Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, two cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
York 10k 2026
by Russell Turner - 22:26 on 02 August 2026
The York 10k long weekend got off to a fraught start on Friday when I departed The Rural Retreat en route for the Redesdale Arms, just over the border in Northumberland. For a change, I decided to stick mostly to the direct route: A9, M90, A68. This was a mistake, and a reminder of why back roads are best.
Along the way I had to contend with roadworks, heavy traffic, a couple of breakdowns (not mine), some heavy rain (no heatwave in Perthshire), more roadworks and more heavy traffic. The cherry on top was screens across the A9 near Dunkeld while crash investigators did their business. The diversion, on roads unsuited to coaches and big trucks, was painfully slow – shame that Google Maps didn’t warn me so I could have chosen a better route south. The accident happened at 6am so there was no excuse.
The Redesdale’s Yorkshire pudding wrap, filled with lamb and stuffing, helped make up for a hard day behind the wheel, but only just.
There was less driving next day, first to Wakefield to catch up with family gossip, then to the Wheatlands Lodge Hotel in York where my single room was very decently upgraded to a double. This came in useful when the evening’s unexpected (to me) entertainment – a sax, keyboards and vocals combo featuring hits from the 60s to 80s – commenced in the back bar close to what would have been my single room. A couple of flights of stairs up, I drowned them out by closing my windows (a tough decision on a muggy night) and watching James Bond on the room’s bijou TV.
Race Day: a 15min stroll from the hotel to Knavesmire with lots of others heading the same way; warm to very warm, not even a breeze to ease the heat; baggage dumped (a hoodie and some cash); a few warm-ups and stretches, then a place close to the 1:05 pacer, although I hoped for 1:03 or less. Sub-60 was definitely not happening today.
Then we were off, then we weren’t, and again, and finally over the start line 8mins after the racing snakes got the race under way. A record 6,000+ were taking part. As usual, the crush meant the pacers were gone by the time I started, not to be seen again until the other side of the finish line.
The race wasn’t hugely memorable, despite enthusiastic crowds, which is a shame. I managed a steady pace for the first 5k, covered in just under 32mins, which included yet another tweak to the route but little else worth reporting, apart from the increasing heat and the effort involved. At 6k and 7k I was tempted to walk but pushed on, giving in around 8.5k for a 40sec breather, instantly regretted. How the guy in full Stig costume – white racing overalls and helmet – managed to keep going I don’t know, but he passed me and stayed ahead.
No more walking happened. I passed 10k at 1:05:16 – I’d have been under 1:05 without the walk – and crossed the finish line in 1:05:50, 5mins slower than last year and maintaining my record of slowing every year since my 56:38 debut in 2021. I blame old age – after all, I’d turned 68 the day before.
The goody bag was moderately good (no crisps though) and the medal very stylish. I hung around long enough to watch some of the later finishers, including a jolly quartet of 118 118 runners, then returned to the hotel: my fifth York 10k completed (I didn’t make it in 2024).
After a shower and some restorative sandwiches I bravely decided to take the 5k walk on the walls that circle the city, abandoning the idea halfway thanks to heat – it was now 24ºC – and crowds then returning to the hotel where I later partook of its roast of the day and a tasty Pinot Grigio. Neither the Grand nor the Royal had any exciting weekend entertainment on offer so the evening’s culture was Miss Congeniality on the TV. What would we do without ITV2?
If it sounds as if I was disappointed by the race, fear not – I’ve already taken advantage of the Super Early Bird and signed up for next year. After all, in 2027 it falls on the same day I turn 69 so it would be rude not to.
Add your comment
© Russell Turner 2008-2026