On Sunday I raced the Christmas Chilly 10k at Castle Combe Circuit near Chippenham. It is a flat, fast course but was a very windy day. On a weekend when most races were cancelled or postponed due to storm Darragh we were fortunate that this one could go ahead.

The course is described as the perfect running surface and PB opportunity which it definitely is due to the smooth, flat, fast and wide race track surface. HOWEVER, it isn’t the easiest place to run when it is windy which is was on Sunday due to storm Darragh. Part of the reason the race was able to go ahead was because it is so open and there was no risk of trees or debris causing injury but this meant there was no hiding from the wind!

The race starts with a small out and back circuit before three full laps of the race course. The start/finish of each lap was very spectator-friendly and there was festive music playing which made a great atmosphere despite the windy conditions.

I intentionally eased into the race because I knew it was going to be tough given the conditions. I ran with the group for the first lap. Then at the end of the first lap a runner that I regularly race at the Weston Prom Series, Adam Tango Holland, picked up the pace so I went with him. We pulled away from the rest of the field over the second lap. As we were finishing the second lap I was feeling good so started to increase the pace gradually and over the third lap managed to increase my lead and take the win!

I won in 31:56 which I was very happy with given the conditions, I also haven’t run that fast for 10k for a while so it showed training (and all this racing) is definitely moving me in the right direction. Adam Tango Holland (Tavistock AC) was second in 33:14 and one of my old Loughborough University teammates, Daniel Giles (Swindon Harriers), was third in 33:21. The women’s race was won by Emma Hines (Swindon Harriers) in 39:06, Holly Horton (Highworth RC) was second in 40:19 and Heather Marnoch (Unattached) was third in 41:26. Full results of the Christmas Chilly 10k here.

Well done to everyone that raced and thank you to DB Max Events for organising a great event!