My training didn’t even begin for BBCH, the temperatures were to reach 27 degrees on race day, with a 10:50am start. It just wasn’t appealing to me. My first half this was in 2015, I remember it all to well. It was hot and sticky and sun burny, around 25/26 degrees and I struggled in that and that was with training. I just wasn’t prepared to be stupid. If I didn’t have Freya, maybe I would of done it just to finish but nah. I was gutted also because the medal looked sick and they introduced a runners vest in the goody bag. Oo well. There will be more years to come.
I forgot that I planned to run my second claim running club’s annual 10k race. So I reasoned with myself to do that instead. I tried to get Lizzy to do it. But her reply was it’s just too fucking hot. You’re mad. No. I looked at the route, I’d ran down all of the route at one point in my snail career, I’d also rode a horse down all of these lanes at one point. The familiarity was one of the things that kept me doing this race.
I managed to get my best friend to come with me and use my camera for a bit. I got my race number, walked out of the Jag Club then down half of Browns Lane to the start. The heat was monumental. I was sweating by just standing there. That and I forgot my cap! I had a quick chat with Lizzy’s dad, Kevin whom does all the club statistics and data analysis, he wasn’t running that day due to marshalling. I felt kind of guilty. I really should of helped with the marshalling and said I’d help next year. After that, I recall saying to Vickie. I’m not sure about this, it’s really hot. I’m going to die. Might just go back to the car and go home. She didn’t envy me at all. She just said. Just do it. Walk if you need. Drink water when you want and need.
With that advice we started. Straight up the Browns Lane hill. Gosh I was puffing like I smoked 50 a day. It was a shock to the system not being particularly warmed up and pounding down and up a big incline. After you peak, you run down to turn left alongside the White Lion Pub on Wall Hill Road which again is another elongated climb. However, to keep my mind off it, i thought of riding our horse Guinny who we sadly had to put down in November last year. We had so many memories along these lanes that my mind just went away with the fairies. After peaking here we passed the lane that the stables was on. Down a short decent before heading up Pikers Lane. A memory that comes to light here was the only house on the lane on the right handside. Many a time he had scarecrows or this one time he had a David Beckham human sized cardboard cut out. I have no idea why?! Maybe he didn’t like horses, but Guinny really hated it. He’d shy, try cantering down the lane because he was shit scared! Bless him. It was also infamous for fly tipping, me and mum nearly landed in a ditch many a times peaking this hill. Going up Pikers i was met with another memory, I remember it happened not long ago. I cycled in front on my mountain bike whilst Guinny and mum trotted behind, not for long. I called his name and he started to get really excited. Mums was laughing her head off as he flung his head in excitement into a strong canted with mum wooowing him in an attempt to slow him, still giggling. I was racing him, trying to catch up but he left me hanging behind and didn’t wanna wait for me. We then turned left back onto Bridle Brook Lane. A nice decent and a welcomed water station to head back up another incline onto Wall Hill Road once again. All these memories took me to 5k
1st mile = 10:35
2nd mile = 10:57
3rd mile = 12:35
Another hill. Gosh this is coming all too repetitive. 416ft to 534ft a 10 minute long incline. Looooovely. Just what I needed when I was sweating my tits off. Just as I peaked. My earphones died. Well they were loyal actually but my iPhone adaptor lead died. Feck you iPhones. That cost me £10 to replace! Money grabbing dicksplashes. Why can’t you have a normal headphone port with a charging port like a normal mobile phone. Nooo you just wanna combine the two so when it breaks you make more money. Cocks! Never again, after I’ve paid my contract off I will not get an iPhone ever again. Sorry Apple, you’ve lost me. You’re just getting ridiculous. Sorry, I was so angry. I like my music when I run!
It was at this point I seen Massey members egging their team up the hill. Their entries for their club were one of the highest for the event. It shows for their supportiveness to their fellow club runners. It was lovely to see. We then turned left into Watery lane. Just up from there was the Red Lion Pub. Again so many memories. I went on the zip wire with my cousin Ciara and because we were so heavy combined I literally got wooden shards in my bum and knickers due to my arse ccraping along the floor back in 2012. It was also mine and my Nans favourite pub. We’d always go for family birthdays. To this day, it does a banging Cesar salad and home baked lasagne.
Running down the road I always recalled Guinny having a shit fit at one of the drain covers. Every time. Even though he’d been on that route numerous of times. He’d literally give that wide a birth, he’d be in the hedge on the other side!! After the water station I was met by Steve. One of the Village gym members and mums friend, I’d known his partner, D for many years. Apparently she was probably finished by now! She’s a great runner! Speaking to Steve helped mentally drive me forward and pick up a little pace.
Mile 4 13:05
It showed with mile 5 coming in at 11:58. After the incline at the end of Watery we went right. Here I knew for sure it was a downhill or relitively flat for the last two 2.5 miles. We were met with water sprinklers to run through which was so refreshing. Before I knew it, I was at the last 0.7 miles of Washbrook Lane. I recall running this in 2016 whilst marathon training in complete darkness with all but a head torch on. It was so scary. Don’t think I’ve ever ran so quick in my life. As I started to walk a runner who wasn’t part of the event said, keep going. It’ll be over quicker. Then spectators said under half a mile come on. Round that corner. Give it some welly. So I did. I got over the finish. My heart was racing and I seen Kev at the finish who congratulated me and thought I’d done it fairly fast. Coming from the man who’s in his 50’s and does a 40 odd min 10k with ease. Ha! I came in at 1:12:46. For the heat. I was super proud!
Overall, I liked the idea of a cup instead of a t shirt. It was a lovely idea. The medal was also big and colourful. I can’t believe I’ve never participated in this event before. It was well organised. Many water stations to accommodate the heat and the sprinklers were an added bonus on two/ three occasions en route. I definitely got my money’s worth. You could say I’m kinda bias because they’re my club. But no I mean it. It was a brilliant event!
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