It’s Sunday 26th November and I am bloody freezing. I am at Greenwich Park for my 5th Mo Run in a row. An event that I have taken part in over the past few years and although this is a two lap race, (which I’ve never been ultra keen on these type of races) is alway a highlight in my calendar. This is a race that does not have the pomp and circumstance of a large half or full marathon, but has just the unique prestige that it’s too large to be a local fun run, but small enough that there’s a togetherness from those taking part.
The registration was it usual seemless self, with the picking of my race number completed in a matter of seconds. The MC who has been magnificent for the four years before was there with her usual bubbly and enthusiastic self, getting everyone fired up for another great race. After the annual best fancy dress awards were given and group warm up finished we all made our way to the start line. Normally with the Mo Run, as it’s my last race of the year and tends to be after an autumn marathon, I tend to take it a bit easy and just enjoy the great occasion that it delivers. But this year was different. This year I thought I’d really go for it and give it my all. The Mo Run in 2015 was the first time I’d ever dipped under 40 minutes for a 10k (a goal I have had since I started running and one I never thought I’d achieve) and I painfully finished the 2016 addition with a time that was just over 40 minutes. I wanted to end my running year strong and with a time and effort I could be proud of. Cue weeks of nothing but hill running, intervals, more hill running, gym sessions three times a week, more hill running and finally more hill running.
I was on the start line absolutely buzzing. It may have been nerves, it may have been the caffeine gel I took before the race or it may have been a side effect of the countless amounts of beetroot I had eaten before the race. Who knows?! The Avery fan club once again were attendance, as were my two good friends Rowan and Nikki who are also regulars for the Mo Run, their only absence being last year’s event. All of my friends and family were being really supportive and I had a really good feeling going into the race.
After going through a final prep, the horn sounded and we were off! We hit the road and I was with the top 5 for the first stretch. One chap misread the arrow and started to go off course, so I kindly and politely told him which way he needed to go: “Here mate! You’re going the wrong way! Wrong hill!! Oi!!!!! This one!!!!!” I think he got the message.....
If no one has done the Mo Run at Greenwich before, then they are in for a shock. The course is gorgeous and scenic, with the picturesque Maritime Museum, Gallery and Greenwich Observatory providing a beautiful backdrop to a lovely race day, but it is a gruelling and challenging race. You think you’ve cracked it when you are bombing downhill at a rate of knots, before the awful realisation that you have to go back up those sections later on in the race. The course had changed ever so slightly but was still tough, with a long downhill now followed by a flat right turn, before running along the bottom by the Maritime and then climbing back up to the top, before a couple of laps are followed by another downhill and then another pig of a climb before you chuck a right turn and cross the start line which also acts as the half way mark. The support on the course was lovely today and although some parts were quiet, the roars you get from everyone and the MC give you goosebumps. I hit the 3 mile mark in just under 19 minutes so knew if I could maintain my pace I’d be on for a good time. That’s easier said than done around this course as you can feel the energy being sapped from your legs with every step.
I was still near the front and although the leaders and placed positions had started to pull away, I thought as long as I could see them I’d be ok. I was coming up to the last downhill of the race and looked at my timer, I crossed the 9km mark and had quite a bit of time to play with, but also knew that I had one last evil climb to do again and that I had to keep giving my all. I reached the foot of the hill in just over 37:30 minutes and knew as long as I kept a good pace, once at the top it’d be practically over. This hill was a monster that needed vanquishing and I was screaming at myself to keep going and not give up. “Nearly there! This is your last race! Come on! Keep going!” I raced to the top and saw it had only taken me just over a minute to get there! I chucked a right and was well under the 40 minutes. No sprint finishes were needed this year as I have had with previous 10ks and after slowing to high 5 my fan club and jump and kick my hills in celebration (and hoping I’ll feature in a Mo Run photo!) I crossed the finish line in 39:23. A time I was absolutely delighted with and another sub 40 minute on a tough, tough course.
At the end of the race, I took my sunglasses off and tears were streaming down my face. Not with emotion, it had just been such a hard race that I had to relieve the pressure somewhere and leaking out of my eyes seemed to be where the built up tension was coming from. Mrs A and the boys took great delight in this.
We waited for my two friends Rowan and Nikki to finish the race and they both did great times. This race is their kick start in their training for their first ever marathon when they take on London in 2018 and they both did brilliantly. After the race, it seemed as though the DJ had put on his George Michael CD with Faith and other songs belting out the speakers. Nikki was partying away to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, with Rowan walking away saying how he didn’t dance. But he was slyly singing along wondering whether he should start his own Wham! tribute band....
So the Mo Run is over for another year and I was sad about it. Yes I no longer see myself as a 10k runner, focussing more on marathons and half marathons, but this is such a great race and very sentimental for me. A race I’d put a lot of energy and time into and I was rewarded with a great time and an 11th place finish overall.
Thank you Morunning for another unforgettable event. This is a magic race and one I will continue to do as long as my knees allow me!