I raced at the Chichester 10K at the weekend, a well-known event held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The course is famous for being fast and flat, making it perfect for runners looking to achieve quick times.
The weather was mild but windy. Three sharp turnaround points made running at my best challenging and made it harder to maintain my pace. Despite these challenges, I was determined to achieve a new personal best over this distance on the road. I had been training hard for weeks and felt confident I could achieve my goal.
The course was wide, and the running surface was excellent throughout. I was pleased with my controlled heart rate and felt strong throughout the race. However, I didn't have it in my legs on the day. Up to the last kilometre, I was on pace for 31:40 and was confident I could achieve a sub-32-minute time. I came over the line with a (PB) of 32:09.
I was disappointed that I didn't dip under 32 minutes, but I'm confident I can achieve this elusive goal soon. Having raced the weekend before in a very hilly trail race abroad probably didn't allow me enough time to freshen up my legs. This experience made me realise the importance of adequate rest and recovery before a race.
My fuelling and nutrition strategies are still in progress, but I have focused on hydrating. I was pleased to have kept myself well-hydrated on race day with plenty of water before and after the race.
The Chichester 10K is an excellent race for runners looking to achieve fast times. The course is well-designed, and the running surface is superb. I recommend this race to other athletes, and I will be back on a 10k start line very soon to achieve my sub-32-minute goal!
Best, David.