For the next 2 weeks I varied with cycling as well as running to make it more versatile. I went straight back to my usual 4.2 mile run to start off with with a steady pace. Feeling pretty good with the first week back, I then developed a cold :-(. About 4-5 days before race day. Absolutely brilliant. Why does this always happen to me when I have important events coming up?!
I managed to fit in a very tight chested, worst run of my life 5 and 6 miles before race day which I was pretty proud of.
On the morning of race day I was coughing my guts up like I'd smoked 50 a day, my Dad was quite concerned and didn't want me to take part. But this was the 10k I'd always wanted to do since starting my running. I'd booked it the day the online entry went live to secure my place. I was not about to let a wimpy cold take over me! I also learned that my Grandad... in his 70's was also going to run with me.
We arrived early as usual, ready to begin the run at Warwick Castle that would then take us the back way through to Kenilworth Castle. Before starting the race I had, again a dodgy stomach- this seems to be the story of my life!!
Waiting with Gramps, I took my last toilet stop and over the start line we went with our timing chips attached to our shoe laces! The first 3 miles were great ... as I'd expected, it seems to always pan out this way. which Is good I suppose. I'm slowly but surely getting that little bit more use to running and maybe that little bit fitter.
After that, it started to gradually get worse, my chest was burning. I couldn't catch my breath due to my cold and phlegm gargling in the back of my throat (rank, I know. But it's the God honest truth), making my breathing wheeze. It was truly the most horriblest feeling I've ever felt! I knew the cold was affecting me because I was constantly having the walk up the steeper parts of the route, which emotionally ruined me (if you've read the other posts. I hate to walk in an event). I was feeling defeated, my Grandad ran off at about 6/7k after he saw how poorly I looked. His words of encouragement dying down. I didn't want him to stick with me, it was unfair he had the potential to get a good time for his age! So as he ran off, I kept myself hydrated and hurdled my way through.
I seemed to get my barings and feel that little bit more comfortable at about 8k. The support from the crowed grew as we were getting nearer to the finish which upped my spirit majorly. When I seen the castle car park I started to up my pace and pose for the photographers (badly as you will come to see). I managed my Snailtastic sprint over the finish line where coughed my way up to get my finishers medal and goody bag. I can only describe the feeling after as you have a funny feeling in your lungs whereby they feel like they've expanded so much and hadn't quite deflated back to their original state. Or when we've reached you maximum fitness levels by sprinting or doing a bleep test and you feel horrid with the lactic acid, sicklyfeeling throughout your body.
After, I found my Gramps, his wife and my Dad just outside, after lumbering through a lot of bodies. We took some finishing photos and toddled off to the car. I can honestly say, to date, that was one of my most difficult events not being at 100% fitness or being 100% well. I was drained. So much so that I went home, showered and was knocked out for the rest of the day in bed!
I hope to continue running this event and look forward to next years race... Hopefully, I should be in tip top form and not dying from a cold and cough!
The chip times came in at 1hr 16mins 16secs. Not too good for me at all considering my Brimingham 10k time. but if suppose it beats pulling out of the event entirely!
Here are some photos:-
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