Absolutely perfect conditions on Southampton Common this morning and it was a good omen when 9 VRBs congregated around the Georgian Viking Helmet with 15 mins to spare for introductions before the start. That made us less than 1% of the field of 975 - the team phot is in Sandie1961 's thread somewhere down the page, and more artistic members will doubtless post more photos later.
It's a gorgeous course with a very subtle climb for the first k followed by a gentle descent back to the start area, which comes as a bonus because it doesn't feel as if you've earned it. Then it's the subtle climb again, followed by a less subtle one to the top of the course at just beyond 3k, then a lovely long k downhill just when you need it to give you some go for the last flat 750.
I went off a bit too quick, probably over-excited by starting more or less on the (very wide) start line rather than 10 secs away from it as is the norm in Southsea. Bang on my 5 min/k pace after 2k, 3 secs over on the up recovered on the down. 19 secs dropped on the climb in k3, which had me thinking I could probably go sub-26', but almost all recovered on the first part of the next down to give 20'03" at 4k, then somehow did the last k in 4'17" for an overall 24'20" - yee bloomin' hah
Reading that back, it looks horribly braggy , but I was very pleased - so please excuse me!
Of our group, I was chased home by Kitten 2 who has no right to be that quick that young. Luckily I didn't know he was there . And everyone else seemed very happy with the day, the course, their times and their cakes.
So, Sandie, Katnap , TailChaser , Wimborne , cheekychipmunks and both kittens … we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again one runny day … and I know where Dexy5 is most of the time anyway. And big big thanks to Runningroni for the badges, and of course to the run director and volunteers of Southampton Parkrun.
Onward and upward!!
Written by
UpTheStanley
Graduate10
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Love that post from you, UpTheStanley, I have seen a few photos of you today at that Parkrun sent in by various people, you looking like a Viking.
I liked the bit quoting Vera Lynn about "meeting some runny day". Perhaps that day might be at the proposed meeting by Irish John next year at the Giants Causeway. 😊 🏃.
Fantastic write up UTS and congratulations on your time - not bragging at all, that’s one of the things this forum is for, shouting out your successes and being proud of them, showing what can be done 🎉🕺 Lovely to meet you all today, I’ll probably post something in the morning as just got home and feeling a bit...😴
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because it doesn't feel as if you've earned it. Then it's the subtle climb again, followed by a less subtle one 
to the top of the course at just beyond 3k, then a lovely 
