“I ran my first multi-lap 10k – here’s why it was my favourite race yet”

I love running. When people ask me what I like to do outside of work, running is usually the first thing I’ll mention. Since discovering the sport during the pandemic, I’ve run almost every week, only taking a break during periods when I was injured or busy at work.

I’m yet to complete a marathon (although I’m very keen to give it a go), but I’ve tackled almost every other distance underneath that. Running a 5k at Parkrun is one of my favourite ways to spend a Saturday morning, and the challenge of tackling a half marathon is always rewarding. One distance I’ve never got along with, though, is the 10k.

I’ve run more 10ks than any other race distance, but I’ve never mastered it. I always set off too fast, spend the middle section deep in a pain cave and end up having to drag myself through the last few kilometres, ultimately missing out on the goal I set myself. Since my first 10k in 2022, I’ve tried (and failed) to break the one-hour mark, but every time I’ve fallen at the final hurdle. For a long time, my personal best was 1hr 00min 42sec, so for the past year, I’ve avoided running a 10k at all costs for fear of failing again.  

That was until Runna invited me to take part in its First To Fast 10k race in Battersea Park earlier this month. To be honest, the idea of failing to break that sub-one-hour mark again felt scary, but I was eager to put my fear firmly to bed. The format of the race intrigued me: four 2.5km laps of Battersea Park with a variety of pacers available to help people complete their first 10k or beat their personal best. Feeling nervous, I said yes.

On race day, I made my way to the start line full of trepidation. I’d run another 10k race a couple of weeks earlier that was, to put it mildly, a horrible experience. My confidence levels weren’t high, but I had a plan: run with the one-hour pacer until at least halfway (to stop myself from going off too fast) and then allow myself to speed up a little bit if I was feeling good. If not, I’d just try to stick with the pacer until the bitter end and hope I could hang on.

There were three waves of runners based on pace and previous 10k experience; I was in the second group. I started towards the back and sat on the hip of the 60-minute pacer for the entirety of the first 2.5k loop, listening to a podcast to help keep my pace steady. By the end of that first loop, I was worried about how uncomfortable I was feeling, but I think it was just a lack of a proper warm-up beforehand. As I headed into my third kilometre, I started to feel a bit more settled, and as I eased into the second half of the second lap, I moved slightly ahead of the pacer and started to run at around a 5.50mins/km pace.  

It was here that the mental game really started. Doing a four-lap race makes it a lot easier to pace yourself, but it can get a little monotonous. As I went into the third lap, the idea of doing two more began to intimidate me, but I tried to fight off the nerves and focus on the task at hand by swapping my podcast for my race playlist.

It was this decision that allowed me to lock in and up my pace a little (although I was still conscious of not overdoing it). My pace was around 5.40mins/km for a little bit until I entered the fourth and final lap, when I upped the pace once more. By the time I passed 9k, I was feeling a little tired, but I willed myself to keep going before a final sprint finish. I had done it: after years of trying, I had completed a sub-one-hour 10k (57mins 52secs).

While the multiple laps might have messed with my head a little, I think the format made it a lot easier for me to focus on my pacing, rather than getting distracted by undulations in the course or what was going on around me. There was also great support from the Runna team and a variety of runners around me, which included people completing their first 10k as well as those who have been running for years. It all combined to give the atmosphere a really good vibe.

If you’re running for pure enjoyment and don’t care about your time, I think a road race is better. But if you want to really push yourself and see what you’re capable of, I couldn’t recommend a multi-lap park-based race like this more. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Runna’s First To Fast races in the future. 

Images: Runna