Glastonbury 10k

Yesterday was the Glastonbury 10k where I managed to hang on to third place picking up a nice bit of prize money for the first time since I last ran this race 5 years ago!! A good turn out by Wells City Harriers as you would expect for a local race included former British international Ben Tickner who again won with an unoffical time of 30:40 followed by another Wells Harrier Jon James who is proving to be one of the best vets around at the moment! Start of the race had the usual kids at the front sprinting off up the hill meaning I was in around 30th place after 400 meters but then formality arrived and with Ben already clear the chasing group that included myself, Jon, Nathan Young, Eddie Richards and a few others settled in to the race with a little bit of cat and mouse developing with nobody wanting to lead with most of the race going into a head wind. After 3k I moved up along side Jon and started to increase the pace gradually which dropped the rest of the group leaving a Wells trio of me Jon and Eddie Richards racing for the rest of the prize money. After 5k Eddie dropped off the pace and I was also already starting to struggle but I knew if I managed to hang on to Jon a little longer it would develop a sustainable gap to hang on to until the finish which is exactly what happened as I lost contact with Jon after 7k and just dug in to hold out until the end. The lack of miles are noticable expecially over 10k but I am pleased with the way Im giving everything in races at the moment as my training paces suggest I should be running a fair bit slower than I am. I cant remember the last time I felt that exhausted after a 10k race as after crossing the line I couldnt stand up and could be seen laid in a lump next to the water station for about 15 minutes but overall was worth it as a really enjoyable race and friendly atmosphere. That was the first time I have ran this race since it changed from 9k to 10k race and must say has improved in every aspect. Very suprised more runners from the Frome area didnt race this as much better and bigger race than the Corsham 10k which was on the same day.