Sorry I couldn’t join you all on Sunday but after running 5k on grass on Saturday, I was in no condition to run a 10k on Sunday. I take my hat off to cheekychipmunks , TailChaser and Katnap who did exactly that in real races. But then again, they are much younger .
So after a 3k on Monday, today I was heading out on my 10k. I didn’t use the playlist as I don’t pay for a Spotify account and I didn’t want the ads cutting in. And as I have over a thousand tunes downloaded to iTunes I just put it on shuffle so that I wouldn’t know what was coming up next. I also started NRC 90 minute run with the lovely Coach Bennett. I wasn’t intending to run race pace so that suited me fine.
The blue skies and warm temperatures have finally arrived, and there was a very light breeze to bring a bit of relief. Sunglasses and a sports sunscreen were on. UpTheStanley was running 10k too but we ran separately today to run at our own pace. I headed east along the prom to the Hayling Island Ferry. UTS was returning before I got there so we high fived as we passed. I turned round at the ferry jetty and there were clear views of Langstone Harbour and Hayling Island, the sunshine glinting off car windows and the pub on the other side of the water. It was now about 18C and I was mopping my face with the buff on my wrist as I ran along. But it was nice and cool when I ran in the shade of conifers alongside the caravan park so when I got the end of them I turned around a few times to take full advantage of it for a bit longer. Then it was back on the prom again and running that familiar route towards the pier. UTS had finished his 10k well before me and he joined me when I’d got to about 7.5k. But I sent him on his way as I felt it was affecting my natural pace. I walked a bit while I drank water and retrieved a fruit gum from my belt. Then on I ran, and finally finished up by running around canoe lake and under the trees by the tennis courts. By which time, UTS had bought his paper and was waiting for me in a local cafe where we had cappuccino, a big jug of water and shared a bacon ciabatta under a parasol in the garden.
Phew I did it, but it was a reminder that we will need to get out earlier again now that summer is on its way. I always go on a bit further than the distance just to make sure Strava shows the full 10k; my actual 10k time was 77:57 today.
Loving reading everyone’s posts this week.
Whoops, forgot to say, this week is 5 years since I graduated c25k! I think TailChaser was the only one to respond to my graduation post that is still here, But there are many of you who followed in the class of 2018. Haven’t we had a ball as a result of running!
