Harrier Stephen Thompson competed in the British Masters Athletic federation 10k Championships at Tittensor, Stoke on Trent and secured an M50 Age Group podium finish with a superb Bronze medal.
Thompson anticipated a tough challenge ahead considering the course profile and rising temperatures starting at 24 degrees, and with the course profile regarded as hilly. According to Run Britain and at mile two with some 275 ft elevation gain giving total gain of just over 500ft. This is the kind of elevation one would expect on an average half marathon.
The race started quite well for Thompson, covering the first mile in 5:47, but knowing what was to come the second mile I knew it wasn't going to be my usual controlled progressive race plan. Mile two was going to be all about who could hold their cool and discipline and who could recover significantly enough to control the rest of their race.
After recovering from the 2nd mile and composing his usual progressive race plan Thompson noticed the guys ahead were all in different age categories and had no idea what my M50 position was.
Holding something back for the last mile, just in case of a late surge from runners behind, Thompson picked up the pace in the last 800 metres for a strong finish.
Stephen Thompson fine Bronze Medal in the British Masters 10k road championships
Thompson was delighted with his podium finish, “My original plan was to gain some valuable experience of top national level masters competition, whilst hoping I'd be in or around the mix during the race. I was ranked 5th according to the start list in my age category M50 so was living in hope really of a podium finish so I was elated to claim the Bronze medal”.
The superb Bronze has given Thompson great confidence after suffering from piriformis issues and hardly able to run in April, but with sensible advice and physiotherapy there's always a way back.
Congratulations to Stephen on his medal winning performance