Team Um Bongo does the Flitch Way 10k

I was pretty excited when I heard that Challenge Running were organising a series of new races for 2015 along the Flitch Way. The Flitch Way for those of you who are unfamiliar is a former railway line running for 15 miles from Braintree to Bishops Stortford. It's flat, free from traffic and covers some beautiful Essex countryside. It is also where I do most of my running these days as it's on my doorstep.  

Paul and I were not going to miss this one so signed up right away. Our friends Chris and Alec also signed up, Team Um Bongo assemble! Chris some while ago bought himself an Um Bongo running vest. I am pretty sure at the time we laughed at him as it is a pretty mad vest. Now we all own these running vests and enter events under the name Team Um Bongo (when not Team BBQ)!

The days leading up to the race were less than ideal. Paul and I had been doing some decorating and were moving furniture on the Thursday evening. We were lifting a sofa which wasn't at all heavy just a little awkward to grip when I felt my upper back twinge, I shook it off and thought nothing more of it. Then Friday morning I got up to go to work when my back twinge went into spasm. Back to bed I went! Then Friday evening I started to feel like I was coming down with a lurgy. I felt like it was a conspiracy to stop me from running on the Sunday. I didn't want to see those dreaded letters against my name DNS (Did Not Start) so did everything in my power to get myself better. A bit of gentle yoga, some natural anti-inflammatories and every cold/flu remedy known to man seemed to do the trick.

One of the best things about running is that it gives you a license to eat, especially when you have an event coming up. That's an excuse I use probably far too often to justify my eating habits! So Saturday lunchtime I had a tough decision to make, go to the supermarket to do the food shop on an empty stomach or make Marmite pasta for lunch. I chose the pasta of course! To most Marmite pasta probably sounds a little random and like something from a student cookbook but I assure you it's flipping awesome. My dear friend Patsy put me onto the recipe (it's from Nigella Lawson), it's so simple that if you're a Marmite lover then you'll probably already have the ingredients to make it - spaghetti, butter, Marmite and some Italian hard cheese (vegetarian).

Sunday morning provided us with some glorious weather conditions, spring finally felt like it had sprung. The race started and finished at the Great Notley Country Park which is just off of the Flitch Way. It made a great race HQ and provided all of the essential facilities. It is also the home of the Great Notley parkrun, our local parkrun so we were in familiar surroundings and felt like we were at home. We caught up with a couple of other people we knew who were also running, Matt from Michelle's Running Group and Helen who we run with on a Sunday. We listened to race briefing given by Lindley (the Race Director) before heading to the start line. The race was a straight out and back course, starting at the Great Notley Country Park, picking up the Flitch Way along to Bannister Green Halt where we'd turn around and come back on ourselves. The start was just outside of the park and the finish at the top of the hill, affectionately known to Great Notley parkrunners as the 'hill of doom'. Luckily I was already aware of this (I volunteered for the New Years Eve Flitch Way Marathon and this also finished at the top of the hill) and it didn't come as a surprise but the reaction from the 200 field of runners would suggest that they were shocked why anyone would end a race at the top of the hill! The same sort of person who makes a 10 km course 10 km-ish (10.3 km according to my Garmin)!

Team Um Bongo L to R: Alec, Chris, Paul, Emily (and the hill of doom in the background)
(Photo credit: Katrina Leamey)

At 10am the air horn sounded and we were off. I started with a steady pace trying to keep myself around to 5 min/km, I wasn't aiming for a set time as I knew the hill finish would mean that I'd have to bank myself a couple of minutes to be within a shot of a PB and I was well aware of the niggling injuries I have. The first km the field started to spread out a little and I registered a 5:03 km so all was good. Then a girl next to me tripped and took a nasty tumble, she looked like she landed on her shoulder and grazed her knee. I stopped to check she was ok as did another chap who helped her up to her feet. She was just a bit shook up and was able to carry on. I was unexpectedly greeted by cheers at Rayne Station where the group I do my long Sunday run had finished their run and were enjoying a cup of tea. This gave me a boost and I tried to pick up my pace a little before I hit the bypass bridge which on a bit of an incline.

