Arghhhhh! So near and yet so far.........

[Beads]

I've been waiting for an email since before lunch, that one you generally get sometime on Saturday if you were a good girlie (or even boy) and dragged yourself out of bed to get to the park at 9 for a little trot round with other likeminded souls. Yes, that one! It's an important one this week, not because it's 100 or anything like that, it's my 4th parkrun, 3rd at Riddlesdown, 2nd in extremely soggy conditions. So nothing special......

EXCEPT (dum, dum, duuurrrrr) at the halfway stage when they call out your time the girl said 15:05!!!!!! So the questions is, did I do it? Did I crack the 30 minutes??? The halfway stage was about 10 yards past where I had to pause and do up my right trainer, unfortunately it was about 20 yards before where I had to pause yet again, this time to re-tie my left trainer (since last August this is only the second time I've had loose laces!!!!!) but I did manage a respectable 'sprint' along the final 50 yards. So I've been waiting for that email and it's not turned up yet!

But, I just had a brainwave, check the website!!!

30:04!!!!!!!

4 seconds! 4 bloody seconds!!!!!! If it hadn't been for my laces...... If it hadn't been for that chap cutting me up and not letting me past coz he wanted to run round the puddles instead of straight through them........ If it hadn't been for the seriously squelchy muddy track when I could swear that my feet were going backwards in the slippery stuff.......

Oh well next week is the 100th run at Riddlesdown, maybe I can crack the 30 minute barrier then!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

4 seconds? Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously you'll do it next time because you won't have the problem with your laces and the mud and the chap and... - in fact, looks like you'll blast through the 30 minute barrier without all these obstacles. But 4 seconds - bummer.

[TJFlute]

Nooooo....I feel your anguish, but isn't it like Top Gear when they put a 'W' next to the time if it's a wet track. Imagine how fast you will be without the runners puddle dodging! Under 30 easily

[Beads Graduate]

Thanks guys, it feels a bit of a cheat though as it's nigh on a dead flat course, I wouldn't be this fast if there were hills!

I did another personal best today as well, took Fred (the mutt) out for a walk this afternoon and we did our just over 3k course in 30 mins 12 seconds. It was raining though and I wouldn't let him stop for a wee or any sniffing.

[SBG356 Graduate]

Ooooooohhhh 4 seconds! I feel your pain but still a great time and in such awful conditions too!

You need to invest in some greepers, they are great! greeper.com/home.php

Bet you rock it next time

Sue

[sfb350 Graduate]

So near ! That's brilliant, you'll crack it soon

My dream is to crack the 30 minutes this year.

[KANdoit]

Your laces did it on purpose to make sure you go back next week !!!

Once upon a while ago I did a 5k swimathon in 2:00:09. I have a good idea of what reading that e-mail felt like.

Good Luck for next time

[greenlegs Graduate]

Really good time, but so annoying, I'm sure! But it does make next time so much more exciting! I bet you double-check your laces!