DRONFIELD 10K – 19TH APRIL 2026 – RACE REPORT BY JAMES
3 loops doesn’t sound like a lot at first, but when there’s next to no flat, 3 loops can feel like a lot when you’re racing.
The very well organised and free t-shirt’d (bright pink this year!) Dronfield 10k heralded a chance to test myself and see if my 10k PB of a second the wrong side of 43 minutes gained on a flat course in February was somewhat obtainable on a much hillier course in April.
Parking up behind Dronfield Library at the rather early hour of 8am, I wasn’t feeling too hopeful. Tired legs from a hard training block, knowledge of the course from previous years and debating if it was worth going flat out today with one eye on the following weekend.
A leisurely stroll to the scout hut / race HQ followed for a 10am race start followed, including going up the hill that myself and 855 other runners would come whizzing down. The weather felt cool but with a strong sun, a little breezy but it felt like good conditions to me.
Bag dropped, tracksuit removed and Vaporfly 4’s donned, the time to race eventually arrived. The first part of the race is a little uphill then downhill loop, eventually circling back to join the main circuit that consists of two laps then a hard left into the local park with a downhill finish… more on that later.
Setting off at what felt like a steady 4:20/km, it felt like I was blazing it by my standards on the uphill. A little voice sounded in my ear “You’ve got some uphills to come, watch it”. Eventually, the drag up switched to what felt like 2km of solid downhill, everyone picking up speed. Glancing at my watch, I saw a rolling KM reading 3:57 – much faster than I was expecting and what me decide “you’ve got a week left before next Saturday, push and see what happens”.
Seeing the Dronfield bypass loom overhead, I knew that the downhill blast was ending, to be replaced by a steady uphill tug via the delightful smells of Gunstones Bakery. Pace dipping, water in a cup aimed everywhere except in my mouth, the uphill mercifully ended just after a petrol station to be replaced with a lovely downhill swoop with a kicker hill finish to rejoin where the loop started and so lap 2 commenced. 4km-ish to go.
Another glance at the watch showed an average of 4:18/km, easily a course PB vs my time from 2024 in the pouring rain. The downhill didn’t feel as quick this time, legs starting to protest. Bottoming out under the Bypass bridge, another quick watch, grit teeth for the hill back up and round. More water anywhere but mouth (face, chest, crotch).
Hitting the 9km marker, I knew my PB of 43:01 was going to be close. Getting to the sharp left into the narrow finish funnel, a final glance at the watch showed 42:41… 19 seconds to do 200 meters? Could I do it? Sprint finish mode engaged, legs on fire, over the finish mat.
43:01.
Arse.
