10k Race Report

By Garga Chamberlain
7 September

Self Transcendence 10K, Battersea Park, London, 11/9/04


The 138 competitors on Saturday, our biggest turn out this year, made for a fitting end to our race series this summer.



On a fine day, no storms as predicted by the weather men, we set up our registration at 7am. By 8am everyone was ready at the start and the race got underway. Battersea Park is a great venue for races (if only the Park authorities would allow us to hold more events there as in previous years), each loop of the park is   just under2 miles, so for a 10K that meant 3.5 laps. The course is flat and very picturesque, especially along the side of the Thames where there have been recent renovations.

At 8am on a Saturday morning the park is almost deserted, so the runners had it to themselves, indeed the only challenge the lead cyclist had was to make a path for the lead runner through the other competitors when he lapped them.


David Gitan from North York Moors was first is 32.18 and Sara Davenport took 1st place Lady in 41.24. We also had great performances from Liam O'Hare, 1st Vet 50 in 36.43, placing him 8th overall, and the ever smiling Sue Lambert from Serpentine was 1st Lady Vet 60 in 48.54.


Above: Winner David Gitan. Below: Tony Merritt covering the 50,000th running mile of his life.

Next summer we will start our races again, if Battersea Park permits us, and we are also going to see if we can't find a park in London that will allow us to hold a marathon and half marathon.

Many thanks to all the runners for their support.
Shankara Smith