I'm playing the waiting game again, same as last weekend. I know it's miles too early for parkrun results so am going to do other things and stay away from the computer, but first I had to tell you.
It was the 100th running of the Riddlesdown Parkrun this morning. They wanted 100 runners to run to commemorate the event. They had 66 runners 3 weeks ago (I was 56th), they had 79 last week (I was 50th), this week it was absolutely packed! Loads and loads of us!
The weather was perfect, blue sky, just a hint of fluffy white stuff up there every so often, a nice breeze, enough to cool you but not so much that you knew it was there until you stopped running. (On the way home the car thermometer told me it was 7°C, so not too hot, not too cold.) The going was good after last week's squelchy run. There were still some puddles and one part that was slippery, but that was it.
Everyone set off at a fair clip, I was rapidly passed by loads of people going down the first straight and we were just about in single file when we rounded the bend at the end, then coming back along the wooded section I passed a few myself. Round the end and back along to the halfway point, I was more puffed than usual at this point, it seemed it had been a hard 2.5k, what was my split time, had I managed to get into the 14 minute bracket? Last week's was 15.05 at this stage, I must be faster. Well I must tell you I didn't get into the 14 minute bracket, no, no don't commiserate, I was absolutely shocked when my split time was shouted out, 13.07!!!! Crikey! Now all I had to do was to maintain it!
So second half. Went well, there's a slight downhill just before the turn which I've not noticed before which gave me a boost, just before coming into the turn and the little incline, which at this speed did feel like a hill, but only a small one. Then just a gentle run through the woods to home. But that's when disaster struck! No, not my shoe laces again (I'd double knotted them this week, there's no way they were going to come undone!), my left foot found a tree root and decided it was going to stop for a rest! Yep, I splatted, knees and hands! Soft mud thankfully rather than the stones which much of the track is made up of. It must have been impressive, not the splat but the speed at which I pulled myself up and started running again! There is no way I was going to let it affect my time, and I had to get out of there quick as I'm sure the air was turning blue with the swear words I was muttering! Anyhow I eventually managed to get back into my stride with two dirty knees, two muddy hands and a muddy elbow and gained on the person in front of me but couldn't pass her before the end (and more importantly no-one passed me while/after I fell!!!)
So I finished 74th!!! Out of a field of I don't know how many.
And my time? We'll have to wait and see!
Smashed and then some.....and that is with falling over! Imagine what it would have been if you hadnt?! 
Out of the Game
PB at the RFL Hastings!
Wk8r2 done!! yipee.. on the road in the rain!!
I did it, 9 whole weeks!
