Regency 10k Road Race, 7 Apr 2024

Being my local race, and the first race I ever did, Regency 10k will always hold a special place in my heart. This year I completed the race for the second time, with my twin brother also racing and completing his first 10k race.

We got there just in time for the start, completely underestimating the scale of the event and the amount of runners that would turn up, and the the fact that they were going to stagger the start. I began in the second pen, however prizes were given from gun time rather than chip time. Luckily I managed to sneak to the front at the last minute before marshals stopped the rest of the runners.

Going into this race I had no idea what to expect. Following Berlin Marathon I have been plagued by injury for months and had been able to do very little except few easy runs. Seeing as I had only just recently been introducing sessions back into my routine I had no idea how the race would go. My previous 10k PB was just under 45 minutes set during a training run on a very flat loop. This race on the other hand had a long uphill section, along with windy conditions following a recent storm. Therefore going into this race my main aim was to have fun and enjoy it.

As the gun went off I set off fast, probably way too fast. But it felt great, I saw my dad amongst the crowd and as I rounded the next corner friends from my childhood called my name. It was so nice doing a local race as there were so many familiar faces and so many people I hadn’t seen in so long. Despite the fast start, and my rapidly increasing heart rate, I felt really good, and was having a lot of fun. At around 2 kilometers we started the steady uphill section, slowing the pace gradually. As I had started in the front pack I knew there were faster runners behind me so was fine with them passing me. Once we reached the top of the hill, most of the rest of the course is downhill or flat. We exited the park at 5k and headed back into the town onto the most amazing downhill stretch, lined to the brim with supporters. It was unbelievable to see so many people supporting my local race. A few women had passed me early in the race, but to my amazement I was gaining on them, and making up places on other fast starters. With 3k to go I overtook the woman in 3rd (at the time I didn’t know this). For the last couple of kilometres it started to get hard, but I never felt massively in pain - it felt good to be pushing the pace. Picking up the pace one final time as I tried to hold on stride for stride with a random stranger, I made it to the finishing straight, to my amazement seeing 43 something on the timing clock. After watching my brother finish, also smashing his first race, I waited around just in case I had won something in my age category, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. As the rain started pouring, the announcer went through the female winners, and my name was third. I was ecstatic, and in complete shock! That, along with winning my age category, ended the day on a massive high. Knowing that I am finally back to fitness after such a long period of feeling unfit after Berlin marathon is amazing. Running races will never fail to bring me joy, from the happiness friends and family supporting and cheering you on brings, to the amazing camaraderie amongst runners. I can now also technically call myself a professional athlete after making £25 prize money!

Elisabeth Oldridge