Just want to say thank you to all your good luck messages this morning! I haven't chance to reply as sleeping (due to time difference) then getting ready for the race. So want to talk this opportunity to say thank you!!
First a technical question - i can't post pictures so how do you do it? - i have tried attaching and dropping into text box but with no success. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Race report - Take two - Already written this once so going to try again!
5am - Alarm went off oops!
7am - Partner hands a cup of coffee, he is doing the 5km race today and was up at 6am watching the Ryder Cup
Race prep starts with - 2 small cups of coffee, one unripe banana which due to race nerves was tricky to eat plus not pleasant as too unripe. Glad i decided against the toast, had some water as its going to be warm and took one headache tablet as I feel I might get a headache. Get dressed, capris are todays choice, water bottle loaded with chilled water and white bottle freebie in kit was not deodorant but anti foot fungal talc!! Doh!!!
8.20 - head to the start line a nice 10-15minute walk, partner jumping and skipping the whole way there - you would think we are off to fair or seaside, just so excited. Say hi to the race marshals and police along the way.
8.30-9am - absorb the atmosphere - have a look at the start line, felt like a horse at the grand national looking at the first jump.
9am - Diez, Nueve, Ocho, Siete, Seis, Cinco, Cuatro, TRES, DOS, UNO, VAMOS
The start is fast, very, very fast, we are all running together, 5km and 10km, winding in-between people looking for the gaps, say bye to my partner, straight on for 10kers. Right, just slow down, slow down some more the first 2km fly by and can i will use the word easy - back towards the park now the real work starts! up to 5km it was tough, stick to shaded part of the street as its getting warmer!
5km water station - plastic cup should i get one to pour over my head - no keep going its crowded!
Turn the corner and onto 6km, starting to feel better now. Look at Garmin - the course is going to be 0.3km longer - just thought better that than short (famous last thoughts). Then on to 7km, yep the course is going to be longer than 10km. Feeling good, notice a few people dive in front of me from a side street, cutting off 1-1.5-2km of the course - well they don't seem like they are struggling zooming off down the street oh well.
Then i see 8km marker thats not right my garmin hasn't buzzed! The course is short maybe they realised the markers were wrong so compensating. Now turn the next corner there is the 9km marker, knowing we were close to the finish i know the course is going to be short - look at garmin it says 8.5km. Oh no maybe i could run down the road and back to the finish - then i realised this would cause chaos! Just want to say i didn't cut out any of the route out! Cross the finish line the clock says 1.01 - should have sprinted but so worried about distance. Garmin says 9.59km in 1hour 38second, see what the chip time is later, was disappointed but told myself:
1) this is your first race
2) first race in Santiago, Chile
3) graduated in July
So I was happy! All that drama about not knowing how to sign up for a race, worrying about picking up kit then worrying about race day. It all went so smoothly and the race was very, very well organised. Loved taking part and will be signing up for a races in November and December! Lets hope that they are this well organised.
Had a little cup of Powerade after the race - wow what a little pick me up that was and only 200ml! So on long runs i will be putting some of that in one of my new bottles on my running belt for my long runs. I never knew an apple could be so good after a run too. Walked back, helped some lost looking Australian Tourists as not a lot of english speaking people about!
What's Next? Well i have another 10km race on 19th October - can't wait, then will signing up for races in November and December. Start hill training, increase long runs by 1km a week so next long run will be 11km. I want to race in the UK as I think there will be more atmosphere along the course as apart from the start/finish line nobody was out but thats ok. Finally, I will be purchasing some running sun glasses as its going to be sunny and will getting warmer and warmer now.
Steak lunch (well we are in SAM!) Had a few glasses of Chandon (Moet cheap cousin from Argentina but then less third of the price)
If you are thinking of a race do it! Even though it says its a race - the only real race is the one against yourself.
Happy Running Everyone!
Thank you for reading!
Plus EUROPE have WON the Ryder Cup !!! 
What a lovely day - Also noticed our race tops and caps were so co-ordinated with Europe's attire today.
Sounds like your first race was a wonderful adventure! 
First 10km race today 
First official race - Wilmslow Festive 10km 
Week 1 done ✅ and I can still breathe! 
Week 8, run 1 - done but still very slow
First 10k race - done! Got my first medal!
