The runners were greeted by wet, wild and windswept conditions for the Bournemouth Coastal Ten but since they’d already signed up and paid their money, they were still inclined to lace up their super-shoes and get out there regardless.

It was sure to be a real test of character and resolve for all those taking part, whether they were down to run the 10 mile, or the 10k route.

Both races were out-and-back style courses from Hengistbury Head, with the 10k one heading along the promenade toward Boscombe Pier but turning beforehand, then going up onto the Overcliff and Fisherman’s Walk before dropping back down the prom and returning to Hengistbury Head.

The 10 mile route went onto Boscombe Pier and then further on in the direction of Bournemouth Pier. Turning round before reaching the pier, it then went up onto the Overcliff and then back down to Boscombe Pier before heading back, with the same Overcliff section as the 10k at Fisherman’s Walk.

On the right day, it could have been a fast course but with the weather as it was, it was always going to be a real battle when running into the wind.

Jacob Taylor, Ellie Taylor, Nicholas Rusnachenko and Emma Biggs were all featuring in the 10k and although the conditions had made it a harder task, they were ready and willing to get stuck in.

Jacob Taylor had run the Bournemouth Bay Run 10k earlier in the year in a time of 38:49 so he had already proved he was capable of a quick 10k time. He’d also done a 17:34 parkrun, proving that he possessed a decent turn of pace for an Under 17 lad.

Ellie Taylor recorded the fastest chip time of any female in the Supernova 5k at Run Bournemouth. She didn’t get awarded the win as she didn’t cross the line first but she was effectively the fastest with her time of 19:36. It would be interesting to see what sort of time she could produce in a 10k.

Nicolay Rusnachenko did the Round the Lakes 10k in 38:13 and the Supersonic 10k at Run Bournemouth in exactly 38 minutes so he was well equipped to handle the Bournemouth Coast Ten.

Having done loads of 10k races this year, Emma Biggs was usually finishing in just over an hour. A 1:01 or 1:02 sort of time would be what she usually expects, although many of her more recent efforts had been recorded on crowded courses in London.

She generally does better in local races, registering a 56:17 at Round the Lakes recently and a 52:12 earlier in the year. Her last one was the weekend prior to the Bournemouth Coastal Ten, which she ran in 1:01:59.

Despite the adverse conditions, the spirits were high at the start of the event and the runners were enthusiastic about getting going. Either that or they were getting cold and needed to get the blood pumping to warm up.

Starting with a 6:17 for his first mile, Jacob Taylor then followed it up with a 6:21 and then a 6:34 for his third mile split. Managing to speed up in the second half of the race, he went on to clock a 6:20, before upping it to a 5:59 and then a 6:02 for his sixth.

That got him to the finish line in a brilliant time of 37:54, putting him in 5th position out of 389. He was also second Under 20 behind Finn O’Mahoney who got round in 37:22.

Although he wasn’t overly enamoured with the pace of his run, it was actually a really strong effort from Jacob considering the conditions he was facing. His average pace for the run was 6:13.

Completing the course in a time of 44:32, Ellie Taylor was third placed female and first Under 20. In the overall standings, she’d come in in 21st place. That was a good result for Ellie and laid down a benchmark for her in the 10k distance.

Clocking a faster time than she did in any of her London based 10k races this year, Emma Biggs completed the course in 58 minutes 12 seconds which put her in 165th place and she was 58th female out of 228. In the 30-39 category, she’d placed 20th out of 71.

It was an excellent run from Emma and close to four minutes faster than she ran the Fulham 10k in the weekend before. That was the confidence booster she needed ahead of the Boscombe 10k which was taking place the following day.

Running it with a friend of his, Tomasz Demusiak, Nicolay Rusnachenko got round in 41:09 which put him in 14th place and they were fourth and fifth in the 30-39 category.

Dave Hunt was the clear winner of the race in a time of 35:04 which was over two minutes quicker than Finn O’Mahoney who, as previously mentioned, was second.

Marcus Green was third in 37:25, with Tim Rooke taking fourth in 37:42. Bella Doxey was first female and 11th overall in 40:48, with Charlotee Sheppard finishing second female in 42:49.

Only one man managed to complete the 10 mile race in under an hour and that was Dariusz Migdal. He got round in 59:37 and was almost four minutes ahead of his nearest rival Andrew Jones who took second in 1:03:33.

Rob Churchward was third in 1:04:05, with Liam Marsh fourth in 1:04:57 and Henry Parish fifth in 1:04:57. Shrehan Lynch was first female in 1:20:25, which put her 37th overall.

The following day was the day of reckoning in the Dorset Road Race League, with both the Bournemouth AC men and ladies battling for survival, bidding to keep their top flight status with a dramatic late escape. Could they manage it though or would they end up dropping back down to the second tier?