Saturday 4th April 2026
I had volunteered to drive us through offering seats to those who wanted one. My first stop was to collect Sofia from Janine’s address where she had parked her car. Unfortunately Janine could no longer participate in the event as she had pulled a muscle in her leg and was waiting for an appointment with our fabulous local physiotherapist Debbie Sendin. Sciatic nerve pain, or sciatica, is a symptom of an underlying condition causing irritation, inflammation, or compression of the sciatic nerve, typically resulting in pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg. It often stems from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or piriformis syndrome. Whatever or however one describes it, it’s a damn nuisance and actually very painful!
On to Paula’s house then last but not least calling in to collect Sonz. So there you have it, Sofia, Paula, Sonz and me. The drive through to Richwood was really quite painless and trouble free. But of course as soon as one got closer to the event, the marshals were waiving one through as the shopping centre parking was apparently full. Much like everyone else who was looking for parking, it was off the road and up on a pavement that would have to suffice.
We walked on through to the shopping centre to collect our race cards. You know the kind? – little pink jobs that one usually fills out oneself? But the queue to collect one’s prepaid card was much much longer than it should have been. And for those who were entering on the day, the queue and muddle was what can only be described as organized chaos. Unfortunately, the left hand didn’t always cooperate with the right hand. And it definitely needs to do so when faced with more than 1000 participants ready to run. Besides this, there was a 5km distance on offer – a fun run – for those less inclined to run the 10km.
Leaving the mall grounds, we made our way to Tyger Valley Road which I might add was still as busy as ever with trucks and vehicles making their presence known by sharing the tarmac. A little daunting at times when faced with huge delivery vans travelling in the same direction as the athletes. It was 07h30 with the gun going off timeously when the crowd started their watches for Richmond Corner’s second 10km run. A straightforward route managed by plenty of marshals ready to wave one on with words of encouragement. My pace was a little quicker than I would have liked it to be with the first stop at the 5km water table. No coke. Just water in plastic sachets. The refreshment table was at the top of a hill, probably the one and only hill we experienced throughout the 10km distance. Bins were available but the amount of empty plastic sachets that had been discarded on the road was just so disappointing.
Surely it doesn’t take much to keep that empty sachet in one’s hand until the finish – or another bin?
It was at this point that I caught up with Paula , Naomi and Sofia. But I had to stop for a while as once again I was dry hurling on an empty stomach and I could see Sonz and Mandy way way ahead in the distance, legging it as they do so naturally. There was a very good West Coast turn out participating in the 10km and yes we certainly do make a statement in our red, white and blue.
From this point on it was really a bit of down hill with a few turns here and there leading back to the starting point. Strangely enough I came across another water table, again only offering water sachets around the 8km mark? I would have much preferred the tables to be evenly spaced but that of course is my personal opinion.
We were now well on our way to finishing the 10km race. Once back at the shopping centre it was through an automated timer and a queue as long as one’s arm for a cup of coke and/or Powerade. Medals were handed out simultaneously with a little blue plastic envelope to house one’s entry card. And there you have it. The second Richmond Corner 10m hosted and arranged by Velocity Athletics Club.
I must add that in 2025 the race was a good one which had been organized so well. This year I found there to be so many runners there was hardly much room to move before setting off and definitely when finishing. In fact, some runners waited in the queue for such a long time collecting their race card that they started the race after it had begun? The route was short. I ran on through past the finish to the parking bay which enabled me to finish on 10km. To some it doesn’t matter, to me it does.
As always I add that this blog is purely my personal opinion of the event and never ever meant to cause umbrage to anyone at all. I don’t think I’ll be running another Richmond Corner 10km. Stay safe out there – Gill x