The Snake Lane 10 is a staple on my race calendar, and for good reason. With entries opening in October and selling out quickly, it’s the perfect race to include in London Marathon training.
The Course: Winding Through East Yorkshire
As its name suggests, Snake Lane offers a winding course that takes runners through the picturesque East Yorkshire countryside, skirting the edge of the Wolds. For me, this race has a slight advantage since I train on parts of the route regularly. My goal this year was to beat last year’s time of 1:31:00 and finally achieve an official sub-90 finish.
Pre-Race Rituals
The Snake Lane 10 offers multiple parking spots, with runners gathering at Pocklington Rugby Club. I opted to skip the warm-up chaos and enjoyed a coffee with a friend on the high street before making my way to the start line.
The Race Route: Rural Beauty and Rolling Hills
The race takes runners through the villages of Meltonby, Great Givendale, and Bishop Wilton, with a challenging finish on the hills back to Pocklington Market Place. With the roads open to traffic, a strict headphone ban was enforced, but the addition of pacers (70, 80, and 90 minutes) made pacing easier for participants like me.
Race Strategy: Beating the Wind
The notorious Snake Lane headwind made its usual appearance in the final miles, but the perfect race day temperature and supportive pacers helped me push through. I carried my own water to avoid losing time at water stations, which used cups instead of bottles.
Race Day Result: Smashing My Personal Best
Crossing the finish line with a new PB of 1:25:57, I was beyond thrilled. Knocking over five minutes off my previous time felt like a major win, proving that my advanced marathon training plan was paying off.
Post-Race Highlights
The post-race goodies didn’t disappoint, with a buff that came in handy during the subsequent snowstorm (thank you, Beast of the East!). The Snake Lane 10 remains one of my favorite races for its value, beautiful route, and supportive atmosphere.
For more information visit the Pocklington Runners website
Main Image – Photo courtesy of Stephen Wilson – Flickr
