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Mortimer 10k
By Tony | October 1, 2007
After gradually starting to increase my running days and distances to get some miles into the legs I decided to start racing again. Something I haven’t done since I was around 20 year old.
My first outing was planned to be the Mortimer 10k in Reading on 30th September, this seemed to be ideal as my training week fitted this perfectly.
The week started on Tuesday with a steady state 5 miler followed on Wednesday by orienteering something that I hate with a passion but it does get you out running for around an hour, this seems to be a lot more difficult than a normal hours running too for some reason.
Thursday was again a solid 4 ½ miler with Friday a day off. Saturday started really badly as I had contracted the most feared illness for any man. That being the dreaded MAN FLU. nothing can describe this illness but every man knows just how bad it is!! No run today then, just sweat it out and Sunday will be fine….Or so I thought.
I woke up in a pool of sweat Sunday morning at 06:30..Not a good start, straight away I knew the dreaded MAN FLU was still with me. Should I bin the race and stay in bed feeling sorry for myself. Yes of course I should and that is just what I did!!!!
Not really I got up showered changed sorted out my kit had breakfast and jumped in the car heading for Reading. What I expected I do not know but I was met with some of the most polite folk I have met in a while. Along with some rather bendy, freakily clothed club style runners chatting about how many races they had done this month lol..
So I went to hide in my car thinking I would be way out of my depth especially with MAN FLU… Did I mention I had MAN FLU btw??
Anyway the race was about to start I finished my water like a good boy and straight away felt like the Sahara had took up residence in my throat. MP3 player on, music booming and me and Des O’ Connor were off (NOT). The first 5km seemed to fly to be honest and I hit there in 22 mins, this couldn’t hold and it didn’t I had peaked too early and the bloke I was using as my pace maker disappeared…I really now needed water as I was spitting sand as the waterfall from my nose started to flow again..
Who said running was fun??? Thankfully at the 6km point an oasis appeared, well a little girl and her Dad??? Handing out water in nice cups that when you collected them and tried to drink it went all over you and none in the mouth. If you are reading this I thank you…. I did need the two drops I managed to get down me so badly..
The rest of the race seemed to take forever up little irritating hills that sapped at your legs when all you wanted to do was sit under a tap of running water to quench the thirst…
The finish was now in sight and a young lad came alongside me to let me know if I put on a spurt I would be a sub 50 man?? So I beasted what was left in the tank and crossed the line in 49:54 I think it was, or 49:57?? Collected my medal and free water( this time in a bottle) then went back to the car in a strange mood…I was happy that I had dragged myself to the race and completed it but really hated the fact that I didn’t get to run full tilt due to MAN Flu LOL..
I plan to do a few more events between now and Feb and hope to extend the distance, 10 miler, half marathon and then full marathon.. So today I had highs and lows. But even man down I cracked 50 mins, so I really have to be happy don’t i??? Roll on next week…
Topics: Tony |