One of my reservations about the race was as it is an out and back race, before you get to the turn around checkpoint you'd be passed by other runners coming in the other direction on the home straight and I thought this could be a little demoralising. The first few runners who passed us were cheered on by the the other runners and given words of support and encouragement, it added a great vibe to the race. Then to my surprise I was passed by Paul who was on the home leg, he must have been 2 km ahead of me at this point and was looking strong considering he'd had issues with his achilles a few days earlier. I'd not been paying much attention but I was sure he was in the top 10 at this stage. Every runner I knew and passed going out or coming back got a high five, I forgot to mention to Chris that he must be less enthusiastic with his high five as I think he almost dislocated my shoulder! At the checkpoint I grabbed a much needed cup of water. I decided not to run with water as it was a short enough distance not to need any and if I'd hydrated well enough I should be fine, however in hindsight I wish I'd carried a small bottle.

On the return 5 km I really found a good rhythm and found myself getting faster and slowly making my way up the field passing a few runners. I even managed to register a couple of sub 5 min/km. Passing Rayne Station the running group were still there and again gave me some great encouragement. With just over a km to go one of the runners said to me "I could really do with a carton of Um Bongo right now", all I could say in reply was "me too!", I was gasping. The last km was torture, all I could think about was how thirsty I was feeling and how close yet still so far I was from the finish line where water awaits. I tagged along with a couple who were clearly going for a time, keeping up with them pushed me on and before I knew it I was over the bridge and back into the park nearing the finish. Just the hill of doom to conquer!

Climbing the hill of doom to the finish line
(Photo credit: Katrina Leamey)

The hill was lined with people cheering and supporting which really helped me find that final bit of effort needed to keep on going. Then I spotted Paul and his parents and my Mum, knowing that they'd be waiting for me at the finish line had really motivated me throughout the race. "Touch the bird to stop the clock" was all I remembered so I crossed the line and reached out for the concrete sculpture that sits on top of the hill. Lindley awarded me with my finishers medal (which is super cool) and I grabbed a much needed drink. Then I went to see Paul and Alec who had already finished and were waiting, they asked if I had stopped my watch, of course I hadn't I'd been too distracted!

The race medal was designed in the style of an old railway ticket

We waited at the top of the hill to see all the runners we knew home. Being a local race it was nice running alongside some familiar faces we know from parkrun and the circle of running friends we've grown. The whole event had a really nice and friendly atmosphere to it. Once Team Um Bongo were all accounted for we headed to the shelter of indoors at it had been quite breezy on top of the hill. Chris had put on a special treat by making some 'non-sausage rolls' especially for Paul and I as a thank you for the volunteering we'd done at Hatfield Forest parkrun (of which he is Run Director for).

Finishers with our race bling

It was never going to be a PB course due to the 0.3 km extra & the finish hill, besides the day was about enjoying myself in the company of friends. The official finishing times for Team Um Bongo were: Paul 43:19, Alec 50:14, Emily 52:42, Chris 58:54. Annoyingly, according to my Garmin my time at the 10 km mark WAS a PB of 50:58 (beating my 2014 Hatfield Broad Oak time of 51:12). However I was pleased with my efforts for the first 10 km race of the year and to my surprise I finished as the 10th female. Paul did fantastically well finishing 9th overall.

Huge thanks to Challenge Running for a fantastically organised event and the volunteer team who were always happy and helpful! If you fancy one of their Flitch Way events they've organised a Marathon in May, a half in June or if you're totally insane a New Years Eve/New Years Day double header of marathons! (Edit: an Autumn Flitch Way 10 km has just been added for September).

A special thank you to Scimitar Sports who were able to arrange a bespoke vest for me so that I could run with my fellow Um Bongoites. It was great fun wearing the vest and it attracted may comments and smiles from the crowd. The power of advertising is strong, I am sitting here drinking a cold glass of Um Bongo whilst writing this blog. Ever since someone had mentioned it to me on the run it's all I've fancied!