I’d spotted the inaugural Run Jericho 10k on the Fetch calender and being less than 4 miles from home I couldn’t resist entering. What with a PB attempt at the 10th Abingdon parkrun planned for the day before I had no illusions that I’d be doing more than pottering round enjoying what sounded like an interesting multiterrain course.

Saturday’s parkrun didn’t quite come off – in fact it turned out to be my slowest of the 4 I’ve run. At the time I thought I was running well and that my slower time was due to it being a bit windier than usual for both the ride out to Abingdon and for the run. Looking back though I remember having a discussion about the Vegetarian Cycling & Athletics Club with Carrie part of the way round and lets face it managing any sort of conversation during a 5k PB attempt suggests you’re really just not trying hard enough. I finished in 24:08, 25/59, compared to 23:37 at my 1st attempt; 23:48 for my second and 23:40 3rd run – I will try and work out the pattern behind these numbers so I can predict when a PB is due and when just to stay in bed and not bother.

So Sunday, after a very poor night’s sleep, I reluctantly dragged my already aching legs down to St Barnabas school in Jericho. I’d revised my 50 minute target to 55 as I really didn’t feel up to much of an effort. I got there just before the kids 1k started so hung about in the closed road outside the gate to cheer them off. There was a lot of noise and laughter as they were sent on their way, the faster ones looking determined then the little ones holding dad’s hand then lastly a lad was crawling with what looked like socks on his hands.

I went and collected my number and said hello to a couple of familiar faces, Paul the landlord from The Garden, the nearby veggie pub and Barry from Headington Road Runners. A good proportion of the field looked like parents and locals in it for the fun though there were also a fair smattering of fast looking club runners. The morning aches had worn off, or maybe the ibuprofen had cut in, and I was looking forward to getting going. We got ourselves into the appropriate time slots ready for the start and after a few minutes delay due to cows on the course we were off.

I took it easy as we ran along Juxton Street then a bit of Walton Street and down Walton Well Road to cross the bridge into Port Meadow. All familiar territory for me. A faster runner overtook to take his place up field and I passed a few of the over ambitious as we headed for the Thames and I was surprised that we avoided any bottlenecks as we crossed the 2 bridges to join the Thames Path on the other side. The ‘path’ along here is a mix of various single tracks through short cow cropped and patted grass across a not very level surface. Good fun but watch the footing.

We ran and enjoyed the sun, there were marshals to direct us slightly off the path so we didn’t have to deal with the gates (which did make me rather wonder just what the gates are for). The cows had apparently resisted attempts to disturb their morning and were lying either side of the path just inches from our track chewing away and not showing any signs of panic as we sped between them.

I couldn’t have looked at the route map very closely as instead of crossing the lock as I expected we carried on past the ruined Godstow Abbey then joined the road to cross the twin bridges by the Trout pub and return to Port Meadow by what used to be the Wolvercote Bridge swimming area complete with changing facilities back when such things were encouraged.  A much appreciated water station at the 5k point then onto the pavement to cross the railway bridge then right into Wolvercote Green where we unexpectedly took a narrow track through reed beds for a couple of minutes before joining the Oxford Canal towpath back into Oxford. All well marshalled so I doubt anyone got lost.

I’d thought the towpath would be a bit narrow to carry a race while the general public walk their dogs and the fish botherers fill the grassy bits with their supplies and torture equipment. We all seemed to mingle in together fine though and there was sufficient passing places to prevent any problems. I did seem to be overtaking a few at this stage as the hot and bothered and the less experienced came to the conclusion that maybe 10k is quite a long way and perhaps they shouldn’t have gone off so fast.

A couple of kilometres later, each kilometre brightly signed with the school kids efforts at markers and also clarified by slightly more legible numbers, we left the canal and returned to Port Meadow where we soon rejoined the outbound route and I made a bit of an attempt to speed up for the finish.

52:03 87/234 for what my GPS reckoned as 10.2k was good enough considering and the great route and fun atmosphere had totally turned round the unenthusiastic mood I’d started the day with. I’ll look out for this one next year when it’s timed to coincide with the Olympic torches coming to town!