Logan Smith says he loves being part of the Norfolk running community after using the Holt 10K as another valuable training race on the road towards two major goals later this year.
The City of Norwich AC athlete won the men’s race in 32:44 at the Holt 10K, Race 8 in the Sportlink Grand Prix Series, on a hot morning that tested runners across the field in the North Norfolk Beach Runners event.
Smith finished ahead of clubmate Laurence Rouse, who was second in 34:57, with Neil Adams of North Norfolk Beach Runners third in 35:02.
Earlier this year, Smith won bronze at the World 50K Championships in Delhi and has also raced in Seville, but his recent outings have been much closer to home, including the Great Yarmouth 5 Mile and now Holt.
For Smith, that is all part of the bigger picture.
“It’s part of where you just put the local races in training, and I just enjoy getting out,” he told Sportlink TV.
“It’s a different stimulus. It’s still training for me, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s in a race setting or a long run, which is where we do most of our training.
“It’s just fun to come out and be amongst it – be amongst the Norfolk running community.
“They give a lot to me, they support me, and it’s good to be able to come and show face and have a bit of fun.”
A hot day and a testing course
With temperatures rising, the conditions made the race feel even tougher.
Asked to compare Holt with his experience in Delhi, Smith joked: “Just as warm, really, wasn’t it?
“But it was good fun, and just a nice one to come out to locally.
“It might not be the same as running in India, but as close to as you can get, right?”
Smith said the race largely went as expected, even if the course and conditions made it difficult to find rhythm.
“I came into it thinking 32 to 33 minutes would be about right,” he said.
“I was trying to go to 10K feel, heart rate was about right, pace was not quite there, but that’s to be expected.
“The first mile is a bit downhill, and then you come off that downhill track, go onto the dirt track, and the effort just skyrockets.
“It was quite dusty, so it felt like you were slipping. From there, the effort level is high, pace isn’t as high, so you’re just trying to hold it there until the end.”
Marshals make the difference
Smith was quick to praise the marshals and volunteers who helped make the event possible, particularly in the hot conditions.
“They were very supportive,” he said.
“A few of them threw water over me, which is always welcome, especially on a day like today when the sun is shining.
“They can get one back on me by throwing water on me if they want to.”
Manchester and Valencia on the horizon
Smith’s main targets later this year are the Manchester Half Marathon in October and the Valencia Marathon in December.
Before then, he has several familiar local races on the schedule, including the Alex Moore Relay, Wroxham 5K and Run Norwich.
“I’m going to do Alex Moore Relays next weekend,” he said.
“We’ve got Gangway Run Club putting a little team together. I’m going to spearhead that with a few guys who want to get in and amongst it and have a bit of fun.
“Then Wroxham and Run Norwich, the classics, and then focus in on the end of the year.”
Series rolls on
The Sportlink Grand Prix Series now moves on to the Humpty Dumpty 10K, with runners able to grab their place here:
Watch the highlights
Highlights from the Holt 10K will be available soon on Sportlink TV.
There will also be the chance to win a SAYSKY prize in the highlights video, so make sure you subscribe to the channel and keep an eye out for the film dropping later this week.
Sportlink
The Sportlink Grand Prix Series is supported by Sportlink, a specialist running shop in Norwich run by runners for runners, known for expert gait analysis, specialist running shoes and trusted advice for runners across Norfolk.