So to celebrate graduation I splashed out on a new pair of Saucony running shoes - £63 from go-outdoors. Very comfortable with memory foam. Those aren't mud splatters on my first run with them - it's the pattern of the material!
.. and .. my first 5k all run. Well almost. Was forced to stop for a few seconds to cross a road at a crossing, open two latched gates (twice), cross a major road, and when I got lost at the turn round point in Sunningwell village!
Total time according to Strava was 38:36 - and only the third fastest - the other two being at Farmoor reservoir, where the 5k included the warm up and part of the cool down walk. Farmoor is dead flat with no obstacles, and no roads to cross!
Still - not bad - I wanted to just prove that I could actually run for 5k prior to first attempt at Parkrun this Saturday hopefully.
There were also a couple of inclines to negotiate in the long run up to the bridge over the A34 - not negotiated hills before!
I kind of missed having Jo Wiley or Michael Johnson encouraging me on! They were my favourites - and Jo was my virtual companion on the graduation run.