Wrekin Road Runner Paul Ward claimed an amazing 17th place in a field of 10,000 runners when he lined up with some of the world’s top athletes in Monday’s London 10k race - and the modest athlete puts part of his success down to the lure of Danish pastries past the finish line.
Ward, 43, crossed the line in a time of 31.46 – beating his own personal best by 11 seconds and winning first place in his age category.
He was invited to join the elite pack after running a sub 32-minute race at the Telford 10k a couple of years ago.
He said: “It was a fantastic experience, from the moment I walked into the elite athletes area in The Mall and had a chat to Chris Thompson and Mo Farah, the top two British 10k runners on current form.
“There was also a group of Kenyan athletes and then a few club runners, like myself, all of us a little in awe and feeling that we were lucky to be there.
“The organisers of the race had thought of everything for the elite athletes, with a warm-up area, designated toilets and even a buffet table laid out with sandwiches and Danish pastries for after the race. I must admit to feeling slightly tempted to sample a choux bun beforehand but managed to resist knowing that a few sips of water was the right thing to do.
“Fifteen minutes before the start of the race we were escorted down to the start by two members of the organising team and then able to go through our final warm-up before being asked to line up on the start line in front of the massed ranks of the 10,000 or so other runners taking part. I was fortunate enough to be on the second row of the start line, just behind the five ‘superstars’ as they were introduced one by one to rapturous applause from the crowds lined along the edge of the start in Birdcage Walk.
“By now the adrenaline was starting to rush and the atmosphere on the start line was electric. As soon as the gun went off I tried, as best I could without going off too quickly, to get into a good position and settle into a decent rhythm. However, as usual, the adrenaline and excitement got the better of me and I went past the first kilometre marker in 3:01.
“Oops, way too fast, despite the fact that Farah, Thompson and the Kenyans were disappearing into the distance. It was difficult to ease off the pace though as the large crowds lining the streets were roaring with support and applause, and there seemed to be a band on every street corner, belting out motivational music.
“I had to dig deep in the last two kilometres to keep pushing hard. I crossed the line in 17th place in a time of 31.46, which was 11 seconds quicker than my best time, set at the Telford 10k a couple of years ago.
“I was pleased, but you always think you could have gone a bit quicker. I think I owe my personal best time to the support of the crowds and to the thought of the Danish pastries at the finish,” said Ward.
Mo Farah won the race, in a new UK 10k road race record of 27.44, out-sprinting Micah Kogo from Kenya in a scintillating last 200 metres.
Ward added: “Needless to say, at the post race buffet, neither Farah, Thompson nor Kogo had a Danish pastry… I did. I love running, but not that much.”