Last Friday evening, I took part in the Walkington 10k, hosted by Beverley Athletics Club. It’s a scenic one-lap circular route starting in Walkington, passing through Little Weighton, and finishing on the playing field. For those unfamiliar with the area, these are small villages just outside Beverley, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. As a local, I’ve run this race several times, and it’s always convenient to be back home in no time!
Pre-Race Festivities and Cake Stalls
One unique aspect of the Walkington 10k race is the cake stall at the start. Normally, I’d be all over that, but my running bottoms were feeling a little tight this year, so I opted to skip the treats. But for many, it’s a delightful way to fuel up before tackling this challenging course.
A Hot and Hilly Challenge
The evening was hot and humid as around 600 runners lined up for the race. While the course is described as ‘undulating,’ I’d call it downright hilly! That said, the scenery is beautiful, and the rural roads offer a peaceful running experience, albeit with very little crowd support outside of the villages. It made me appreciate how much spectators help keep you going during a race.
Running with Friends and Training Mindset
I wasn’t aiming for a personal best this time. I ran with two friends, and we took it steady, chatting most of the way around. As we neared the final stretch, I managed to pick up the pace for a quicker finish, just to test my legs. For me, it wasn’t about the finish time—it was about enjoying the run and using it as a solid training session. In the end, I finished with a time of 1:02:27, similar to last year, so I’ll happily take that!
No Race Bling, But Plenty of Value
There was no medal at the finish line, but the Walkington 10k is one of the most affordable races around. Instead of bling, all finishers receive a T-shirt. It may not be the easiest course, but it’s great for hill training, and let’s not forget about the cake. I’ll definitely be back next year!
For more details, check out the Beverley Athletics Club website.
