Race Date: Sunday 17th June 2018

Bedford, birth place of such luminaries as Harold Abrahams, Ronnie Barker, Barry Fry and erm me, was again host to the 4th edition of the Bedford 10K. This flat and fast course attracts a strong field from the local clubs hunting PBs.
Conditions were thankfully mild with some light rain pre-race helping to keep things cooler as the runners got underway. The first few miles saw runners taking in the scenic embankment, making it easy to overcook the start as the swans give you the evil eye, before crossing over the town bridge into Wessex.

The middle part of the race is perhaps the most challenging as it offers a more realistic view of Bedford (somewhat drab, somewhat grey) and takes in the “hill” on the course at the turnaround, that as ever always seems further away then you’d have thought.

The last third race sees runners tackling the leafy boulevard of Park Avenue (where do you think NY got the idea from?!) before heading down the High St and onto the return leg of the embankment (even the swans couldn’t get my behind moving at this point).

811 runners survived with first runner home the unattached Owen Hind in a speedy 30:51 and first lady Rebecca Murray of Bedford & County AC in 34:47.

2 Striders took part on the day: