The sub 40 minute 10k run has been elusive dream of mine since I started running two years ago.
This goal is a key benchmark for many runners. There’s an unwritten rule that says a sub 40 minute 10k means you’ve turned into a decent runner.
But to me this goal always seemed too distant – possibly even unattainable. That was until I started taking my running more seriously.
This video documents my attempt to run a sub 40 minute 10k (or 6.2 miles) for the first time.
Turning 40 was a significant milestone for me. I looked at all areas of my life and basically, I got mortality motivation. I looked into the future and I had this overwhelming desire to get into the best shape of my life, in order to give me the best chance of a long and healthy life. I started running.
During my first year of running, without having done any kind of running race, I took the plunge and signed up for a marathon. This turned out to be one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. A half marathon soon followed.
Since then, I started to become smarter with my training. Over the following 12 months I started to increase the miles and I learnt about the importance of running more slowly. The old adage of ‘Run slow to run fast’ became my mantra.
All of this led me to believe that finally, after a two year journey, I might be able to do a sub 40 minute 10k run.
Without any official runs to take part in, 2020 was a difficult year. But early on in the year I decided that a sub 40 minute 10k was going to be my main aim. It took me two years, and hundreds of miles of running to get to this point, but finally I felt ready to give it a go.
I had no idea whether or not I had the grit and resolve to see this through, but I was proud that I believed that I stood a chance.
If I was to run a sub 40 minute 10k, then this would be one of my proudest achievements of my life.
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