Now that was more fun! Royal Parks winter series - Hyde Park 10K

[linda9389]

A post in complete contrast to my whining post after my GSR run 😂

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Was definitely not going to push myself to the limit - previous fastest time for 10K was 1h 04m 05s at the GSR, and while it would be nice to beat, just a second faster would be good enough

I set off early this morning with all my bags, parked at the Hilton on Park Lane, made up a bowl of porridge (yes really - yummy Great British Porridge co instant porridge full of fruit and seeds) and a pepermint tea, and had those in the underground car park! Headed off to the loo (the Hilton has very nice loos, no 20p required and no queue - all included in the parking fee 😂). Walked through the underpass and was at number collection less than 5 minutes later. Biggest drama was where to pin the number so I could take my long sleeve top off and tie it round my waist!

Did I mention it was the most gorgeous day? perfect for running. Unexpectedly bumped into my daughter's flat mate from uni (York uni!), said hello and headed off as I didn't need that sort of competition 😂. Looking at the results, I see there were only 450 finishers, so this was a relatively small event - smaller than our Parkrun in fact - not the massive event that the GSR was.

Inevitably, I ran the first 5k faster than I'd intended. Walked through the 5K water station (ice cold water in a cup, superb). Then set straight off for the second lap. Met hubby who was just arriving, so high fived him (he figured out what was happening in time to not leave me hanging). And I felt good. Tired, but never fearful that I couldn't do it. I even managed to speed up a little for the end, and I crossed the line with a big smile (I think) and very little breath left - as it should be right?

Oh, and my time - 1h 00m 27s. I'm not even sad about the 28s - I'm delighted with that.

Back to the car with hubby, shower at middle son's flat in Battersea, out for a fab lunch with the two of them and a nice walk along the Thames followed by a lovely cold glass of Prosecco!

Home now with a cup of tea. A perfect day.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Awesome awesome AWESOME!!!! xxxxxx

I did that high fiving thing with MY husband once 😂😂😂

Well done Linda, really fabulous 💗💥🏃💪👑🦄🍾

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks Abi. I'm delighted - not least cos you all need a break from my whingeing 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Congratulations on your new PB. Fabulous, amazing time 🥇🏆🏅

I haven't managed to get mine from Garmin into Strava yet, first Garmin was down then strava, so maybe it's lost in the middle 🤔

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

I must say I'd already checked out your result on the race website 😊 but I'm so happy to hear you had fun too - that's the cake as far as I'm concerned, awesome 💗💗💗

Strava's been having a mare today - I recorded my run on Endomondo too just in case - got a better time on there too 😂😂😂

And thank you - my run was less fun, but I am extremely chuffed with the result!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Awwhh, really? 😘 I don't feel stalked, just cared about 😀

Yup, this is how it should feel and the time was such a bonus. Something in this training is working, and it seems only fair that you should see the benefit too!

I've got it on strava at last, but mapmyrun - my backup - is crazy. Says 10.2k in half an hour - with yesterdays date! Plus another 2.58k today which is in hyde park but with lots of the gps missing! My last run was missing lots of gps points too. Maybe my android upgrade has broken it. I may have to uninstall and reinstall but always scared of losing historical data 😀

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

Fabulous! Huge well done, Linda! 😁🏃🤗

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Thanks Helen. I'm very happy. Succumbing to a cold just now though, so 'treating' myself with ice cold white wine to make me feel better 😀

[Macmac Marathon]

Fantastic - what a great result Linda! 😀 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 well done!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Macmac]

Thanks. I'm really delighted to have enjoyed it and got the finishing line high that was so noticeably absent from my last organised event

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done, Linda! 🙂What a lovely race report and fab photos - the weather has been gorgeous today! So glad you have laid to rest the ghost of the GSR and with a brilliant time too!👍😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra. You hit the nail on the head there ... it was a ghost that needed to be laid to rest. The LLHM in 5 weeks will be much more akin to GSR in that it will be massive and it will be on the edge of the distance I am capable of.

I now know I CAN enjoy an organised event, but maybe I just need to be more confident of a distance to REALLY enjoy it. For today, I'm very happy

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Remember, you have put in all the training for your HM, Linda. I am sure you will be fab - and we will all be rooting for you on here!🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

🙂 all the support is a wonderful thing, and much appreciated

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Congratulations Linda that sounds like a great day out all round!! well done on your new PB 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks. Still smiling 😀

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Well done Linda. Glad you had a good time. Maybe smaller events are more your thing. Maybe you had less expectation. Maybe things just fell into place today.

However, another hurdle beaten. Good luck with the HM.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks. Probably yes to all those things 😀 We live and learn. Running is relatively new for me - I still have lots more to learn 😀

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Absolutely, thats what gets me out of bed and tying up my running shoes. Long may it continue to be a learning curve and challenge!!

[misswobble Marathon]

That sounds tip-top! What a grand day out all round. Lovely dinner too. Plus you didn't have to make it! Isn't it fab when a plan comes together

Well done indeed!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

A grand day out indeed. Don't see middle son very often either, so it wa reet grand

[Teri73]

Well done Linda, I am so glad you enjoyed it and better still you smashed your PB, that amazing.... so you are all ready for a sub 2 hour HM now

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Teri73]

OMG that's exactly what middle son said yesterday! Not a chance!!! He's aiming for 1h45m, I'm aiming for 2h30m (maybe, wind behind and al that) ... but most of all I'm aiming to enjoy it

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Just wonderful to read this! You sound so happy! As you said a massive contrast to your GSR. And what a time! Your super star! 🍾🥂🏅👏🏻😊🎉👍☀️ 💥⚡️ 🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♀️ Fantastic!!!! Brilliant!!! Did I say fantastic?!! Oh yes! Idid! Just beaming for you! 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thank you so much. I'm beaming all over again now 😍

[Bluebirdrunner]

Really pleased that you had such a positive experience this time out Linda!

Huge WELL DONE..on all your planning as well as your running. Fab result all round 💪👍😊xx

[Irish-John Marathon]

Great run, great Runner, great Report! Well done Linda and congratulations !

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

A perfect day indeed! Congrats on the great time and a wonderful day!