Running is one of the most challenging activities that you can take part in, pushing your body and ending up incredibly proud of yourself no matter what you’ve achieved. That is why so many people take part in the likes of marathons and head out on 5k runs on a regular basis. If you want a challenge but feel as though a 5k isn’t enough of one but that you’re not quite ready to take part in a marathon, the best option open to you might well be a 10k, with one taking place in Guildford every year.
What It’s All About
If you are a keen runner then you will no doubt already know all about what a 10k entails, whilst if you’re not then you might be wondering what all of the fuss is about. It is fair to say that this isn’t something that you should be looking to do if you’re not particularly fit or if you haven’t done much running before. Instead, it is important to build your fitness up and slowly but surely get yourself to the point where you will know that you’ll be able to complete a 10k, perhaps even being able to test yourself by going for a Personal Best time.
The clue is in the title when it comes to a 10k. This is about being able to complete 10,000 metres, which is the equivalent of ten kilometres. Obviously ‘10k’ is much snappier than ‘ten kilometres’, but otherwise the two things are identical. The location for the Guildford 10k is, unsurprisingly, Guildford town centre. That means that you can run around the iconic cobbled streets, as well as taking in the likes of the Castle in the background. The routes are professionally measured out to ensure that they are the correct distance.
Who Is It For?
When it comes to the people that can take part in the Guildford 10k, the honest answer is that it’s everyone. Whether you are someone who believes that they’ve got a chance to qualify for the Summer Olympics or you are the kind of person that has never gone on a run in their life but likes to head out on a long walk, the Guildford 10k is open to you. There is a brilliant atmosphere at play from all who take part, with the overall feeling being one of welcoming and friendliness regardless of the level that your personal fitness is at.
It is also worth noting that there is a 2K Junior race that also takes place, which is open to younger people for whom a 10k would be pushing their bodies too far. You don’t need to run if you don’t want to, or you can do a mixture of running and walking depending on what you need to do in order to make it all the way around the course. There is a professional race-pacing team that sets the pace for everyone, so you can have some sense of how quick or slow you are going depending on where you are in comparison to the team members.
The routes feature full road closures, so you don’t need to worry about trying to make your way around cars or buses whilst you’re on your run. The route is measured by the UKA, with each kilometre marked out so you know how far you’ve got and how far you still have left to go before you reach the finish line. There are also a wealth of different flags as well as helpers who are more than happy to let you know how you’re getting on. There will be water on offer along the route too, so this is very much an event open to all different levels of skill and experience.
Why Take Part
If you have never done a 10k before, then you might be wondering why on earth you’d want to consider taking part. The honest answer is that running can be great for your health and fitness, and that you can consider it a way of gaining some personal development. Imagine going from never running at all to getting to the point that you’re able to complete a 10k, and how that would make you feel. If you’re not sure that that is inspiration enough, then you can also consider the fact that the Guildford 10k is a charity race.
The Guildford 10k is presented by Gateley and is done in order to try to raise money for Shooting Stars Children’s Hospices. That doesn’t mean that you have to raise money for that organisation if you’d like to raise money for your own good cause, but it is an indication of the kind of thing that benefits from events such as the Guildford 10k taking place. You have to pay in order to be able to take part, with some of the money going towards the Shooting Stars Children’s Hospices, so it is a good deed that you’re getting involved in.
How much you will pay will depend on several things, including whether or not you would like a t-shirt at the end of the event. If you have not taken part in a 10k before, then this is worth spending extra on, with a t-shirt commemorating the occasion being something that you will look back on with pride in the years to come. Regardless, you will get a themed medal and chip-timed results, as well as some post-race goodies provided by some of those involved in the sponsorship of the overall event. This is a race that looks to offer runners what they want out of such an occasion.