Like many others I was also running GSR. My run club had a few of us going but nobody said they were in the white wave, only the green. I was allocated white wave so decided to drop back to run with the other two in the green wave. Sadly one of the ladies who I was travelling with on Saturday tore her hamstring at parkrun the week before. That left the two of us to travel to the guest house on Saturday, a fantastic location at mile 6 opposite the finish! We did a rece of the area Saturday night and the nerves were felt! I actually had a great night sleep and was up early to move my car to the common at 0700 and back to the guest house for breakfast and chill out until 1000am.
We went over to the start and bumped into two other club runners in the white wave.....they asked if I was joining them but that would leave my friend on her own in green for her first ever race so I said no. We queued 20 min for the loo and made our way to the warm up, all good. With a bit of a delay we were off, I was feeling a bit sluggish but was pacing for a 1hr 50 finish. We went up towards the pier where many runners dashed off to the loos leaving us a bit of space. The atmosphere was palpable. The music along the way was uplifting. My friend and I were running well, dodging and overtaking others. Up to the dockyard being careful on the cobbles, we saw the ambulance tending to a faller with a broken nose. The old ships were majestically towering us as we ran through. Round and out of the dockyard and boy it was hot. The sun was directly overhead with sun in our eyes. We ran past the beating drums which was great for picking up the feet. Then we turned down the long stretch 3.5-5 mile under the bridge and back on yourself seeing the runners ahead coming towards you. The bridge/tunnel was fun for some oggy, oggy, oggy, oui, oui, oui!! We were then headed towards the common and our guest house at mile six, looking and feeling good. This is where you see those finishing run past you, wishing that was me!! We had gel and water along here with the water going over my head to keep me cool, lovely. At mile 7.5 my friend was struggling with stitch and a bit of cramp so she stopped to walk and stretch. It was that horrible decision to go ahead alone, she was fine and would be behind me. The last stretch was phsychologically hard as you run 2 miles through the streets to come back the 2 miles along the promenade. It was a welcome sight to see the sea and the cooling breeze was most welcome. I got some extra mojo passing other runners along the promenade and collecting jelly babies. Then I saw the 800m sign, just under a km to go, woohoo. We turned back onto the road to see the other runners behind us with 300m to go, exciting! Back into the common, my legs picked up some more speed and the finish was in sight. A sprint finish and I was over the line in 1hr 46. I was chuffed with that. I collected my goody bag, mahoosive small t shirt and went to find my friend who had some in at 1hr 50, fantastic for her first event. As I had no supporters with me it was a lonesome drive home including a very slow 1hr to exit the common car park. Hubs, kids and parents had been tracking me and watching it on the tv. It was lovely to get home and put my feet up. We are Wagamama on Monday with my free meal and went back with the kids for a half price dockyard visit to see the ships courtesy of the GSR. I have even booked up for next year.....is that bonkers?
Bit late but my New Forest 10k report.
A New Category for the HM...The 3 legged Race!
LBAC Leighton 10 mile
If they’re running and we know it, wave your (pom)poms! 🥳🎉
