Wroughton air field is not the most cozy of places, in fact being an old airport its flat, exposed and chilly.

Warm in my car with multiple layers on having just warmed up from scrapping the ice off the car at home I arrived to temps of 3c and had to brave a dash across the car park to registration. Number collected, pinned to my chest this is the first running race and longest run since LochNess marathon. I was apprehensive – I’ve done this event 3 times before, slightly undulating , always cold, previously foggy or driving rain has obscured my view of the surrounding countryside.

LochNess hurt and the monster has taken my running mojo in recent months. I had to go back to basics and started building up from 3 miles to 6 miles for this 10km. This would also be my coldest run of the year and I was hoping asthma would behave itself.

Nice to see a few familiar faces from Calne as we walked to the start. Took a few photos for the fancy dress teams & we were off.

The first and last mile is a pothole & crater strewn ribbon of tarmac – I’m sure there’s a sink hole hiding ready to take a small car.

From the start a weak winter sun came out which brightened up the day if not warmed us up.

The two lap route around quiet country lanes is undulating, slightly muddy ( never take new shoes here) well marshalled and offered a water jump which I managed to leap over the first lap but my right foot had a dunking the second lap.

I hadn’t even completed my first lap when the lead runner cruised past me – well done Simon on your win.

After the first couple of kilometres I warmed up enough and pulled done my Buff from covering my mouth – less of the running bandit look. A short puff on my inhaler at the water station half way then made it to the finish breathing easy. Asthma behaved today in the coldest of runs so hopefully my new inhaler is a good one for me.

Trotting over the finish line just over the hour 1:01 this isn’t my fastest or slowest on this course. Like my WATTBIKE FTP test a few weeks back I’ll take this as I hadn’t train specifically for this race it was a training event as I build up my miles.

In the last 7 weeks I have lost 7lbs in weight through smart eating, smart exercise – home strength & flexibility workouts and social bike rides. This alone will have helped my running.

Swindon 10km is a local grass roots no frills race but is well organised and has the most colourful medal. After presentations the highlight is a draw of race numbers for two pairs of shoes. I was just 2 numbers off a fresh pair of trainers ! Getting closer last year 5 numbers off – will have to go back and run again !

Race report also on #racecheck

Nice to get home have a bubble bath & stretch out those legs.