marathons, Lots of 10K’s and countless 5k’s yesterday I did what I’m planning on being my last proper race of the year.   It’s the first time I’ve done the Leeds Abby Dash, voted as being one of the top 10 10k races by Runners World and one of the flattest and fastest 10k’s in the country.

Pre-race was incredibly smooth, the usual 30 minute plus queue for the toilets was about only 10 minutes and the baggage tents were well marshalled and very quick.  With over 9,000 people running this was quite impressive.

Once the race started there was a few minutes wait until we got through the start, then the usual weaving around slower runners and walkers who for some reason only known to them started near the front.  I’ve never understood why people who are obviously slower start really near the front, where is the enjoyment of spending the entire race getting over taken by people?  Is it not more fun to run with people around the same speed?  It was a shame to have to dodge round people as it meant we couldn’t make use of the downhill just past the start.  Still once past the first km it started to spread out and running at one pace was much easier.  It’s not the most exciting race route, very urban, but except a slight hill around 4k and a short hill with about 500m to go it was flat and straight.  The Abby at half way was a nice sight, but blink and you miss it.  As it is an out and back course, it was fun watching other people coming back in the opposite direction.  The challenge being to get as far as possible before the front runners started coming back.  I think I got to 3.5k! Those front runners are amazing though, they are like machines when they run.  Overall I enjoyed the race and finished in 48:49 a new PB by 20 seconds.  A good way to end my running season.  I was hoping for slightly faster given how fast the course is, but this sets me up nicely to go for under 48 minute next year.

It felt slightly disorganised at the end, probably not because it was, more likely due to the huge number of people trying to get through the end, collect their finishers pack and meet family/friends.  As was the case for a lot of races this year, the post race goodie bag was non-existent.  A bottle or water, bottle of recovery milkshake and technical t-shirt had to do.  At least I got a t-shirt, a lot of people who finished after me didn’t.  As someone said to me, ‘that’s why you run’.  You earn your t-shirt and want to wear it afterwards and it training and want to feel proud of what you have achieved.  When you pay £20 for entry with the organisers advertising a technical t-shirt for every runner that’s what everyone should get.

Now I’m going to concentrate on getting my 5k time down.  Aiming for under 23 minutes by the end of the year.  Although given the Parkrun course I now run, with it’s ramps over bridges, steps and tight turns I think that may take a bit longer, but it’s good to have something to aim for.