The sun was shining, the sky was blue, there wasn't a thing, to spoil the view. GOOD GOD! That was almost a song lyric!
Despite the traumatic news that my good pal TurboTortoise would NOT be at todays Richmond run, I straddled my scooter and headed off at 8.37am. I was wearing my running leggings with orange go faster stripes and Nike black running shirt. Having had a very pleasing run the other day over 10K, this was going to be fun. I'd decided - no pushing too hard. Just go out there Dan Me Lad and enjoy it.
I arrived (looking amazingly cool in my shades) and strutted about waiting for the man to get up on his tree stump and shout out stuff. Once he'd shouted out the T shirt names (one of which was BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth, whom I've ALWAYS fancied rotten) we walked over to the start. I manoevered myself to "near" the front as there were 348 people today and I didn't want to get crushed in the bottle neck start. I set off Endomondo on my phone, I started my Timex IronMan watch and we were off!
(Racehorse commentary voice required for this bit)
....... Dan starts off on the inside, with Weird Running Form Man on the outside, Ankle Biter Kiddies making good progress at the start with the Marshalls telling us to "keep off the grass!"......Dan going well on Sawyers Hill, moving past a plethora of heavy breathers......there's Grey Haired Hero on the inside shuffling along as he does every Saturday......Dan continues to pass heavy breathers and also Shin Guard Man who's calves are as big as Dans waist.....down Sawyers Hill now and the pace is picking up as Dan moves into top gear passing more and more runners.......a clear bit of path now as the runners start to thin out.......... we're at the 3K point now and an alarmingly attractive lady in an Orange Top passes Dan, who takes a brief look at her incredibly shaped bottom, which is clad in lycra capris.......Dan banishes any inappropriate thoughts from his head and pushes on........the dreaded uphill'ish bit approaches and Dan starts to hear heavy breathing behind him....."he aint passing me" thinks Dan as he switches on his turbo power for a few yards, just to destroy the potential overtaker......it works and the noise of the overtakers breathing fades into the distance.........down the hill section now and "super shaped bottom woman" has streaked ahead only to be replaced by another gorgeously shaped bottom......"hang on, that's a geezer!!"notices an embarrassed Dan and wonders if anyone else behind HIM is thinking "now THAT IS a shapely ars* in those orange striped running tights"........the Marshalls are clapping and encouraging now and suddenly ITV's news reporter Bill Neeley is clapping us all and telling us we are at 24 mins 20 seconds.......(wow, Richmond is full of tv news reporter types)....two minutes to go......heavy breathing Red Haired Man passes Dan with just 200M to go......"BASTAR*!" thinks Dan, as he remembers this heavy breathing swine from way back when he thought he'd left the guy for dust........and there's the finish line.......Attractive Woman stands by the path and joins her Father Man who is ahead of Dan........another turbo power boost from the Dan legs...."See ya!!" says Dan as he finds the extra Va Va Voom to go past these two........there's 50m to go and a few puffing and exhausted people going for the line.....Dan overtakes at least 5 of them and comes home in a GLORIOUS 26 minutes and 47 seconds!!!!
(end race commentary voice).
Oh yeeeeahhhhh baby!!! It wasn't a PB but it IS my 2nd best time. Well happy with that I can tell you. But here's the conundrum......
Endomondo tells me my 5K distance TODAY was travelled in 26'29???? This time, according to Endomondo, is my PB for 5K??? Yet Parkrun, two weeks ago told me I'd achieved my PB @ 26'27.
Who should I believe?????? Aaagghhhh!!!
Anyway, there you have it. I am so happy I could do a conga.
One brilliant bit of news is that I got a call today for some work which will keep me busy for the next 3 weeks. WAGES!!!! Being a freelancer, this is such a relief because I was beginning to wonder if the phone would EVER ring!!! The hours will be long and I have no idea if I'll have the energy to run over the next 3 weeks, but we will see. I am DEFINITELY doing the Turks Head Beer Run 10K next Sunday and have told my employers NOT to expect me in work that morning as I can't afford to miss it. Stay tuned dear reader to see if I manage any early morning runs over the next 3 week period.....
Thank you for all your incredible support and kind words on my blogs. You really are a super bunch of friends.
Dan.
Brilliant. Great time (which ever one you believe). 
Parkrun fun
Sunrise running 
