It might be a long journey but it is certainly worth the trip. Two Grantham Running Club members joined the field of 742 runners for the Adnams Southwold 10k. This very popular race sells out every year and this year was no exception, as it sold out in under 7 minutes.
As seems to be the way with this race it was another rain soaked morning as the runners turned up in ponchos or bin liners. However, with last year, the rain stopped moments before the start, but the bitter wind continued unabated, and the heavy overnight rainfall left sections of the 2 lap course littered with large deep puddles.
The race starts at the Southwold Harbour Inn, at the most distant point from the town itself, and the finish line. The first kilometre is run along the very rough and wet harbour road, through the working harbour, past the huts and boats before turning on to the Shore Road, heading toward Southwold. The route then turns left and up the hill to York Road before descending past the golf club back to the harbour, forming an almost 4km loop around the Town Marshes.
The race, as always, was very well supported by spectators and plenty of enthusiastic and encouraging volunteer marshals, especially in last 200m rise up to the finish outside the Red Lion.
Stuart Baty (MV50) was the first of the GRC friends in, with a season best time of 48:46. Simon Hartley (MV50) running his first 10k off the year finished in 01:06:47.
Despite the conditions, the overall winner was William Page of Colchester & Tendring AC in 33:21 with the first female was Elizabeth Pugh, of Fulham Running Club in 40:28.