NATO run is a nice event held in Budapest so considering it would have been my last from this city I gave it a shot on 18th of October 2020. One day before I have ran a beautiful 22K in Tihany, but at a quite steady pace, 4:52 / kilometer. I know my limits and I knew this wouldn’t impact in any way my performance for the next day race in the capital city of Hungary. Especially that my raw aim was to go below 42 minutes for a 10K, as my PB was at that point 42:22 from January 2020 at Zuzmara Half Marathon from Hungexpo. OK, I’ve made up a plan with Laszlo so we can go at around 41:30 which looked great for me.

Record per 5K, but slow comparing to Laszlo

The race was held in the Buda side of the city and involved an almost straight surface. The plan was to go 4:10 for the first three kilometers and than to do some intervals in the other two thirds with a faster last kilometer. But you know how plans are. Laszlo likes speed and he started like a cannon ball, tried to keep him in sight, but it was very hard. At least for the first kilometers. I mean, my pace was below 3:50! So you can imagine. At the 5K mark he was still far in front. I mean, I’ve beat my record by a couple of seconds, with 19:38 per 5K, while he had around 18:30. Wow!

Great 7K time, but the ascent…

Because he started that hard, the pace dropped a bit and I took him over before the 7K mark. I was still at 4:00 / kilometer pace which would have admit me to hope for even an outstanding under 40 minutes finish which, to be honest, for 10K is my ultimate realistic goal. After kilometer 8, though, we encounter a slight but constant ascent by near the finish so our pace dropped, of course. Still, I’ve kept my composure as I wanted to take the best out of it and I knew I am in for an U41 finish which was for me great. Sprinted for the last 200 meters and the clock stopped at 40:51.

22 out of 590, not that bad for a 10k

My fellow runner, who is far less trained than me, came at 41:25, which is awesome and which means, I think, the last time when I’ll take him before the finish line. I’ve finished 22 out of 590 finishers which is, to be honest, a good performance for somebody who never had any athletic qualities, but only used his well working body to achieve as much as possible. Considering first place was around 33:00 minutes, I can say running is not a section in which I will ever come successful. Though, I think I can achieve even an under 39 minutes for 10 kilometers. But this is just an assumption.

NATO run, a great memory, a great 10k

My final goal is to go under 40 and I think this can be done in 2021. Hopefully. Afterwards, everything will be just a bonus. For now, I am just enjoying the fact that my record was gain at a very interesting and nice event, NATO run. Where I received also a great t-shirt and a super medal in a plastic wrap, as per the pandemic requirements. I don’t know if I will ever took part in this run again, but for now I will keep a clean and fresh memory. Let’s hope I’ll get to my desired goal next year. When Laszlo will be already at below 39. The most important for me is to compete with myself, because I know my limits!