Switchback 5 - first ever event

[David_G]

Hi all, I did my first event this morning. I could have picked something easier 😳 It was all cross country 🏃‍♂️on different surfaces, up and down then up and down, again and again 😯 with quite a few hazards to contend with 😦

It feels fantastic to have got round 😀👍🥇🏆 I wasn’t worried about the time but I did it in under 53 minutes anyway. 👍

I’m going out for a celebratory lunch in a bit 🥩🍟🍷

I’m so pleased with it all and looking forward to Croydon 10K in 3 weeks time. At least it’ll be vaguely flat and the surfaces should be easier to contend with 😀

Happy running everyone! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Well done, you deserve lunch!

[David_G in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie. I certainly think I deserve it! 😉

[Lorijay Graduate10]

Huge well done David and yes a well deserved celebratory lunch!! The things we do in the name of enjoyment!

[David_G in reply to Lorijay]

Thanks Lorijay, definitely worth celebrating! 👍 I did enjoy it and looking forward to the next outing 🏃‍♂️😀

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

And well done to you Lorijay- I cannot reply on your forum.

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Aw thank you Dexy Didn't know you can't reply on that forum ?

Hope you've had a lovely weekend .

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

I think you can go backwards to c25k but not forwards to longer distance. If I sign up for that one who knows what might happen?

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yay go Dex, come and join me for my inaugural HM April'19

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

No no no

[Lorijay Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yes Yes Yes or there is a lovely 10K in Leicestershire end of October, Looks lovely!!

:)

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Lorijay]

And yes thanks, I did parkrun and got a PB by 3 seconds, or 17 on Garmin

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Oooh, that sounds like fun! Great job!

[David_G in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks SaskAlliecat, it was great fun and I’m so pleased I got round 😀👍

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Well done you! I am sure you really enjoyed the celebration lunch. Many congratulations on your first event! 👏🏻😊🎉

[David_G in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks 61! It was great and I’m still buzzing with it 👍😀

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

May the buzzing continue! 😊

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Well done to you. The first race is always memorable and no doubt there'll be many more 🙂 Good luck for Croydon.

I'm sure you enjoyed lunch. Runnng a race is a great way to build up an appetite 😋

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

Well done David, that sounds like you had fun - afterwards anyway

[David_G in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thanks Up the Stanley, I decided to rest and go for a later lunch/early tea. So far I’ve had a lovely tomato soup followed by poached salmon😋 now waiting for berry crumble and custard then a coffee to round everything off. Life could be worse! 😀👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well Done David , it sounds a bit more difficult than your weekly parkrun with all those ups and downs . And now you’ve got the 10k to look forward to. 🏃‍♂️👏🏅🏔🍾🥂

[David_G in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, yes more challenging but Lloyd Parkrun does have some hills and slopes too 😳👍

If I can do today’s run then I can do 10K 😊🤞 Only 3 weeks away so need to keep running to make sure I’m ready for it 🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to David_G]

You’ll do brilliantly 🏃‍♂️👍

[Jennypenny2 Graduate10]

Well done

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Well done David! Sounds like you really chose a tough one! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😃🏃‍♂️❤️

[icklegui]

Great stuff! Sounds like a tough but satisfying run? That tea sounded good too - mmmm, crumble! How many runners on this one? Well done again!

[David_G]

Thanks Icklegui, it was very tough and way outside my comfort zone but I’m so pleased I did it 😀👏👏

I found I enjoyed the constant change in pace dictated by the terrain, surface and obstacles 😳😦 That probably says more about me than about the course 😂

I’m going to try running in the same area every now and again. I think that will help develop leg strength and it will keep things fresh🏃‍♂️👍

Roll on Croydon 10K in 3 week’s time! 😉

[icklegui in reply to David_G]

Sounds brilliant! And i suspect a lot of us here relish a challenge of one sort or another or we wouldn't still be here progressing or getting through problems! Varying terrain certainly sounds interesting. I will not go as far as to say "fun" for me yet! Go you for being outside your comfort zone and even enjoying it - and for your first race!

Great there is so much variety around Croydon!

[David_G in reply to icklegui]

Thanks Icklegui! There are so many challenges out there 🙂

I don’t know where my new-found sense of adventure came from. It’s not in my normal character. 😳

It must be C25K and B210K giving me confidence in myself 😊 Amazing!

[David_G]

Ps, I got so carried away by reliving the experience I forgot to answer your question 😉 I reckon there were between 300 and 500 starters. I’ll have to check on the organisers website to see how many of us finished!