Silverstone Grand Prix 10k 2016

The Silverstone Grand Prix 10k race is a midweek race hosted by Silson Joggers and takes place on the Silverstone motor racing circuit. The race has been held here since 1984 and 2016 marked the 33rd running of the race. It comprises the East Midlands Grand Prix Series, the Milton Keynes Schools Challenge and the Motor Sports Challenge. The race is also open to handcycle and wheelchair athletes.

I entered as an affiliated runner online for a very reasonable £10.50 (and that also included the admin fee that Runner's World apply). Even with this race being a midweek affair, it still manages to attract a very large field and with over 1,000 entrants is actually the largest 10k road race in the Midlands. Being held at a race track that is used to coping with 300,000 people on F1 race day, the 1,172 runners plus their supporters were barely a blip on the venue's radar.

silverstone [photo:dani]

The Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit was built on the site of the former World War II bomber station, RAF Silverstone. This was home to Wellington Bombers during the war, but soon after the war had ended it started to be used for motor racing. The track itself has been modified and improved many times over the years and Silverstone is, of course, best known as the home of the British Formula 1 Grand Prix.

After driving over from Dartford earlier in the day and spending the afternoon hanging out in Towcester, we reached the venue just a few minutes before 5.30pm which was the earliest possible time that we would be allowed onsite. The Silverstone staff put us in a holding area with a few other early birds until they were ready for us to enter the car park. The car park itself is located within the perimeter of the track so we had to cross the track via a couple of bridges before we reached it.

pre-race [photos: 7t / dani]

The Race HQ was located inside one of the pit garages and after collecting my number (with in-built timing chip) had plenty of time to mill around taking photos before starting my warm up. The toilets were about 100 metres away from the pits and were more than sufficient for the numbers of people on-site for the event. The Silverstone gift shop and the Paddock Cafe were both open so we milled around those too.

The wheelchair race got under way at 7.25pm and the main race followed at 7.30pm. The participants generally started to get in position about 20 minutes beforehand and there was a great atmosphere as we waited in the warm spring evening's sun for things to kick off. Eventually my wife and daughter had to leave the start area and they found a nice spot to watch from the pit lane. After they left, I bumped into a former Dartford Harriers runner who was the race adjudicator for the evening.

The 10 kilometres are made up by running two, clockwise laps of the pre-2010 main circuit which is called 'The Bridge Circuit'. The Bridge Circuit has now been decommissioned for motor racing, mostly because the bridge itself is in very close proximity to the track and has been deemed unsafe, especially for motorcycle racers. For the record, in 2010 the track facilities were upgraded and a new, modified track layout was introduced. This new track layout is not used for the 10k race.

As you may have gathered, this race takes place on a 100% tarmac course and although there are a couple of small changes in elevation, it's all very gentle and can only be classified as being flat. Perfect conditions for an outing in my New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 running shoes which are becoming a favourite of mine. At 7.30 sharp, the air horn was sounded and we all headed off down National Pits Straight.

halfway [photos: dani]

Before the race I had thought about what kind of time I would be able to run on a flat 10k course and based on my recent 5k time of 20.35 at the Dartford Heath 5k, I predicted a finish time of around 43 minutes with a perfect race possibly allowing me to dip just under that and into the 42's - a few various online calculators suggested the same. I had also managed to forget to bring my stopwatch so although I had my phone's GPS fired up to track my route, I wasn't able to check any splits while out on the course.

So I reached the first corner, Copse, then proceeded through Maggots which for the evening was dubbed 'the bend of noise' and was manned by a a group of about 20 children with various noise making devices and instruments. Then followed Becketts and Chapel. Trying to hit the apex at each corner was difficult due to the sheer numbers of runners, but I stayed patient and didn't do anything silly. Some of the corners were taken a little wider than I would have liked but there was no other choice.

approaching the finish / supporters [photos:dani]

Along Hanger Straight and through Stowe, along Vale and into Club. It's at this point that the course reaches the new starting grid and the striking new building called 'Silverstone Wing' - this houses the brand new pit lane and race control areas which have been necessary to ensure Silverstone remains the home of British Motorsport.

