Pershore Plum 10k

My sister, brother-in-law and I recently ran Pershore Plum 10k. Pershore is a riverside town in Worcestershire, famous for its plums. It holds a Plum Festival every August Bank Holiday and the race, organised by Pershore Plum Plodders, ties in with that. It wasn’t part of our club’s race series this year, so there were only three other members of the running club there. My brother-in-law worked in Pershore for many years, so he knows it like the back of his hand!

Parking is in the large Asda and leisure centre car park in the town, which is free on Sundays. Registration was inside the leisure centre. I think the toilets were in the leisure centre, but we used the ones in the car park instead, which had no queue the first time we went and only a short queue the second time we went. I don’t think there was a bag drop either, so we just left our stuff in the car.

We had a warm-up in a field alongside the leisure centre, then listened to the run director’s briefing. We were told to assemble in approximate time order. I lined up with someone I know from Tewkesbury Running Club, as we’ve crossed many finish lines at the same time over the years. The gun went off and I realised neither my music or watch were ready. So I swore my way across the start line and across the car park, out onto the high street. It probably took 15 seconds to get my watch going.

Pershore Plum 10k is a multi-terrain race. In my head, it was about 50% road and 50% off-road, but the reality was it was far more road/ gravel trail than truly off-road. I’d stupidly worn my trail shoes, because it had rained quite a lot in the previous few days. I made the wrong decision!

The route goes along Bridge Street and out of the town centre. At exactly 1km, it turns off the road, goes over a little bridge and cattle grid and does a big loop of a field. The field was slightly slippy from the rain, but also very cracked from the long dry summer. All the holes and cracks had spray paint around them. At exactly 2km, we came off the field and onto the road in the village of Wick. There was a bit of a climb at this point, although the route is pretty flat, with a total elevation of just 91ft.

There was water in Wick, so I grabbed a cup and took a few slurps as best I could. The weather was a lot sunnier than we expected and maybe a bit warmer too. For all the other races I’d run this summer, I’d carried my own drink as they all seemed to be in 28 degree heat. I chose not to carry one for Pershore and it might have been the wrong decision. After the water station, I looked up and realised my brother-in-law was in front of me! I hadn’t seen him pass me, but apparently he’d overtaken me at 1km.

Once through Wick, we were onto open countryside and a road that was sometimes tarmac and sometimes gravel. At between 3 and 4km, I saw the lead bike followed by the lead runner, who was along way in front of the rest of the runners. This was an out and back part of the course, with massive puddles on the road. The turn was somewhere between 4 and 5km. We all felt that the the km signs didn’t seem that consistent or accurate. As I was heading back, I passed my sister and my three friends from the club – one of whom told me I was in the top 10 ladies.

Rather than go all the way back into Wick the way we’d come, the course took us on another trail round a field. We were then back in Wick, and back at the water station, at about 7km. This time, I made more effort to ensure I got a decent drink. The runners were pretty spaced out, but I managed to overtake the runner in front of me.

Once back in Wick, we followed some of the same route we’d taken on the outward leg, but then followed a wiggly downhill path back to Bridge Street. We were on the opposite side to before. I overtook another woman and a man, although he overtook me again later on. We then turned left through a residential area, eventually crossing the road, ready to enter Abbey Park. Abbey Park is a bit of a killer. You see the 9km sign as you enter the park. You also see the finish line. But you have to do a whole loop of the park and it feels like it takes forever.

Last year, I was slightly disappointed in my performance at Pershore Plum 10k. I think this was largely based on my husband and friend both beating me quite significantly! This time, I felt I’d run faster. I also knew I was in a better position. But when I checked my watch (which was inaccurate anyway, as I didn’t start it on time), it looked like I was actually slower.

After what felt like ages, there was a 400m to go sign, then after another age, a 200m to go. Finally, I was running towards the finish line! I crossed the line in 47:56, which was actually 38 seconds slower than last year. But I had a feeling I might have won my age category this year. There’s a bit of an expectation (for me and everyone I know) that I will win my age category in every small, local race I do. With Pershore, the category was FV45, rather than FV50, so it seemed less likely as there are obviously much younger runners in the category.

But I’m pleased to say I picked up a trophy and a bottle of non-alcoholic beer for the win!

We really enjoyed Pershore Plum 10k.