Having run 2 10k races in the last 3 weeks, UpTheStanley and I agreed that running the Vitality 10000 in London on 24th September would be a race too far while we are meant to be increasing our distance towards 10 miles. The Great South Run is getting closer and I’ve only run up to 11k recently. . I knew that if we did the race we would both want to run it fast and try to match or beat our previous times. There is also the rather extortionate cost of 2 nights accommodation we’ve booked on a free cancellation basis!
So we cancelled the hotel and I contacted the Vitality team to say we wouldn’t be able to take part. I was really surprised when they said that we could run the 10k virtually and on sending the evidence they would send us our T-shirts and medals. Whoopie. It won’t be the same as running through the streets of London, with people cheering us on, but we hope to do that again next May, when it is is normally held. The plan was to run 10k and stop the watch for the evidence. I then wanted to run a further 2k,
So looking at the weather forecast we have SW winds gusting to 55 mph this week as well as rainstorms, so we decided to run this morning before the heavy rain came in. We also decided to get away from the seafront where it would be windiest and headed in the car for Lakeside, home of JonathanP ’s parkrun. The trail path round the lake is sheltered from the wind but it would be pretty repetitive to run back and forth for 10k, so I also ran to the north foreshore and around the wake park. Whenever I came across UTS we high fived. At one point I was running into the wind and I wasn’t moving forward at all. My legs were going like billio but landing in the same spot. I pushed through and headed to the next turn. I saw an egret and then our swan family with seven cygnets decided to move from the bumpy Skate Park across my running route to the water. I stopped to let them pass. Then once more round the bottom of the wake park and then headed back to Lakeside to run along the lake again. Coach Bennett had been chatting away to me throughout the run on his 99 minutes 59 seconds guided run.
Along the lakeside, fishermen sat and whiled away the day. A heron was startled as I ran by and flew across to the other side. A light drizzle started and I put my running jacket on. I spotted a rabbit, a rat, a coot and a parakeet flew past in a flash of green. I haven’t seen one there before. Workers strolled along the path during their lunch break, and a few runners passed too. At the end of 10k I stopped my watch, nibbled an energy bar and sipped some water. Foolishly I also stopped my guided run instead of carrying on to complete the 99 mins and 59 secs. So I started a 2k guided run instead, knowing that the next 2k would be the hardest. UTS approached from the other direction and I called out ‘2k to go’. I ran along the trail again and through an underpass I’ve never run before. It had been painted by local schoolchildren and looked bright and cheerful. Turning round and back along the trail I admired the view of the lake. The workers in the office blocks along the other side of the lake are very lucky to be in such a beautiful location. Well 2k was done and dusted, so 12k run in total. I walked towards Starbucks and found UTS sitting there, having run 17.37 k in 100 minutes compared to my 12k in the same time. So glad that I ran it all at a gentle pace as I’ve still got 4.1k to go
Evidence submitted and I now await my new blue T-shirt and shiny bling.
Good luck to Frizzbomb67 , Folkylass and Hedgehogs123 who are also doing the virtual run
Written by
Dexy5
10 Miles
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At least you remembered to stop your watch at 10k to provide the Vitality evidence easily 🙄. But I’m well pleased with my run otherwise, and don’t think I’ll go beyond 10k again before the GSR.
Good run on a blustery day. You did well to take in everything as you ran along….I would have had my head down in those conditions. Team Dexy5 and UTS are GSR ready 👊
Coach Bennett was telling me not to look at the ground, and looking around does help to distract me from looking at my watch. My selection of birds is not quite as interesting as the ones you come across though BC.
I usually have my head up, but probably not in the teeth of a gale. Lots of the interesting birds will be packing their suitcases….been colder this week. Your blustery wind has reached us now….hope it disappears before Thursday’s run. Going soft in my old age!
Hi Dexy5 congratulations to both yourself and UpTheStanley on your virtual vitality 10,000. Hedgehogs123 and I did ours this morning . I have yet to post my results but shall probably do that tomorrow. It was very windy and rainy in the Herefordshire hills but I was determined to complete it and complete it I did.
It was better than I thought and I managed to knock off about 15mins off my time.When I ran 10k Run Hereford in May I was much slower so today was a lot better.
