Every year, the famous Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham hosts
a fast, flat 10 miler that is a great race for a target PB. I completed the
race in October 2013 and made sure I got my entry in early for 2014!
Spanning 10 miles over Twickenham and parts of Kingston,
Cabbage Patch 10 has been running since 1982 and if you one of the speedier
ones, you are in with a chance of landing some great cash prizes.
If you are like me and want to write a new PB in your record
book, Cabbage Patch can easily offer this. With the race taking place in
October, the weather is normally mild and it is, I find, a great opportunity to
keep the legs ticking over a long distance, especially if you are pre/post
marathons and half marathons.
The course starts in Twickenham town centre, with the
Cabbage Patch pub the main hub to plonk all your bags and clothing during the
race. The road in which the race begins is quite narrow so if you are gunning
for 1.15 or below, I’d recommend you try and get a spot in the first quarter
pack of runners.
As I mentioned above, the course is incredibly flat and takes
you through pretty residential areas, along with a couple of spots where you
run through nearby town centres along the route. Around mile three, you enter
Hampton Wick where you are directed to run on the path round the centre. Last
year at this point, I was running with my best bud and was having a bit of a
natter when I turned a sharp corner to go over a bridge and ran hard straight
into a lamp post! Luckily, we both found the funny side of it, but I did feel
daft and it reminded me that I needed to stop yabbering and concentrate on
where I was going.
Past the halfway mark, you begin to come into some lovely
scenic routes, which eventually leads you along the canal. Here, as like any other towpath, it can get
quite narrow and as this is around the mile 7/8 mark, make sure you have done
all your overtaking before this and leave the last stretch which loops back in
town for putting your foot down!
Once you’re off the canal, you then trot over a bridge and
are on the final stretch. I was in a bit of a daze at this point so I don’t
remember very clearly the last mile but the finish is at York House. Once you
cross the line (and cheer!), it’s a nice open space so great for a meeting
point with fellow runners. You also collect your free t-shirt here (which by
the way I LOVE and wear all the time in the winter training months as it’s long
sleeved yet thin).
Now sadly last year when I ran, I did have a troubled ITB
and I did struggle by the time I got to the canal and my pacing drastically
dropped. I remember feeling exhausted and regretted setting off too quickly at
the start (epic fail for many of us eh?). I somehow managed to pick myself up
and crossed the finish line at 1.20, which was still a PB but not quite what I
hoped for. Next time, I want to aim for 1.18 and more importantly, avoid
running into any lampposts! Overall though, a fantastic race, perfectly
organised and a bubbly atmosphere with bubbly runners. The only thing I will
say (and it is only a minor niggle) is that back at the race hub, it does get
rammed with people changed and freshening up so make sure you get back there in
good time after you finish!
RACE OVERVIEW
Course: 5/5
Scenery: 3/5
Facilities: 3/5
Water Stations: 5/5
T-Shirt & goody bag: 4/5
My time: 1.20 (October 2013)
LIPSTICK RUNNER'S OVERALL RATING: 4/5
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