This was my 1st ever 10k last year, in my home town, so I was looking forward to returning to beat my time.  The course was the same - a figure of 8 round the top of Lincoln which takes in some of the nicer historic and residential areas, plus some of the not quite so nice residential areas (it is an urban run so to be expected!), which finishes at the Cathedral with streets lined with spectators.  The atmosphere is friendly despite being a larger event (I think somewhere around 4500 participants), and it's a nice flat route with good PB potential.  The T-shirts are technical and good quality, the medal huge, and the goody bag was one of the best I've had in a long time.

However, as we did this event last year too, there is one major comparison to be made which the organisers need to have a think about.  The two car parking areas are allocated according to your race number.  Last year, we were in the car park behind the Leisure Centre, right next to the start - so able to make use of proper toilets, and soak up the atmosphere before making our way to the startline, joining in the warm up, and generally having a good time.  This year, we were allocated the second car park which is a little further out.  Despite leaving ridiculously early from our hotel to get there, we got stuck in traffic for 45 minutes (frustratingly passing by the road to the first car park which was empty).  Then there was the toilet queue.  Oh my god, I have never been in so much pain in my life.  There were 5 portaloos  in the car park which took another 45minutes queuing to reach.  Yes - 5; for an event with over 4000 competitors - this was utter madness.  Some runners were unable to stand and jiggle any longer and disappeared behind a parked car - not good for the runner or the people who live round there.  People were debating whether to stay and queue or not as it was getting close to the start time.  We ended up running from the loos (which were utterly vile, unsurprisingly, given the amount of people using them) to the startline; hearing the countdown then seeing everyone set off while we were still hot-footing it to try and get there.  There were still people queuing in the toilet queue, who had another 10min run/walk to get to the start, and this was assuming they had dumped their bags somewhere else as the baggage drop was located at the sports centre near the other car park.  Complete palava.

Depsite almost missing the start, and weaving through the back of the crowd for the first kilometer, I got a PB - yay! I love this race - but the chaos at the start with the second car park needs sorting as it tarnishes what should be a fantastic event.