Get up. Loo. Water & small banana. Loo. Kit on, warm up. Loo again! What is wrong with me this morning?...🤷♀️
I'd already fixed my race number to my T-shirt yesterday evening. It took ages! I used small magnets and they worked well and I managed to hang on to all 4 of them for future use (does that mean I'm going to do a race again?...🤔)
I decided to use Nike Run Club 10k Head Starts for this run - wised up by a warning from some others on here that the distance calls can come up a little short. I set this going, along with my music and put my phone in my shorts pocket. Silence! Nada! I really don't need a tech malfunction today, of all days!
Tech issues resolves, off I set. "Take it nice and easy Diane - 10k is a long way!" I just can't seem to stop myself setting off too quickly and again today the first km ended up being my fastest. Gah! 😤
I wasn't looking at my watch today - this run wasn't about time or pace, but about going the distance and finishing the run. I was just running and thinking about what coach Bennett said with only a quick glance at each km check point to check my average pace. I used the vibrations on my watch for this and ignored the distance calls of Coach Bennett as clearly they were way off.
Down past the rugby club, and thankfully the road wasn't quite as flooded as I feared. There was only really one spot where I had to navigate round a large area of standing water.
I ran 2 laps of the local nature reserve today, to add some extra distance. This seemed like a really long way for some reason. I only come across 2 other runners - a mother and son - and one dog walker who started grinning stupidly at me when she saw my race number.
Down under the railway line, up past the church and to to the Leisure Centre where hubby was waiting in the car for me with some water. This stretch was full on into a strong headwind, and was really hard work. It was quite warm, despite the wind and I was grateful to be able to take on some water.
My legs were starting to feel it a bit by this stage, but at only just over 2km left I knew I was going to finish.
Through the small park and a short stretch along the main road then up another unmade road that leads to the woods behind the house. I even have enough left in the tank somehow to put on a bit of a spurt for the last 750 metres!
10k done! BOOM! My first (virtual) race, and my first ever 10k!
This run was a pretty big deal for me. I was quite emotional at the start, and after I'd finished. I'm raising funds for one of the Sue Ryder hospices that supported my best friends mum whilst she was terminally ill, until she caught Covid-19 during a stay in hospital earlier this year and sadly passed away. Getting emotional again now writing this....
I can't believe how far I've come on this running journey since April. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of all you wonderful people on this and the c25k forums. We are all amazing!
Oh - and the time? 1h 26min. I said when I started the Magic Plan if I could do a sub 90 minute 10k I'd be happy. 😁
Written by
Birdlady64
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Wow! And wow again! I’ve just picked up my phone to see if you’d posted and here you are!
That is just amazing, Diane! So pleased for you. Congratulations on your first 10K. And for the vVitality 10,000. And for achieving your goal of doing it in under 90 minutes. That’s a treble whammy! And a special ‘well done’ for your fund raising for the hospice.
You have some serious celebrating to do! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️👏👏👏👍🎉🍾🥳💕
Thanks Julia. You had a great run this morning too. You are going from strength to strength.
I really didn't want to stuff this one up.
I'm sorry but I didn't celebrate with porridge, although some did come in my groceries delivery yesterday. Coffee & bacon roll. Then I decided I was still hungry so I had another coffee and another bacon roll with a poached egg in! 😋
Now to an afternoon and evening of rugby - possibly accompanied by one or two small beers? 🏉🍺
Well done amazing, first 10k!! 🍾🍾🏆🏆 I've been watching out for your post. Bound to be emotional as been working up to this point and always seeing others acheiving it, now it's your turn!! Be proud of your amazing progress.
Oh what a great post, brought a tear to my eye! That's fabulous and you look triumphant! Your first 10k and a fantastic milestone. I knew you could do It and so did you, it was just a matter of keeping those legs moving!
Now go and have a cosy afternoon after a nice stretch!😊
Stretched, fed, watered and a hot bath. 🛀 The foam roller is on it's way!
