SUB-40 10K!!!! 😱😍💥Knutsford 10k 2024 ❤️🏃🏻‍♀️

⏱️ 39:05 !!!!!!!!!!

🏃🏻‍♀️Overall position: 196/1976

💕Female ranking: 20/814

💥 Age category ranking: 10/238

Ahhh can you ACTUALLY believe it?!

It’s FINALLY happened: I RAN A SUB-40 MINUTE 10K!!! 😱😍🏃🏻‍♀️❤️

Even now, two days later, I can’t stop bursting into spontaneous tears of joy. 🥺

I was honestly starting to think that I’d never see my name next to a sub-40 time. Anyway, before I start rambling again, let’s go from the beginning…

On Sunday 29th September – my birthday! - I ran in the Knutsford 10k, organised by Run Northwest.

Despite being a notoriously fast PB course, I’ve never had much luck at this event. The first year, I was really struggling with a knee injury and ended up coming in with a time just shy of 42 minutes (which is poor from me, especially on a flat course). The year after, I was poorly with a sickness bug and didn’t even make it to the starting line. And last year, I was disappointed with yet another near-miss to add to my growing collection in my quest to run sub-40.

I honestly didn’t even consider the possibility of a PB at this year’s race, let alone a sub-40 time!

In fact, I’d almost resigned myself to the fact that maybe I just don’t have what it takes to run sub-40. Maybe my 10k PB - set in August 2021 - would stubbornly forever remain as 40:24.

I was so devastated with my performance at the Alderley Edge Bypass 10k in May. I was ahead of Darren (the 40-minute pacer) at the 6k mark, but quickly lost ground in the blistering heat. It was absolutely gutting to watch Darren speed past me when I’d worked so hard to get myself into the perfect position for a sub-40 finish. I was frustrated with my time of 40:33. So near, yet so far – again.

I’ve raced a couple of 10ks since the AE Bypass, but none of them have been on flat courses, so I haven’t been able to get close to 40 minutes. Besides, for the past couple of months, my focus has been on the Gritstone Grind Ultra Marathon.

I think I was running relatively well over the summer, but then I lost form after the Ultra. I was lucky to get round the Ultra without injury, but I have been nursing a few little twinges and niggles since. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been in any major pain, but just enough to make me slow my pace slightly during my training runs.

So when Sunday came around, I set my sights on a steady 41-42 minute finishing time, convincing myself that I wouldn’t be upset.

…I still found myself lining up behind Darren, who was once again pacing 40 minutes.

The race didn’t start off well. My legs felt like led, and it took me a good 5k to finally get into it. Somehow, I managed to keep in-line with Darren, although it felt like a struggle with such heavy legs. It was also quite congested, which made it hard to settle.

Even at 5k, I didn’t even give the prospect of a PB any thought whatsoever. I wasn’t feeling good, and assumed I’d start slipping back.

But then at 6k, something just clicked. I got into my stride and suddenly felt strong.

This is my usual running pattern, to be fair: I start off steady and then gain pace and strength as the miles pass by. I did the complete opposite at the Alderley Edge Bypass – I set off far too fast and then paid the price later.

This time, without even realising, I’d set myself up perfectly. My mind-set changed, and I was hungry for that sub-40. This time, it was going to be mine!

I saw a gap just ahead of Darren and pushed myself forwards.

I had no idea whether I’d be able to maintain this new pace for the remaining 4k, but I was certainly going to give it a bloody good go!

As I’ve always said, I didn’t care if I finished in 39:59; I just wanted ONE sub-40 finish, just ONCE in my life. 😭 I knew that if I stayed just slightly ahead of Darren for the remainder of the course, I might be in with a chance of achieving my goal.

I kept casting little glances behind to see whether Darren was gaining on me. Between 6 and 8k, he was a couple of paces behind, and things were looking a bit hairy (and that was just my legs! 🤣). It was a bit too close for comfort, and I knew that if I didn’t step on it, I risked being overtaken again, and honestly, I didn’t think I could bear it.

At 8k, I slammed my foot on the gas and just went for it. I ploughed forwards, breathing like a dehydrated mule.

With my hair scraped back in a greasy bun rather than my usual trademark plaits, I looked less Wednesday Addams and more Miss Trunchball, especially with a scowl of concentration plastered across my face. I meant BUSINESS during those last 2kms! 🤣

As we neared the home straight, I stole another quick look behind. I couldn’t see Darren at all.

Was this it? Was I finally going to get my long-awaited sub-40 time? 🤯

But even at this point, I didn’t dare celebrate. Knowing my luck, Darren had sped past without me realising, and I was probably in 43-minute territory instead.

But no. It really was happening!!!

I rounded the corner and caught sight of the clock at the finish arch. I was well inside 39 minutes.

I actually cried, “Oh my God!!!!” out loud, and I don’t even remember anything else after that. I went from the site entrance to the finish line in seemingly half a millisecond. It was all a massive blur, but it was one of the best moments of my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present!

My chip time was 39:05, which was a massive 1 minute and 19 seconds off my previous PB, and more importantly, it was very much a sub-40 finish! 🤩

FINALLY getting to write the number 39 on my PB board was the BEST birthday present EVER!!!

You know when you have a panic attack and you can’t breathe and you’re trying to speak, but you can’t get your words out properly? Well I had that, but out of sheer joy. I rang my Mum and just burst into tears, shouting something that probably sounded like something along the lines of, “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE AGHSBVSGHSVVGTSDVGTVDGVD SUB-40!!!!!!!!!”

My Mum said she thought I’d had an accident, I was hyperventilating and crying that much. 🤣

Three years of hard work have finally paid off, and I’ve achieved my number one running goal.

The 5am Saturday morning starts, running with the frost, the bleak, dark winter nights when I feel like doing anything but going out for a run, the discipline, the dedication… It’s worth every single second for days like Sunday, when dreams come true.

Is there a better feeling than smashing a long-standing goal?

I’ll never forget this day.

“Stay true to yourself and your vision. And when you don’t see the results, hang in there, be strong, be brave, remain disciplined… And your time WILL come…”

 Cara Jasmine Bradley

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💚Run North West: https://www.runnorthwest.co.uk

📸 Professional photos by Mick Hall: https://www.mickhall-photos.com