After this, the course reaches Abbey, Farm and Bridge before entering the twistiest section through Priory, Brooklands and Luffield. This is followed by the long sweeping right hander at Woodcote which leads back onto the National Pits Straight. I have no idea exactly how long it took to run that first lap because I didn't look at the trackside clock to check, but I did spot my wife and daughter and gave them a quick wave. Looking at my Strava data it looks like I hit the 5k point in around 20.40.

finish [photos: dani]

So I continued onto lap 2 where there was a water stop just after the 5k point but I just focussed on the road ahead and got on with the job. As I reached 'the bend of noise' for a second time the track was less congested so I held up my hand a got about 20 hi-fives in a row from the children, which made me smile and I felt a little more relaxed for a bit.

For the rest of the second lap, I found myself neck-and-neck with a fellow runner and I found it really useful to have someone to run alongside. However, as I reached the beginning of the 9th kilometre I started to fade (this section has a little teeny-weeny rise in elevation so I think that lost me a bit of pace - it was four seconds slower than my previous 3 kilometres). Once through that and into the last kilometre I managed to pick the pace up and catch up with and overtake my 2nd lap companion. The cheers from the crowds as I headed into the pit lane towards the finish line really gave me a boost to put in a strong finish.

medal [photos 7t / dani]

Overall, that second lap was a tad slower than the first and I've worked out that it took me 20.51 to complete it. That gave me an overall chip time of 41.31 which was way quicker than I would have thought possible in what I thought was my current shape, so I'm very happy with that. Putting this time into a race time predictor suggests that I could be just about fit enough to run a sub-20 5k again, so I'm looking forward to having a crack at that pretty soon.

Back to Silverstone, and with the race complete I was very grateful to be handed a bottle of water followed by my race medal. The water was my main priority as I could feel my legs starting to cramp up a little. After downing it I was reunited with my wife and daughter and we headed off to the car to have our post-race evening picnic while watching a great sunset. We'd all had a thoroughly good time and thought the race was very well organised - definitely worth the 200 mile round trip and who knows, we might even make a return trip again in the future.

sunset etc [photos: dani]

A few race stats...

Time (chip): 41.31
Time (gun): 41.35
5k splits: 20:40 / 20.51 (estimated)
Position (gun): 172 / 1,172
Official results: Silverstone 10k 2016 (mobile)
GPS data: Silverstone 10k 2016

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 (kids)

I've been testing the adult version of the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 for a while and really like it. So when I found out that New Balance had also produced a children's version of the shoe, I thought it'd be great to test that one too. Of course, I wouldn't be testing it, that honour has gone to my five year old daughter.

new balance fresh foam zante v2

I'll start this post off with the official text and product details from New Balance:

Main Description: Feeling fast is step one in getting an advantage on your competition. Fresh Foam Zante v2 gives you that edge with a sleek, bootie-like fit that's streamlined and ready for speed. In bold, bright colours, this running show is also a serious style player.

Product Details: Designed for a quick heel to toe transition, this aggressive boys' / girls' running shoe has a faster feel that will help you stay motivated -- whether you're running laps at school or training for your first race.

• IMEVA (injection-moulded EVA foam) midsole for firm yet flexible cushioning.
• Mesh upper

Fresh Foam: Innovative midsole created from a single piece of foam that provides a plush, more natural ride.

Colour options: (the v indicates the colour schemes that come with velcro instead of laces)

• Purple with orange / Orange with Pink / Blackberry with Orange (v) / Orange with Berry (v)
• Grey with Red and Dark Grey / Grey with Red (v)

Sizes: UK10 (EU28) - UK6.4 (EU40)

UK RRP: £38.00

- - - - -

ready to test them out at bushy junior parkrun

This is the first pair of running shoes that my daughter has had, and I have to start off by congratulating New Balance on a great looking shoe. The adult version of this shoe had me gushing, but this mini-version just pushed me over the edge - it is so cute! But cute doesn't make for a good running shoe, and that's all I've got at this stage. So in order to find out what the shoe is like I need to try to coax some information out of my daughter...

Me: What do you think of the design of these running shoes?

Lime: I love the colours, especially the pink parts. I love the way the 'N' changes colour from top to bottom. 

Me: How do they feel when you wear them?

Lime: They feel great, Papa.

Me: And how did you feel when you were running?

Lime: Super speedy.

Me: If you could change anything, what would it be?

Lime: I would have a bigger size because they are a little tight around the toes.

For clarity, the toe box looks to have plenty of space relative to the shoe itself and the tightness my daughter is experiencing seems to have more to do with the fact that she could have done with a shoe half-a-size bigger than the test pair we received rather than any kind of design issue.

