Cathedral to Castle 10 Mile Race, 7 Apr 2024

This race wasn’t one that I had tapered for. It was more of a B race, one that I was just looking forward to racing and not taking too seriously. The pre-race prep started the day before using Parkrun as a shakeout and then consuming a big bowl of pasta the night before. The weather had been a bit hit and miss and I was worried what it would be like on race day. I could hear the wind and rain as I was going to sleep, praying that it wasn’t going to be as bad when I woke up!

The day started early at 6:30am with a quick change into my race clothes and a pre-race breakfast of toast. I like to keep it nice and simple when it comes to early morning race breakfast. It was a 20 minute drive or so to the race start and with it being a point to point race, I was dropped off where I was due to start. I was dropped off nice and early before the start however I had to leave anything I didn’t need for the race in the car - this meant I was in my vest and shorts a good 30 minutes before the start trying to not get too cold!

I did a nice thorough warm up, a long run complete with dynamic stretches and some strides. Then before I knew it we were lining up on the start line. The weather couldn’t make its mind up! One minute it was sunny then it was trying to rain. There was a bit of waiting around at the start just as it started spitting and I though this was going to be it and I was going to get drenched.

However once the race had started the sun popped out and the wind picked up. It was lovely to run through Lichfield and see the cathedral. It was a multi terrain route so lots of lumps and bumps and different surfaces to run on. There was some lovely trail running halfway through the run with a superb downhill section through the woods. The support from volunteers and spectators was great, it kept me motivated all the way around and kept a smile on my face. Race nutrition went down well too, I took a gel just after 5km before the first aid station where I grabbed some water which I ended up carrying a fair way around the course. I then took a second gel just after 10km when the race was well and truly underway. That was all I needed to get me around.

Finally out of the woods there was a final 5 km to complete coming into Tamworth. I started to struggle with 3km to go. It was getting sunny and the support from the crowds began to die off. I pushed through and before I knew it the race was over and I was the first woman in!

I was handed a lovely glass trophy and a voucher for a free pair of running shoes at a local running shop which was a lovely surprise! I cheered on a few more people coming in before heading home. My legs felt more tired than they usually do from all the hills and the constant battle with the wind but nothing rolling out on the foam roller and the massage gun couldn’t fix.

Overall it was a great race and made better by the unexpected race win. I’m happy with my fitness levels and looking forward to the triathlon season.

Ceri Davies