The annual event ran by Lakeland's Hospice in Corby is a local favourite. A fast, flat course around Rockingham Motor Speedway it's a good course for a New Year PB.

This was my third year of taking part and for the first time I'd decided to be organised and sign up online ahead of the event. At £13 an entry (affiliated) you can't really go wrong. 

Picked up my race number - 106 and to pick up a finishers t-shirt. Different picking up my finishers t-shirt before I got to the start but then again it saves the queues at the end. This is the first time I've known them to do t-shirts so this was a nice touch.

There is a bit of walk to the starting area so a great way to warm up the legs.We were ushered to walk a little faster .. time was getting on. We found our places and waited to be sent on our way. The weather conditions for the Brass Monkey are well-known - it's usually cold, windy and raining. This year was a pleasant surprise 10-12 degrees c and sun beaming over half of the track. I opted to start in gloves which would come off pretty sharpish. We were off, it was a busy year so the first half a mile was a case of zig-zagging through people to 'find my pace'. Once found I headed to the track line - the flattest part of the motor circuit thinking that this would make me most comfortable. First mile - fast 8.56, that wasn't going to last long. 2nd lap begun I was feeling good, a quick of water and into what was possibly the nicest part of the course. Shade, no wind. Round I plodded along to the worst part of the course. So much wind that I contemplated walking thinking it might have been quicker! Between miles 5 and 6 the wind must have been at its worst - 10.27 (though that is my average pace so not as bad as it sounds). I plodded on though and finally completed the fourth lap where I made my way down the pit stop area to reach the finish line.

I 'officially' according to my Garmin/Strava cross the 10K mark at 1.00.04 though the course was a little longer so my official finish time was 01.01.38. A PB whichever way I look at it, for the course and the distance.

Crossing the finish line we were handed our medals, pretty basic though this didn't bother me. I heard some comments regarding the medals and that they weren't what people were expecting and also read this on a few running forums I follow on Facebook. This didn't bother me however it was a nice surprise to receive an email that advised we would be receiving the 'proper' medals at a later date due to a hold up at customs. SO we have a nice surprise to come in a few weeks time! Overall a good race early in the season that doesn’t have any particular undulating parts. It’s well supported and proceeds go to a local charity. I wouldn’t not do it again and it’s likely I’ll be back next year. Thanks to the organisers and volunteers.

For a full review, visit my site here: https://wordpress.com/view/therungerdiaries.wordpress.com

After missing the 2017 event due to ‘man flu’ it was great to be back running the Brass Monkey 10k again. Yes, it’s a run around an oval race track 4 times (not the idea of fun for some runners) but it is a well organised and value for money event which raises money for a worthy charity. 

I signed up online a few days before and collected my number on the day, you could still enter on the day. 

The race contains a lot concrete and tarmac but the pockets of crowd you did pass were very vocal and kept you motivated through the strong winds on corners 3/4. 

There were a lot of marshals around the venue helping and the finish line greeted you with a bag including a biscuit, crisps, water and a banana. The medal given out on the day was a reserved medal. The official Brass Monkey medal is to be posted out to runners once they have been released from customs (not the race organisers fault but they still provided runners with a medal).

As with every year I start off with this race, the Brass Monkey 10k held at Rockingham Speedway, Corby. For the first time in many years it was actually sunny! Normally with this race the weather is wet and it can be very cold. 

Ample room for parking and picking up your race number is easy due to the fact surnames are separated. You can even turn up on the day and register, it costs you slightly more but at least you can check the weather forecast beforehand. 

The course is around the speedway which is 1.5 miles so you end up doing 4 and a bit laps. The course isn’t all that exciting as you are always on a camber going left. But you can’t get lost and as long as you can count to 4 you’ll never do more than the 10k. There is one water station and as your doing laps you get to it every 1.5 miles. 

Previous years the medal has been bespoke with a monkey design. This year you did receive a medal but it was a standard medal with no engraving but you did get a t-shirt that I will definitely use for my training runs.

Overall the race is well organised and helps support a local hospice (Lakelands) and is always a good race to blow away the cobwebs and that extra weight gained from the Christmas holidays!

I’ll see you again next year Brass Monkey!

I wanted to run this race in 2016, two things kept me away, firstly I couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, secondly the weather was atrocious and Rockingham Circuit can have some howlers when it comes to the weather.

So I got a break in the diary this year and decided that last minute I'd nip down to the circuit for a quick 10k. I know this circuit very well, having covered a number of track days and overseen 3 events here myself so it would be a nice shoe-horn into the diary.

Arrival and parking were very straightforward, there is a lot of space here at the circuit. To be minorly critical, the marshal was stopping EVERY car to advise on parking and the way to the track, my advise, buy a couple of signs to save the drivers frustration of sitting in an unnecessary queue.
Registration was simple, one form, £15, YES 15 quid for a 10k at a unique venue. Other circuit races are vastly expensive and come with less enthusiasm from the RD. By the way, Paul the RD was hilarious with his race briefing, I'd pay the £15 just to here Paul's banter.

The race also stages a kids 1.5m fun run. One lap of the circuit, the kids had huge fun running this. Can you imagine being 6 and being allowed to run around a track where the cars travel an average of 200 mph?

A short walk out to the start, a perfect time to get fully warmed up. More of Paul's pre-race banter. The wheelchair race goes first, they go straight into turn 3 of the track, which is uphill, not much on foot, but on wheels it's tough. We, the runners, are let loose about 1 minute after the wheelchair race. Four laps of the oval and the final sprint down the pit-straight. There's not a lot to describe about the course, its Tarmac, it's reasonably flat-certainly PB territory and you keep turning left. Turn right and you'll hit a wall!

I got the years first PB at this race and went under 47 minutes, for this I got a very nice medal, an improvement on last years medal (I saw photos from last years race) and one that I'm quite proud of. Race Organisers take note, adorn the runners with their bling, they've just slogged out 6 miles, being handed a medal is an insult.

Water and bananas on both the course and at the end. Nice touch of food mid-course, but probably not needed on a 10k. The goody bag contained another banana, crisps, chocolate and a bunch of info about Lakelands Hospice, which a lot of people were leaving in the 'village' area. If your bag isn't full of grub I'm generally not interested. A race t-shirt was available to purchase but wasn't to my liking.

Can I recommend this race? Yes I can. There are two superb races at this venue, both come with great medals and both offer PB potential. The weather can be squiffy here, but Brass Monkey is a no-frills race with just the right amount of event management and none of the huff-puffery you get with bigger races, that include things such as the pre-race warm up routine which only the front row can hear and they're not bothered by this.

Well I'll done Paul and Lakelands Hospice.