After completing C25K last Sunday, I registered on the Park Run website.
This morning I was up at 6.30 and down stairs for a bowl of porridge and a sip of something cold I'd put in the fridge the night before - supposed to be some sort of energy drink.
Then I prepared a new running track list especially for the occasion. A very mixed bag indeed: some Paloma Faith in there, a Beatles song, Lenny Kravitz . . . told you it was a mixed bag!
Time to start warming up - a few stretches, lunges and squats, you know the stuff and after a final cup of coffee (must have caffine . . . . must . . . have . . . .caffine), I was in the car for the drive down to Gorleston cliffs.
There I joined 100's of runners for my first ever Gorleston Park Run. I only set one goal, to get round in one piece. Already I start to notice that many of my fellow runners are Park Run veterans, wearing 50, 100, 150 run t-shirts, while others look extremely fit and accomplished runners. These guys are all doing stretches and short warm up runs, so I thought I'd better do some - at least make it look like I know what I'm doing.
Finally we get called to the starting line. I take my place near the back, so as not to get in the way of the real runners, but not right at the back as to be playing catch up from the start.
And we're off . . . . .The course is two laps of the cliffs and promenade and as I make my way to the 1k marker, I am feeling good. I'm settled into a nice pace, breathing nicely and even starting to catch and pass some others. Well talk about a confidence builder. I'm liking this, all apart from the billions of tiny flies that seem to have turned to spectate, with many of them finding their way into my eyes and mouth (yuck!).
One lap in and we're going well. Legs feeling good, breathing (still) and with the uphill climb done, I settle into lap #2. As I drop down onto the promenade for the final 2k, I find a second wind and I pick up the pace - just a little bit.
Next thing I know, the finish line comes into view and . . . . . . I'VE DONE IT!
Not only did I get round, but I did it without stopping and in a time of . . . . .00:29:55
This whole experience, just 10 weeks ago would have been impossible, a sub 30 minute 5k, me, really? it's never going to happen.
I really cannot say this enough, but a huge thank you to the C25K program, I would never have done it without you.
I think I had it easy up'til now. 
Post-grad run 2 - running in company
Post-Grad Run 1 - Parkrun and a new PB!
Post Grad Run = week 4 C25K
