Report By: Holly Burbridge

Race Date: 7^th August 2022

The York 10k is a Run for All event which starts and finishes at the York Racecourse in a loop – via the City Centre, York Minster, Millenium Bridge, and Rowntree Park.

It was my first 10k, booked when I was still struggling to consistently run 5, so I was pretty nervous but excited! I’d managed the distance twice training in Sheffield and was hoping to take advantage of York’s relatively flat course to keep gradually improving on my time. I’d also not been a Strider when I signed up, so it felt great to be taking my Striders vest for its first outing!

The race got off to a slightly later start than planned for me due to the super long toilet queue by the start. This meant a lot more people dodging than planned as I completed the first few kms towards the Minster which distracted me from how fast I was running – I was on track for a marginal 5k PB which was not at all the plan but felt comfortable enough to at least continue for another kilometre. The section by the river was a welcome break from the sunshine and came with a slight breeze and a supporter describing just beyond the 5k marker as ‘well-past halfway’ which I chose to tell myself was true! Crossing Millennium Bridge was surreal because it was bouncing slightly under the weight of all the runners and then it was on to the couple of back-and-forth sections to the finish.

I felt pretty sick, but I’d done it, my first 10k, with no walking (even when I wanted to) and in a new PB! As a bonus, Nada had spotted my Striders top as I finished and came and said hi – was great to see (and meet) a fellow Strider at the end of the course and talk times, get our free sports massages and protein shakes, take photos, and most importantly compare the quality of the sweets in our respective goody bags (I lucked out there). Bring on Sheffield 10K in September where us Striders will be out in force!

The race was won by Tim Odonoghue  in 30:48, first lady Leila Armoush (Leeds City Athletic) in  35.54, and first non-binary Henry Stoddart in 41:08.

Striders times below (great times all round 😊) with Ben Stittle pacing 45 mins brilliantly!

Link to full results here.