A few years ago I saw on Twitter that there was a race at an RAF museum, and the medal was a Spitfire. When I found out you'd get to see old aircraft there as well it caught my interest. If I was to ever do this race then it'd be a good chance to look around there too, and see what photographs I could take. It's been a few years now, but I finally had the opportunity to do this - just unexpectedly it would now be towards the end of the build-up to London Marathon so wouldn't be on particularly fresh legs and would be the first of two races on this bank holiday weekend.

During the week before I went from a failed long run which involved getting locked in some public toilets, to cutting runs short and taking them slower than intended. Having spent a couple of weeks of big efforts whilst also helping my Granddad move house 60 miles had taken its toll. I wasn't perhaps that focussed on preparing to run a fast 10K either - whilst this had been a race I'd wanted to do for some time, I was looking forward to Monday's race more.

For a 10:15 start, I didn't need to leave home until 07:15 at the earliest to get to the RAF museum in London so felt fairly relaxed. The parking there is free for runners, and the museum is free for all to look around normally anyway. I went inside building 1 and explained I'd not received my race number. They gave me a new one, and after pinning it to my t-shirt I took the time to look around the hanger. I could check out the other hangers after the race.

For a while I sat outside and cheered the races that came before, and then lined up for the start of the 10K. It was already so hot, and I was already feeling thirsty from standing out in the sun. I should really have had some water on me. I positioned myself not too close to the front, maybe ten metres back, but until the race started nobody stood in front of me - so I held back as they began so I’d have some in front from the start. The course loops behind the start and then around the back of some other hangers, where I overtook a couple of runners. After that I didn’t overtake anyone else, and nobody overtook me either. The course goes around past the start and then finally out onto the public paths.

The thing to not about this race is that it’s best to stick to the footpath as the roads aren’t closed for this. In places the pavement is narrow, and of course there’ll be people about carrying on with their everyday lives. It’s also got a few crossings for driveways, and in some other places there are large potholes as well. As such, it’s a race where you should be very mindful of your surroundings, and be considerate to those around you.

On this first lap of the outside route, the only place I really had to slow down for pedestrians was passing a bus stop at the wrong time. I was just behind another runner, but dropped back slightly to let pedestrians pass, and glanced behind me - no sign of anyone else yet. I then caught back up with the runner and stayed behind him as the route started a gentle up-hill climb along Aerodrome Road to Watford Way. It was here I was starting to tire, I wiped sweat from my forehead and looked ahead - it looked like another up-hill section.

There was a bit of a sharp double turn to get past an underpass and then shortly after it went down towards a bridge over the railway. I’d already walked a couple of times along Watford Way, but now walked up to the top of the bridge and got running again once on the other side. I was desperate for some water, but knew I wouldn’t get some until I was at 5K. I kept running as much as I could, and once I got past the 5K marker there was water. I slowed down and made sure I didn’t waste a drop of it - whatever I didn’t drink, would go on my head to cool me down. Or at least I hoped it would have that effect.

Ahead I couldn't see any runners now, as the moments of walking had meant they'd got so far ahead of me now, but looking behind me, I couldn't see anyone either. Somehow I was still doing relatively okay. I guess.

I got running again, and kept running until I’d started the second lap, and had reached one of the narrowest parts of the course. Unfortunately it was timed with a pedestrian pushing a pushchair along it, so I had to wait. It was a chance to cool down a little anyway. I then continued the run/walk strategy, looking behind me as I went. When I got to the next turn and the start of Watford Way again, I couldn’t see anyone behind me, but was now starting to pass a few that were on their first lap. I’m not sure what would have been worse - being out in the sun longer was something I didn’t really want to think about, but I knew each runner I passed would at some point start to think about how much time they’d have left out in this damned heat. I made sure I congratulated every single one I saw, trying to sound as sincere and as I could whilst feeling dehydrated. Hopefully that came across okay.

Eventually I got to the rail bridge again, and for most of what followed I did run. I ran past the water station on this second lap as it was at 9K so I only had 1K until I’d have another chance for water anyway. I then entered the RAF Museum through the pedestrian entrance and ran along the concrete path and into the museum. It’s a fairly tight turn as soon as you enter, and I was concerned if I cornered too fast I’d slip over so I slowed down and took it wide, and then picked up seed as I ran towards the exit.

This time the route goes between some of the hangers and past the start to then loop back around from behind so you cross it in the same direction you started in. I picked up some speed towards the end of this, and crossed the finish line in 41:38 in position 10 of 258. Finishing 10th with that sort of time really did show how warm the race was, and how it was affecting us all. To the right of the finish there are then some bananas, and bottles of water. I felt so hot after this race I didn’t really feel like walking to the other hangers to see if there was anything else in them to see, so I headed back to my car and home for an unusually long 2hr30 drive ready to return to the south tomorrow ready for Denbies.