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Okay so in my last post I mentioned a few things which have happened recently, so I shall take them in order.
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| Women's 10k |
Firstly was the Women's 10k on 8th May. After last year's run, I was expecting great things to come out of this but noooooooooo. What a sorry, disappointing run that turned out to be. Weather was humid which didnt make for great race conditions for me. I suffered the whole race with the heat and subsequently a rather elevated heart rate which manifested itself in my heart doing back flips for 7k of the race. I gave the crowds at the 2.5k mark a rather unflattering flash of my sports bra as I stripped off my long sleeve top which was under my MacMillan vest (maybe not the best idea putting it on in the first place). By 7k I was severally flagging and at the water station ended up using my bottle of water to cool me down. This did the trick for the next 3k and I flagged over the line in a dismal 69:25. The day was definitely not one to go down as a fab run :-( The goody bag was one to write home about as well - a pen, a bottle of juice, a bottle of water and 2 smints. Outstanding!!!
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| Cazza & I after Manchester 10k |
Next was the Manchester 10k the following week. Now that was a great race and I knocked 2.5 mins off the previous week's time. Still not a PB but I finished the race satisfied that I had pulled out all the stops considering. The night before we had to put up with a couple having a domestic in the room above us for nearly 2 hours, followed an hour or so later with the 2 lassies screeching in the corridor outside our room. Still we were up bright and early, breakfast eaten and headed to the city centre. My goal for the morning was to see Haile Gabrselassie starting his race (and possibly finishing) as I was in the back wave of runners. That would have been a big NO then!! We spend ages looking for the baggage area and asked 4 marshalls to be told different directions and then someone from Manchester who said they didnt come into the city often so didnt know where things were *incredulous face*. I was in the green wave and Cazza in blue. She went first followed by me 30 mins later. The race was fab, the course was brilliant and the crowds outstanding. I finished in 66:55 and was pleased with that. This race is a definite on next year's calendar (well it ought to be as I've entered it again lol).
Swimming. Now this is an interesting turn of events :-) Not content with running, I have decided that my next challenge is an open water swim!! The marbles have well and truly been lost - fact! Now this swim is not until next year which gives me plenty of time - I think lol. So I have been back at swimming and have even taken advanced lessons. Now the purpose of the lessons is that I have never swam freestyle or breaststroke properly. So online I went, purchased a swim cap and goggles and booked my lessons. One lesson in the pool and I am dolphin-esque (okay allow me my moment of ego stroking here). Teacher says that my form is good and I only need to work on my breathing and keep practising. So with that in mind I went a further twice to the pool last week :-) Sorted - now I just need to get out in open water with a wet suit and I can guarantee the picture of me in that suit is not going to pretty *shudder*.
Lastly on the news front, I have now joined a running club - the Greenock Glenpark Harriers. I'm really not sure if they actually know what they are letting themselves in for by allowing "Kimbles Tortoise" in, but I am pretty chuffed to actually be part of a club *beam*. I am definitely not a hare but I am sure by continuing to run with the ladies and attending the club meets, I can pull myself up to a pretty passable standard. Records will not be broken but I am hoping that my times will improve along with my physical and mental stamina - both of which have been pretty absent of late.
Oh one last point. I had to pull out of the Edinburgh Half last week. I twisted a muscle in my back at my rib cage and it was holding out on Saturday until I slept in a lumpy hotel bed and woke on the morning of the race under par. Still I have to say, that it wasnt any great loss. I just have to focus now for the races at the end of the summer.
Till next time :-)
Kimbles
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