The shoes are also very light so it's nice for her not to be lugging around a weighty pair of shoes like she has done previously when she used her regular everyday trainers. I weighed the pair that we have (size UK10.5 / EU28.5) to test and the scales reported a feather-like 140g.

new balance fresh foam v2 sole

The design of the sole of the shoe is almost identical to the adult version, so based on my own experience I would say that this shoe should be super-grippy on tarmac but not so great on wet grass (they are fine on dry grass) or muddy trails. If your child is regularly running on those types of surfaces, it might be worth checking out the New Balance 690 Trail. We haven't tried that shoe, but it looks rugged enough to cope with whatever comes its way.

Going back to the Zante v2, we can't find any fault in them. They do the intended job nicely and my daughter loves them. What more could you want?

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2

The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2 is a neutral cushioning running shoe with a 6mm heel to toe drop. As it says on the tin, these come with New Balance's Fresh Foam midsole cushioning technology.

The description from New Balance UK is as follows;

Engineered mesh on the upper of this neutral running shoe for men eliminates the need for overlays, providing softer support, while the Fresh Foam Zante v2's bootle-like fit gives you a second skin-like feeling that's streamlined for speed.

• 6mm drop: due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references to 6mm drop are approximate
• Blown rubber outsole
• Bootie construction
• Breathable air mesh
• Engineered mesh
• No-sew material application

Mens
Weight: 244 grams / 8.6oz
Colours (UK): Black/Silver, Red/White, Black/Lime, Blue/Orange

Womens
Weight: 204 grams / 7.2oz
Colours (UK): Black/Silver, Toxic/Azalea, Azalea/Black, Dragonfly/Silver


The first thing I said when I took these shoes out of the box was 'ooooh..... pretty'. And I still stand by that. They are very good looking. So from an appearance point of view New Balance have come up with a winner. There are a few reflective elements on the shoe so that should assist a little with being seen in the dark. They have also produced a children's version of the shoe which my daughter has been testing, read about it here - New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 (kids).

The upper feels nice around the foot and the laces hold everything in place nicely. Incidentally the material of the laces feels different to what I have been used to in the past. They have a slight stretchy, elastic quality to them and it feel like this might assist in stopping them from undoing mid-run. Saying that I stuck with my usual method of tying double knots.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the inclusion of the Fresh Foam midsole would mean that this is a shoe with a plush, bouncy feel to it. However the Fresh Foam in this shoe differs to that found in other Fresh Foam models on offer by using convex hexagons rather than concave in some areas of the midsole. This gives the shoe a firmer and snappier response than it would have otherwise had.

For anyone used to running in a shoe like the New Balance 1080, these will feel firmer and less cosy on the foot. However, during testing I have found that as my run progresses the fresh foam retains a greater level of comfort than I would have expected with a pair of shoes that are marketed as being 'for speed'. This made me feel more comfortable about going a little further in training than I might have if they didn't have the Fresh Foam.

I was a little concerned when I had read about the mid-foot and arch on the V1 of this shoe being a little uncomfortable, but it appears that New Balance have made some adjustments to the updated version and I have had absolutely no issues with any elements of the fit.

I've also been over to my local athletics track in these shoes and I was impressed with their performance. They are nice and light so I could put in some good interval training, and I'd like to note that I didn't once think about my shoes during the track session. This is a good thing.

I found the undersole looks and feels like the rubber you'd find on a tyre and I have found this to give me a great level of grip on the roads. However, if you take it off-road, especially onto wet grass or muddy trails (like I did for a brief section during the Darent Valley 10k 2016) it will not give you the same level of grip. Quite simply, the Zante is a road shoe and that's what it does best.

So, this is a shoe that performs well on the road/track but not made for off-road running on wet grass or muddy paths. New Balance seem to have found a nice medium between a racing shoe and a standard road shoe. With this shoe I felt snappy when I needed to push the speed, while still feeling more comfortable underfoot than I would have expected from this type of shoe.

Update: 24 June2016

So two months on and I absolutely love the Zante V2. I've been using it for all of my training and racing on the roads and on the track, and I have no complaints whatsoever. As I'm still nervous about a long-term knee injury I haven't done any more than about 11km in one go, so I can't really offer any insight into what these are like on a proper long run. I very strongly suspect that when these wear out I'll be replacing these with an identical pair. Great job New Balance!