Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Wakefield 10k
by Russell Turner - 23:08 on 23 March 2026
The Wakefield 10k on Sunday proved tougher than I expected, although as usual I’ve lots of excuses. That aside, the run south along scenic, and mostly quiet, back roads was pleasant; staying with my mum for the first time in years was relaxing; and returning halfway today (home tomorrow) allowed me to traverse Pennine roads I’ve not travelled since motorcycle days, from Barnard Castle through Alston to Haltwhistle. Moorland, sheep, hills and sturdy stone buildings – what’s not to like? The ultimate destination of a Falkirk Premier Inn was less attractive, although there was the unintended excitement of driving to the wrong one first.
But what of the race? Around 3,000 (allegedly) 5k and 10k runners assembled in Thornes Park, not far from one of many Wakefield addresses where I’ve lived, and a mile from mum’s, so a handy warm-up for the run. As promised, the weather was dry and mild, the wind no more than a gentle zephyr. With 20mins to go, we followed our appropriate pacers to a nearby side street where we then dawdled for 20mins before the off, passing the time by chatting with fellow runners waiting behind the 60-minute pacer. I was being optimistic again.
Then we were away, and I quickly realised that this wouldn’t be a sub-60 10k.
Apart from one small detour, the route follows the Horbury Road, skirts the southern edge of the town, then turns around and retraces its steps back to Wakefield. Along the way, the road rises and falls, never to a significant degree but enough for me to need (?) two brief walk breaks between 20 and 24 minutes and a longer one after 29 minutes when I still had half a kilometre to go to reach half way. More shorter ones were taken on the way back. Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one without the stamina to keep running.
I crossed the finish line in 65 minutes, which shouldn’t have been a surprise: my 10k long run at home, a week earlier, had taken the same time, as had the first 10k of the Middlesbrough Half Marathon two weeks before that. I like to think I’d have done better on a flat course, but who knows? In addition to the undulation, excuses include a sore throat which I fear heralds a cold, and possible under-hydration brought about by two days of driving. It’s easy to forget to drink when you’re enjoying the road.
My reward for the effort was a bottle of water, a shirt I could live without (there wasn’t an opt-out option) and NO MEDAL. Outrageous. Mention of a medal was conspicuously absent from the sign-up page so I wasn’t surprised. I’ll have to make my own.
After hobbling back to mum’s for a shower, we collected sister Soo for a family trip to the local carvery. It was Sunday, after all. Later, I retired to bed early with a headache (did I mention possible cold and dehydration). I’ve recovered a little today but running holds little appeal this week since winter is making another comeback with more gales, heavy rain and even some snow on the way. Happy days.
The next 10k race, in two weeks, is the Abbathon in Glasgow where finish times don’t matter at all. Maybe just as well.
Add your comment
© Russell Turner 2008-2026