My first ever 10k, on my birthday!

[TurboTortoise]

Today is my birthday and this morning I ran my first ever 10k, in a race in Richmond Park, in 58’21”. I am quite ridiculously thrilled and delighted and it really is the best present I could give myself!

I’d not actually run a full 10k before today, though had got pretty close (8.5/9ks) in February. Things were put on hold when I had a small operation five weeks ago and I didn’t run for four weeks. So my first run back was nine days ago – I felt like I’d lost a bit of form, but managed to get four runs in before the race including my first Parkrun and a 5-miler last Tuesday. I did wonder if it was a bit soon but I really wanted to run the 10k on my birthday, particularly because I have achieved an age that puts me into the next Parkrun category of Veteran Women (ugh!) and I wanted to prove to myself that I’ve still got it!

The adrenaline of the race really does sweep you along. There were a couple of ks about halfway through where I stopped feeling like a middle-aged lady tortoise and more like a real runner, legs and arms going in perfect synch, body and breathing obeying, and just cruising along. I think this might be ‘panthering’? Unfortunately it didn’t last though! The route is quite hilly and the second lap was hard work, particularly as the sun started to sizzle. The final kilometre was really painful. I got over-excited and started to speed up too soon – I forgot the finish line was actually a zig-zag and not straight ahead. Felt like I was going to dissolve into a jellied blob for a couple of hundred metres, but then got all frantically excited again when I saw the race volunteers cheering everyone on, and managed a last surge.

I’d run before a bit in my 20s but not for years until I started the C25K last May/June. For anyone at the start of their own C25K journey - it really, really does work!

So tonight, a nice birthday meal with Mr Tortoise, and you can be sure I’ll be inhaling that 600-calorie dessert and feeling no guilt whatsoever!

[Alaiyo Graduate]

Huge congrats, Madame Tortoise! That is a fantastic accomplishment, and you should feel really proud of yourself and all your hard work. Happy birthday as well - many happy returns of the day.

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to Alaiyo]

Thank you! Still pleased with myself

[Fitfor60 Graduate]

Happy birthday and what a great race you had Congratulations The good thing about moving up an age group in park run is your age grade % goes up -- so every cloud has a silver lining

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to Fitfor60]

Thank you! I'd noticed that about the Parkrun stats, looking forward to leaping into the next %!

[Zizzy Graduate]

Congratulations! What a birthday and what a time! Particularly after your op and the enforced break.

Enjoy the rest of your special day x

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to Zizzy]

Thank you! I had a great day and most importantly the op has made me feel better in myself, as it was supposed to do!

[misswobble Graduate]

Wooohoooo!!!! Well done Turbo! Good time too, or what!!!!!

Enjoy your birthday treat. You earned it

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you, I did indeed enjoy my birthday treat. That last glass of dessert wine with the choccy pudding nearly finished me off though

[Burstcouch Graduate]

Tt you have done really well with your timing on your first 10k. Could never beat that time my best is 63 mins.

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to Burstcouch]

Thank you! Though I reckon you can do it in under and hour in the right conditions, you are so close...

[Hidden]

Well done on a fantastic race and many happy returns of the day. A spectacular birthday present indeed. Best wishes.

[TurboTortoise Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Just necking down one more cup of coffee to cure my slight hangover... Won't be running today!

[Hidden]

Amazing time for your first ever 10k, congratulations and happy belated birthday! I'm sure you're still buzzing from your achievement (even if the hangover is masking it slightly). Really lovely to read about how well you did.