I didn’t realise that it was possible to upload our results straight away…We were told that we could upload them on Saturday 23rd and London Vitality would inform us beforehand how to. So how did you guys do it? Because I would love to upload mine straight away👍😂😂
Hello Folkylass, very well done To you and Hedgehogs123 on your virtual 10k . After the heatwave of last week, we face new challenges with wind and rain. I’m sure that today was a better choice than the rest of the week. 15 mins off your last time is amazing.
I think because we entered the London race, rather than the virtual, and then couldn’t do it, we were just told to reply to their email with the evidence once we had done the run. I’m sure we won’t get our goodies any quicker.
The trouble is the forecast for the rest of the week was even worse SueAppleRun . The kite surfing championships in Southsea were cancelled today because of the wind so it was a good move to be away from the sea.
I’m glad you didn’t have to miss out on your T-shirt and bling 😁 Thanks for the shout out 🙌 Im planning on going out at the weekend, not sure when though, 🤔
Once again we must have just missed you on our walk from the Lido down to the Mountbatten Centre and back Dexy - we found it hard walking into the wind so I can only imagine what it was like running! No chance of seeing all that wildlife on Saturday mornings with 300 runners charging past!
Ha ha Right place, wrong time again JP. UTS ran to the Mountbatten, but I wasn’t going to run all that way straight into the wind. I don’t think I’d have made 12k! I should think the wildlife at Lakeside goes into hiding on a Saturday morning.
Although you didn’t get Nelson’s Column, Buckingham Palace etc it sounds like you had plenty of natural attractions without the expense and hassle of Central London. Well done on battling your way through. Hope it’s not like that for GSR 🤞If it is, you’ve had plenty of practice!
Well run! Very impressed you remembered to stop yor watch after 10k for your T-shirt. Pretty sure I would not have thought of that when tuned into a longer run. Well done too on the battle against the wind! I was running against it the other day and totally get the legs going fast without but hardly moving thing! So tough on a long run with tired legs.
Ha ha that 10k stop was very much in mind as a water and energy station too Week7 , so that helped. Whereas UTS forgot and just kept running like Forrest Gump. 🏃♂️
A big weii done to you Dexy5 and UpTheStanley on completing the London Vitality Virtual 10,000 without running it in London, you are correct on saying that the price in hotels in London are extortionate, good luck to both of you for your training for the Great South Run.
Such great news that you could run it virtually and get your bling and t-shirt! Well done both of you 👏
I think you are very wise with your decision to focus now on the GSR. All those miles you’ve done recently have accumulated and a 12K is a big step closer to that start line!
And now you can look forward to getting your bling and t-shirt 🤗
I think even when we were invited to enter by parkrun we thought it might be a bit much IP but it was a bargain, and we thought we’d have it as a back up in case our other races didn’t happen.
I must say I feel a lot happier about the GSR with 12k under my belt.
Yes , it didn’t make sense with the GSR coming up and I would rather do it in London with the gang in May. Thank goodness the sciatica has gone now, so I can get into training.
Well done to for running 12km and it all sounded like a doddle to you. So good to spot various birds too. I really appreciate seeing egrets and herons. I think actually that I have only seen a heron on its own, but I had seen two egrets together. Both very rare sightings round here. I hope your preparation for the GSR progresses well 😊🏃♀️
Thank you, It certainly wasn’t a doddle over61. I was concerned I wouldn’t get going again after I stopped at 10k , but running slowly did help. The heron was very nervous, it flew away from me twice so I couldn’t get a picture.
They look amazing when they take off don't they. I clearly hadn't picked up the effort required for the run. My long runs are not long at all at the moment! Perhaps an hour or so. So you sound to be doing so well to me. 😊🏃♀️
Well done to you both... with extra kudos for the extra kilometres. So UTS is all set for a speedy GSR and your mileage is coming on nicely. A grand run all round 👏👏👏
Hiya, great race report and pics! Well done on the extra distance too, I was about done in once Ive done my 10km. I just couldn't believe how strong the wind was, and it was all the way round my chosen route. Like you at one point, I was moving my legs but I think it was only up and down as I didn't seem to be going forward! Ive just submitted my results tonight so hopefully should get confirmation on Monday/Tuesday that they've been accepted.
It was fun doing it at the same day and time as Folkylass, her in Herefordshire and me in Lincolnshire, but it still felt like I was running with someone, and when I felt like stopping, I thought Id be letting the side down, haha the power of this forum and VRB's!!😂
I think it was you who posted about the virtual event on here, (?) otherwise I wouldn't have known to enter, so thank you for that!😀
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