There seems to be a distinct lack of 10 mile races these days. OK ther are a few, but in comparison to the amount of 10k and half marathons, it is a small percentage.
I can't understand it as surely to marhsall a half isn't any different to a 10 mile, in fact it should be better.
And let's face it, when stepping up to half marathon distance, 10 miles is perfect after running several 10k's.
I really prefer the idea of running 10 miles rather than 13.
Anyone got any valid reasons/thoughts for this?
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;O)
Jan - Ferriby 10
Feb - Snake Lane 10
Mar - St. Annes 10
Apr - Caldervale Country 10
May - Ripon 10
Chorley Harriers 10
Bluebell Trail 10
Jun - Thirsk 10
Gosforth 10
Jul - Tough 10 (Skipton)
Eccup 10
Aug - Sale 10
Sep - Chesterfield Spire 10
Ryedale 10
Oct - Harewood Trail 10
Nov - Derwentwater 10
Guy Fawkes 10
Llandudno 10 (although cancelled this year!)
Preston 10
Brampton To Carlisle
Dec - Stockport 10
Maidenhead Easter Ten
Cabbage Patch Ten
I agree that they aren't as prolific as half marafuns but I think that may be due to the prestige associated with completing a half.
Dorking
Dry Hill
Hayling Island
Canterbury
Sidcup
Dartford
Bramley
Hook
Alton
Thames Towpath
Tadworth
Thanks for all the suggestions, I've done a few of the ones listed down south, and of course there is GSR this Sunday.
Next time i want one I'll just ask you guys for suggestions!
The other 10M races in the South I've run are:
Great Baddow
Mersea Island
Cabbage Patch
Seem to be plenty for me. I really like the distance, but in my last 2 I've been a bit gutted that I couldn't carry on for an extra 3.1M to smash my HM pb!
Nice & muddy!
the stourbridge stumble
tee hee
braunton 10 jan
and new one... bideford 10 sept
all in devon all on road
Spey Valley 10 (Aberlour) Sept
Isle of Cumbrae 10 Sept
Smokies 10 (Arbroath) - ladies only - March
Tom Scott Memorial 10 (Motherwell) April
Ballater 10 (I think 10 miles) July
Dunbar 10 mile Multi Terrain October
Dundee RR 10 November
Lossiemouth Turkey Trot 10 December
And there are probably more - but a lot less than there were in the 80s when I was in my (ahem) "prime". I did lots of 10s then - the allure was of getting under the hour, which I did several times. Unfortunately I struggle to replicate that now :-(
The half marathon really took off after the marathon boom finished. People realised that they couldn't bash out dozens of marathons a year - even Scotland boasted a prodigious number at one point - but the half provided an acceptable alternative as it still had "marathon" in the title. After all, what's particularly decimal about 21.1km/13.1 miles? And as the half grew, the 5 mile race extended to become the 10km - almost a quarter marathon. So I suppose we all go for longer now but at the expense of some speed perhaps.
I vote for a resurgence of the 10. For me, it's the perfect balance between speed and endurance, even if I'm no longer chasing the magic hour. The extra 3.1 miles of the half have always seemed like an afterthought to me.
innit
Two more for the diary:
Fenland 10 - 29th October
Nene Valley 10 - 3rd December
Both flat and fast, if the wind's not blowing.