Newham Great Run. Fantastic day.

[BethC]

Warning! Another Newham 10km race report!

I think after today I am happy to call myself a runner. I have completed 10km events before (4 to be precise) but this is the 1st one where I have been able to run the whole distance.

As others have said today was WARM! I was in the Pink Wave (with Super Speedy Husband 'SSH' who would not be so super speedy running alongside me). By the time our wave set off we'd been in the pen for 45 mins and I was getting cold feet. I'd had a bad experience at the Oxford Town and Gown where I found it impossible to run and finished almost last.

We were set off by the legend that is Brendan Foster and the pace seemed comfortable. At the 1km mark my Garmin beeped. It said 6 mins something for the Km. Surely some mistake. That's fast for me. I was even going past some people. I kept up a nice pace even when SSH had to go off in search of loos before catching me back up. At 5km there was a lovely refreshing shower to run through then a water station - both much needed. I completed 8km in just under an hour and realised I was on for a PB!

Arriving at the stadium with 1km to go (half of it is spent running through the maintenance tunnel) you then emerge into the sunlight flooded stadium. I admit I felt a bit emotional at this point that I was actually running where so many great athletes had run!

Seeing myself on the big screen was emotional for other reasons - really need to shift that weight!

Suddenly the finish line loomed and I was over. Photos taken we went in search of goody bags. This was the only bit that let the organisation down. Eventually we found the goody bags but we ushered out of the stadium and it was a long walk (with no help from largely disinterested stewards) to get back in. Still ho hum.

I did it! I flipping did it. Just over a year ago I graduated from C25K and thanks to it (and some iron supplements) today I ran the WHOLE of a 10km race. And I wasn't nearly last!!!

[Pigivi]

Well done, a race and a PB!! All in one day congratulations!

[poppypug Graduate]

Brilliant ! Well done Beth and hubby !

Sounds an amazing day ! Many Congratulations on your PB ! xxx

[Toonlou24 Graduate]

Wow!!! That's brilliant. I can imagine the emotion. Think I'd have been in bits!!! Well done to both of you. Sounds amazing. Xx

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Well- I went through 2 seconds before you!!! What a shame we couldn't have said hello. I probably looked like a loony flinging my arms in the air running on my own - and I think I officially had the reddest face. Well done, that was my first 10k race and the heat did for me and had to give in and walk at times - but there's always next time. Well done. Linda

[ActonHighStreet]

Well done - that's a lovely post and a great run.

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

Congratulations!

[ShannieP Graduate]

Congratulations loved seeing all the runners round Stratford yesterday.

Is one of my goals to take part next year today will be my W7R3 at Wanstead Flats

[Baileyb Graduate in reply to ShannieP]

Go for it. I said a similar thing last year when I supported my other half and yesterday I did it. You won't regret it.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Fabulous Beth! Well done to you. That sounds amazing and what a memory!

[jaynekate]

Fantastic Beth. I love posts like these. You're amazing 😊

[Baileyb Graduate]

Well done, great day. The first time I glimpsed the inside of stadium I nearly cried. Very emotional. Lovely pictures. Be proud

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Sorry for being bonkers. I was all excited thinking we had crossed the finish line at the same time but of course we didn't - unless we went over the start line together. Most unlikely as after the mile and a half queue for the loos I was near the back of the pen. Put it down to the heat befuddling my brain!!!

[BethC Graduate in reply to ancientrunner]

To be honest I think the heat fuddled my brain too! Just gone wild and ordered my race photos!