Icknield 10k & Half Marathon, 10th May 2008

A hot day and hilly course meant that it wasn't a day for PBs, but there were some excellent performances, and even a team trophy. Kate B won the wine, and her report is below. Also, I originally forgot Sandra's joker, which has now been restored.

* Jonathan actually competed in the half marathon, finishing in 1:56:41. The time given is that for his first lap, i.e. the 10k.

Report by Kate Bird:

Being a complete technophobe, I’ve only just managed to find the results from the Icknield 10K, so here is a list of awards before the race report! Fifteen ERR took part in the 10K (total 142), and 1 in the half marathon (total 88). Our club took away several prizes: Ben, Graham, Nick and Matthew won the prize for first men’s team, Graham was second MV40, Larry was first MV60, Kate B was third LV35, Katherine B was first LV45 and Matthew Marks was first Juniors. Not bad for a hot day and a hilly course!

So here’s the report ….

Saturday 10th May was a bright, warm day, after a week of fantastic weather. I’d been told the Icknield 10K was a toughy but I decided to give it a go anyway (especially as I’d voted to include this race in the Club Championships over Carterton!)

The race starts at Chinnor at the base of the Chilterns, which I suppose should have given me some idea about the course. The race was being run on behalf of Christian Aid and Chinnor had certainly pulled out all the stops to raise funds; two sponsored walks were just setting off as we arrived and runners were gathering to take part in either a 10K or half marathon. There was a good atmosphere; the organisers had laid on refreshments and were selling fair trade goods, and many locals had come out to cheer everyone on. I spotted Elaine with her family (children proudly sporting ERR t-shirts – hurrah!) and then Graham and Katherine who reminded me again (in case I’d forgotten) what a tough course this was going to be. No sign of Lesley yet, so a few of the long-leaguers were hurriedly arranging to play their jokers. Suddenly the PA burst into life. The local priest was about to send us on his way with a blessing. In any other circumstance this might have seemed slightly eccentric, but this was for Christian Aid. (Larry later told me that he had collected a Ugandan missionary friend from the airport that morning and brought him straight along to the race. As this was his first taste of England, we wondered what he had made of the whole affair…!) Anyway, the priest said ‘Amen’, Lesley appeared from nowhere (a miracle!) and we were off.

The course took us immediately up a steep path - clearly popular with dog-walkers - and onto the Icknield Way. We followed a bridleway for perhaps a mile or two through glorious woodland, not unlike our Wytham route. So far so good. This was undulating but not difficult, and I was managing to keep up. The course then followed lanes, with rolling hills either side. At the 5K mark we started climbing again and I was beginning to realise what everyone had been talking about, but thankfully there was a row of seriously big houses at the top to take my mind off the run. Grand Designs eat your heart out. A few more picturesque lanes, and then we reached Bledlow where we came head-on with the sponsored walkers. Such a happy bunch. Past some cheerful marshals and a rather large shire horse, and I was still just about keeping up, when we hit The Hill. At first I tried attacking it with gusto, but I quickly realised I was running more slowly than I can walk. I tried to console myself with the thought that everybody probably slows up at this point, when Jane L came breezing past, and she was chatting. Finally we reached the top, then some mad free-wheeling through cool, shady woodland. The home stretch was down through the middle of a vast field, with hills rising up on either side. The view was absolutely heavenly - in spite of the crop-sprayer bearing down on us - and a great place to end the race (unless you were doing the half marathon, in which case you had to do it all over again). Everyone received a medal and a running log, donated by Elan Printing, the sponsors of the race. I had forgotten to set my watch at the start so I had no idea how I’d done, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t exactly going to be a world record breaker, and with such gorgeous weather and fantastic scenery, who cared? Was I glad we’d chosen Icknield over Carterton? You bet.

Here is a photo of part of the victorious men's team in case you want proof. The promising youthful member of the team is pictured alongside Matthew Marks.