The drinks stations offered not only water, but wine and grapes. Finishers were rewarded with ice baths and chocolate sandwiches. Entrants were even offered a tot of Cognac as they collected their race numbers.
This was a race with a difference, and two Chiltern Harriers made the trip to France to take part in the Provence-Luberon 10k on October 4th.
The race is one of a series held on the same day each year. There are also a marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay and a 15k walk. They all start in the Provence town of Pertuis and wind their way along roads and tracks through fields and vineyards towards La Tour d'Aigues .
Richard Abraham and Brenda King chose the undulating 10k route, despite the attraction of a bottle of Luberon wine to finishers in the longer distance races.
After a cool, misty start, the sun came out and the temperatures climbed to the mid-20s. Both ran well in the heat finishing together in 58'09". Richard survived a nasty fall just 300m from the end, tripping over the leg of a metal crash barrier while waving to friends in the crowd!
Brenda came 7th in her V3F age category (60-69). Richard was 62nd in the V2M (50-59).
There were 676 finishers. The winner finished in 33'57" and the last runner home came in at 2hr02'36".
Jane Peel