A first proper race

[Oldgirlruns]

A run report from today’s exertions at the Exbury Gardens 10k; my first chip timed race.  An early start with Dexy5 and UpTheStanley who had kindly collected our race numbers on Friday.  I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be able to run the whole thing as I’ve been struggling with my knee for a while but to be honest it was sooo hot I was quite happy walking - and anyone who knows me will know I walk faster than I run anyway! We met up with Mudita11 before the race (crikey, race sounds very grown up!) and they were all off like gazelles at the start.  The race started and ended in the gardens but went off down the country lanes to Lepe which is on the coast and with beautiful views across to the Isle of Wight.  The turning cone was at Lepe and I was so tempted by the flat calm sea but no, there was work to be done! Water was available at 6k which was very welcome, even though I’d taken some with me.  So it was a mixture of walking and running that got me to the finish line and it was lovely to be clapped and cheered as I crossed it!  The marshals were very friendly and it was a great event despite the heat.  But the excitement didn’t end there, oh no!  After saying our farewells to Mudita11, we went and sat in the gardens to eat a Dexy prepared picnic, followed by a  ride on the miniature Steam Railway and an ice cream to finish before heading home.  My knee is sore and I can’t bend it very well but on balance an excellent day! Happy running folks!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That really does sound like a proper grown up thing to do, what an experience and what a lovely tee shirt and medal, wear them with pride 😃

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks Sue, the T-shirt is a better colour than the picture suggests fortunately! A light mint green which kind of suits my grey hair!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

A very special colour

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Sorry about your knee Oldgirlruns but a big congratulations on completing your first chip timed race, how nice it was for Dexy5 on preparing a post race picnic, I hope your knee heals quickly..

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al, the knee is much better today fortunately so all is well!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

So glad your knee is much better Oldgirlruns, it must have been a wonderful experience running for the first with a bib number with a chip timeing device on you, it will be my first chip timeing event race in early September when I also run 10K, the distance isn't new to me as i have already ran 38/ 10K's, if I continue to run a 10K every two weeks as I have been since the beginning of May that 10K will be my 44th.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al, hopefully when you run your race in September you won’t have the heat to contend with! I look forward to reading your race report!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Woohoooooooo OGR! You did it. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 How did feel wearing that beautiful piece of bling around your neck? 😍 🏅

Congratulations you superstar you! ⭐️

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheeky! It felt good and having Dexy and UTS running me in at the end was the icing on the cake! We were all wearing our bling with pride for the afternoon!

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

I hope you had plenty of ice for that knee when you got home (and may be a little left over for a G&T). Sounds like a beautiful day, wear your bling with pride. Well done. Xx

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

Thank you Shakes; topping up the ice in the freezer the other day turned out to be a good idea after all!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Great race for you in not the easiest of conditions! Really enjoyed reading your report. It sounds like you absolutely nailed those post race celebrations!! Picnic, ice cream and train ride is an amazing way to celebrate what you’ve achieved! ❤️❤️❤️

Fingers crossed your knee settles down.🤞

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks MissU, the knee is definitely feeling a bit better today. And although there was much walking it was, as UpTheStanley said, “10k under race conditions” and I’ll take that!

[hamit Graduate10]

Well Done 👏

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to hamit]

Thanks hamit!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

woohoo!! Super well done OGR - and ending with a picnic in the gardens - perfect!👍🏻😄🤗

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you Elfe; a picnic with fizz in fact!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Perfect! 🤗🤗

[JonathanP Graduate10]

What a day to choose for your first race OGR - well done! Hope the knee's a bit better today.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

It was certainly a hot one wasn’t it JP! The knee is feeling a bit better today thanks; hopefully nothing too serious going on!

[Cowladyrunning Graduate10]

Well done! That sounds a perfect first race 😊

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Thanks CLR; hopefully if I do it again next year, it’ll be 10 degrees cooler!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done OldGirl. We didn’t really envisage such a hot day when we talked about entering; this is the UK after all. It was great to see you en route and note that there were several people behind you. You did brilliantly with a dodgy leg and I am proud of you.

I am sure that your next 10k race will be in easier conditions.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy; yes it was a little on the warm side wasn’t it! But we had a great day and despite the heat and the gammy knee I really enjoyed it! And having you and UTS there to see me over the finishing line made it the more special, thank you! And I hope there will be more 10k races in the future (did I just say that in public?!).

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

I’m glad you are still talking to us after that!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

A great walk/run... well done you,.. and what a super day... and with such super friends too! Just great! x

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss, they are lovely friends indeed! But when Dexy and I first met we socialised with lots of wine, now it would appear we go on 10k races - how things have changed in 25 years!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

🍷🍷🤪🤪

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Yes, it’s gin and tonic rather than wine now 🙄😀