Breast cancer 10k event

[backintime]

Twer a cold, wet, dark and miserable morning when my alarm went off at 5am. Got up, showered, dressed in running gear, dragged the dogs from their slumber (for once...normally it's the other way around) and walked and fed them, then out to catch my first train (of 3) to get to the Odyssea 10k at the Vincennes racecourse.

I got there on time, the last train gradually filled up with people wearing pink t-shirts.

I had gone with the minimalist approach...just wearing running gear with phone, travel card and front door key, so I got through security in plenty of time for the start.

I had requested the slow runners start so we watched the others head off. It was like a huge river of people in pink t-shirts

I had positioned myself on the outside to avoid the rush at the beginning but I hadn't realised that the first 1k was actually on the race track and there was quite a camber on the track plus I was running around the outside so running further.

The other thing of note is that running on the crushed cinders of the track was a bit like running on sand, although not very deep. It seemed to sap the strength from my legs and move under my feet.

It drizzled for nearly llnthe race then started raining a bit more in earnest for the last 3k.

Some of the race was on tarmac, some on slippery mud.

I ran it all slowly except for 10 seconds to take a little water and 2 dried apricots at the feeding station.

Not too pleased with my time, but we also had to slow right down (to jogging on the spot) at a bottle neck around the 2nd km so it would have been about 30s quicker.

I learnt 2 things...don't run on horse race tracks and take a change of clothes if rain is forecast. The 3 train ride back was miserably still soggy and no heating on the trains.

The nice thing was the atmosphere, the police being on horse back and some of the red cross too. The other red cross were on quad bikes : )

I didn't take any pictures because itnwas raining and I didn't want to drench my phone.

My time above includes the shuffle to the start and the bottle neck so it would have been a bit better.

I'm now home and have eaten and drank and dried myself off so I am feeling more human.

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

Great report. It’s a real achievement to do this in those soggy conditions and with all those pink people around you jostling for space. Hope you didn’t get a chill in the wet clothes. Time to replenish all those calories now.

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

I had an M&S cornish pasty bought specially for the occasion : )

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Ideal! No medal, I take it?

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

No...it was a real charity event. No bling just a t-shirt. But nearly 100 % of the entry fee goes directly to breast cancer research

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Crikey the slipperyness would have had me almost stationary great thing to do

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks...some were spring along like gazelles...I'm more of a tortoise, tortoises never fall over : )

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to backintime]

That’s true,

[Jogunlikely in reply to backintime]

🐢 & 🐌 rule ok!

[Coddfish Graduate10]

It’s always good to get home, showered, fed. Well done and enjoy the rest of your day. Presume that’s Vincennes in Paris? Weather is a lot better today in dear old Blighty (at least it is where I am).

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Yep...Vincennes to the SE of Paris. I live to the west of Paris so had a couple of hour trip to get there. Luckily the trains behaved

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

Sounds like the weather dampened your spirits a bit too backintime but a run for a great cause and another outdoor 10k completed 😃

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Indeed...it's all experience under my belt

[Emeraldgael]

Great job. 🙂

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Emeraldgael]

Thank you

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Well done on your 10k...despite the rain!🙂👍🏅

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you

[Run46 Graduate10]

Brilliant backintime, very well done dragging yourself out of bed at 5am too 😳

Sod the time, you persevered through not only 10K but it sounds like on not the best ground in cold, rainy weather and then had to suffer 3 soggy train rides home...I think that's pretty awesome 🏃‍♀️🎉👍

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Run46]

Thanks...you are very kind : )

It's all a learning experience !

[Run46 Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Lol, it certainly is!

[Jogunlikely]

Well done you 💪👏👏👏🏅

I think that's a great time! I can't wait until I'm back running longer distances so I can pinch your idea of a post run pasty, awesome winter comfort food. Just the ticket after your soggy run 😋😋😋

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Jogunlikely]

I'm not generally a big fan of cornish pasties bit there is an M&S food in Paris and I just wanted comfort food from "home" that I didn't have to cook : ) It was wonderful after the cold and rain !

Hiw is your running going ?

[Jogunlikely in reply to backintime]

Ok, thanks x just finished wk2 of c25k today. Coming back, slowly but surely. I've entered an event in March to focus the mind over winter

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Jogunlikely]

Yes...I signed up for one in March too...need to keep going over the winter : )

[JaoJao Graduate10]

Well done and a great cause! What an achievement and bet you’re pleased you’re home and dry now

😊

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

I am indeed glad to be warm and dry : )

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Everyone’s doing 10ks today! Well done BIT!👏👏

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thanks OGR...tis the season : )

[Lizzisforliving Graduate10]

Well done backintime. You should come down to Uzès (Gard) next year. I did the Octobre Rose 10k here today and the weather was glorious. Very hilly and rocky however. Xxx

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Lizzisforliving]

Sounds wonderful...a great excuse for a weekend away : )

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Yeah! Well done BIT😀

You did so well in the rain, I hope you feel really proud of yourself.

I can imagine that soggy journey home😐...but once you got showered and dry you deserved a bit of a treat. 😋xxx

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks BBR, it really was a good experience but I was so cold on the trip home lol

[alisonx Graduate10]

Congratulations on the 10k BIT! You really are a superstar from all you endured on that. I can imagine the train journey home was grim, hope you enjoyed the comfort of being at home all wrapped up with treats well deserved!

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to alisonx]

Thank you - I got my official time of 1hr32 - I'm ok with that

[alisonx Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

brilliant - well done 🥇

[grumpyoldgirl]

Fabulous post, hope you've warmed up now!

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Yes...absolutely thank you.

Although I will head back out today in the rain (again) to get another run in : ) I guess tis the wet season...just hope it's not too monsoon like : )

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to backintime]

I need to run today too☔

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Well done backintime ...soggy or not, you've done a wonderful thing...at least you managed to stay upright...and were part of a sea of pink, I love the image that creates...fabulous x

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

Thank you - yes, soggy, slow and upright is better than sprawled on the couch or still in bed, which was a very tempting option when I saw the weather

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Hahaha...I bet!!