I have already asked Damien for my badge - it was the second thing I did after submitting my time on line. Now I'm waiting for my first bit of race bling to arrive 🥇
It was hard to keep the legs going towards the end, but once I hit the 9k marker I was on a high. Now I am sitting waiting for the rugby to start with a big fat grin on my face 😁
What a fabulous run and such a lovely description of it. Your time was very good. That first 10k is very emotional just like that first 5k, first 20min run and completing C25k. Enjoy your success glow this afternoon. Love the pictures. 🤗
What a great post Birdlady64 I think the frequent loo visits were just nervous anticipation, I felt exactly the same. I used the NRC 10k for mine too. Congratulations on completing your first virtual race, completing your first 10k and raising money for such a worthy cause, you’ve every right to be proud of all three. Don’t forget to email your evidence to the event organisers so you get your medal and tee shirt 🏅👚 👏🏻👏🏻
I did have a moment of panic when all the tech failed right at the start but thankfully I sorted that out and then it was fine.
Asking for my badge was the second thing I did after submitting my time on line.
Now I will have an actual bit of bling 💎 to go with the virtual ones on here 😁🏅
Sitting on the sofa watching the rugby now 🏉.
👏👏👏👏 Many congratulations on your 1st 10k and first race , very well done. What an emotional run for you today Birdlady and a fantastic fundraiser to boot.
I was exactly the same as you first thing, back and forth to the loo 🙄 so nervous but we did good and as you say maybe the first of many exciting races ahead of us.
Huge congratulations on your amazing achievement. Also an amazing time, I wish. Hope you’re very proud of yourself and will be celebrating with a glass of something as we speak. 👏👏⭐️⭐️🏅🏅👍👍
I think I have severe post race fatigue or something. I managed to reply to myself instead of you ...🙄
Thanks. My face is starting to ache actually! 😁😁😁
I really don't know what happened with those loo gremlins this morning. I've never been like that before. Maybe nerves - I was probably putting myself under more pressure than I realised.
I suspect without knowing you were putting pressure on yourself as you placed importance on the run... those loo gremlins won’t stick around.. they love to share themselves amongst us 🤣🤣
I really don't know what happened with those loo gremlins this morning. I've never been like that before. Maybe nerves - I was probably putting myself under more pressure than I realised.
Those loo gremlins were definitely our in force this morning. Sent them packing thankfully so they didn't dare show their face whilst I was running 😈 💪
Whoop whoop 🙌🏻 I knew you get your time - well done on a superb effort. Great result! Enjoy the well deserved rest now. You are quite right - this forum is amazing and so are you 🙂
Congratulations !!! So glad you made it, isn’t it a great feeling !! I was also raising funds for a cancer charity for my vitality (and first 10K) - so so many emotions and motivations all rolled into one - and the head starts podcast just amplifies all that too. Hurrah !! 🥳
Yes today had been pretty emotional on many levels. And one or two of the comments from coach Bennett really resonated this morning.
I hope your fundraising went well. I am just so proud to be able to raise money in this way.
I feel privileged to have found a love for running 🤗
Booooooooooooooooom 💥💥
I'm so made up for you!! Many many congratulations to you 👏 👏👏👏👏
You did it. You did it. YOU DID IT!! Emotions are natural because you care and because it was important. You've achieved a milestone distance that you'll remember forever. It was a special day, a special run and a special achievement. None however as special as you for doing it! 🙂🙂🙂🙂
Hidden - man you just made me cry! But in a good way.
Yes I did it, yes it was a milestone, yes it was important, yes it was emotional and yes it was special.
But I'm not really special at all. I'm just someone who accidentally found a love for running that she never ever thought would happen and who feels privileged to be able to use that love to make a small difference in this crazy world.
You, my man, are special for all the time and unconditional support and encouragement you give to everyone on this forum. So I applaud you 👏👏👏
Strange! I had a really uncomfortable tummy and needed many loo visits this morning. Thankfully today's a rest day for me. A walk (with rook photos) as the light was failing this afternoon.
Excellent work on achieving a sub-90 minute 10km. 👍
Just catching up with you and wanted to add my congrats on your achievement 🎊 I'm 2 or 3 days behind you in the magic plan atm and just shaking off a cold. Inspiring to read your post- this was 10k and so much more- I applaud you 👏👏👏🏃♀️🤗
Well done, that's brilliant! I only signed up for the Vitality 10,000 because of your post saying you'd signed up! So you inspired me, and we both ran for charity, so it's win win. Well done on your time. Big congratulations 🎊🎉🥳🎇🎆🏃♀️🏃♀️😁
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Virtual Vitality 10k - Lincolnshire style
London vitality 10k, first ever race
Almorr London Virtual 10,000 
Anyone else having registration problems for London Vitality virtual 10k?
