Well, howdy doo peeps, reporting in from the Perkins Great eastern run, βfun runβ and HM......I can, in all honesty say that was the wettest run I have EVER done π±π¦ it didnβt stop hoofing it down all day....
We got there in good time, and actually picked a very good spot in the car park, as it turned out, there were massive puddles by the time we got back, so were grateful not having to wade back to the car....πββοΈ
Soooo the time came to vacate the safety (and dryness) of the car, we had our plastic ponchos on, me with cap....off we trudged...ground already getting sloppy and muddy on the event field.....the comperes did their best (on their dry stage) to get everyone taking part in the warm up - no such luck, most people were doing their best to huddle under various marquees and keep out of the wind and rain, then I noticed my feet and shoes getting damp....oh no, last thing I wanted was to start with wet feet....but, hey ho...note to self...remember plastic bags for feet...
Now I was getting cold, hands and fingers were worst.....thank goodness, into the starting pens, here we waited a good 20 mins after the start time to get out and get on with it....mind you, the flow through the start was very good.
Right, come on, letβs do it, poncho off, oh my, the rain just did not stop, when the wind blew up, it was like being in a washing machine....everything, and I mean everything was just soaked, my remaining jelly babies turned into a blob of slimey mush by the end π
I must say the marshals and support on route was just fantastic, they did a sterling job, there was one PCSO I swear was a child! She looked so young....I must be getting old! π΅π»....the route is all road, and very flat, goes through the city centre, and nice tree lined avenues and a park area, great water stations etc., I wanted to get a time near 2hrs 30, my last HM was 2hrs 35, .....I was on track and kept in front of the 2:30 pacers up to the half way point and second water station....they sneaked past me there....., but a bit of a steady concerted effort and I got back in front of them, with some encouragement from my OH too....by about mile 11, it was starting to become rather less fun...π....we were so wet, starting to get a bit cool, and it was getting a bit uncomfortable......for some reason my back really tightened up, may be from the cold, but also I steam cleaned the tiled floors on Saturday, mopping twisting etc., - note to self - do not mop floors the day before a run.......π.....but, I thought, I canβt stop now, if I stop I will struggle so much to start again.....I can do this....I hate the phrase βitβs only a parkrun to goβ.......but I must admit, I kept repeating to myself....come on, itβs parkrun, you can do it, slow and steady....just keep going....
Got emotional again, at about 12 miles, I donβt know why, I seem to not believe I can do it, despite all the training I do, and the realisation hits me.....that I am going to do it, and this time, I was going to make the 2hrs 30......and then there we were, the finish line.....my garmin said 2hrs 25, my result says 2hrs 27....π€.....I did start my watch just before the start line, but not 2 minutes before, also, they had the start time at 10:44, we were still in the pen at 10:44....anyway, results are not finalised yet.....but in any event, nailed that 2hrs 30......and some! πͺπββοΈπ
After we stopped I felt like Iβd just been swimming.....or in the bath....totally immersed in water....that was tough! But as an event, I think I would do it again, itβs such a shame the weather was so grotty, there was a nice atmosphere, and the goody bag was pretty neat, technical t-shirt, gym bag, medal, stuff to eat and drink, plus the obligatory leaflets....
Well done everyone who was out in that delightful weather yesterday - you rock πππ
Mx
Milton Keynes Half Marathon 
Carney Half Marathon and 10k - First competitive Half Marathon.
Warwick Half Marathon
Cardiff Half Marathon
