Having felt like I've done ultras this year at work - I didn't do much publicity for the fundraising , and it was a big drop in distance from last year's for the same charity. The organizers were great in helping out with the info to send out, and Thanks to some of my new and regular supporters (I will need to Thank you all personally too!) I exceeded my target easily.
The run itself - 3 time slots on a Wednesday from lunchtime. I picked the one at 6pm and was only making it in time if it weren't for a visiting colleague waiting downstairs!
It turns out to be 8 of us at the start, drizzling and wet, the starter horn went off pretty quickly after we assembled.
No trampling over each other , 3 of them went ahead in the distance , with me keeping my own company, and a few behind.
I'm familiar with the park but not the course charted as it meanders through buildings and focuses on the less open parts if the park where I tend to get lost. The cones marking the route had been slightly moved around by youths earlier, so it almost felt like an adventure race!
A mile in, I ran into some steps, and was promptly overtaken. In the near distance behind there were a few more running together. When it is such a small race one becomes conscious of where one lands - although this is just a much needed training run for Farnham Pilgrim tomorrow.
The rain continued, and I just love the organizers - cheered on at the one lap mark. Not long after that I passed the one who overtook me, who started walking. It is very easy to be distracted, but I pressed on - turning on my internal soundtrack , to the tune of 'in the mood', after a few encounters of such types recently ;) the riffs kept me focused - and the final downhill, past the pond, hearing the horn go off in the distance..
Job done. My watch said 37 minutes with 2secs to spare...I can't believe it! Then my runkeeper confirmed my doubts - it could've been a 3.7 mile instead of a 4 mile - but not UKA certified course, so ok!
But which run would there be when one runs through a finishing ribbon, has a full goody bag , and medal And a printed certificate all at the same time! I can only feel so loved.
We all stayed and cheered for the final finisher at 51 mins , and went home.
The day after, the times for the 3 slots of the fun run was published and I was the 3rd fastest female !
Never imagined a placing in any race at all...it is surely a record for record's sake!
It was fun all right, although I wasn't able to line up future running partners on the spot like some others that day, it was good to be out there again in the presence of active people outside the confines of the desk and laptop and the four walls.
Not too late to sponsor! Please click this link :)
http://www.justgiving.com/Bonnie-Wong1
Now less than 24 hours to go before the next race. A hilly and hopefully not too wet one! I look forward to the finishing table of good cakes :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
