Sunday 30th March
A mile is longer than a kilometre.
Not rocket science I know, but something I became acutely aware of this morning.
Most of my training thus far has been done in kilometre denominated races: You run, every so often a sign pops up telling you which kilometre you're at. Psychologically it's quite comforting and - when you're running in kilometres - it's never too far until the next sign.
Cut to rainy Kingston at 7am on a depressingly-grey Sunday morning. In real terms it was 6am because the clocks went forward last night. Eighty-percent recovered from a knock-out bout of Winter Vomiting Illness, and after five straight days without running, I had - perhaps foolishly - decided to get back in the game at a 8.2 mile "breakfast run" in south west London.
Got off to a slow start in a bottle neck. Forced to dodge way too many obstacles in Kingston town centre (Not cool, Mr. Race Organiser). Became distressed at lack of distance sign posts. Realised a mile is a lot further to run than a kilometre, hence lack of signage. Splashed about in some mud. Ran along the river (pretty), then along the road (not so pretty). Handed free lucozade. Finished. Handed more free lucozade. Became stuck in long queue to give in bar code (Again, not cool.) And another to pickup bag (Ditto).
Maybe it was the weather or the rude early start or perhaps it was my mood or lack of health, but I didn't enjoy the Kingston run as much as I'd hoped. Granted, part of the course goes along the river and past Hampton Court Palace which is pretty, but the thrill of that is soon eroded by the drudge of running the final two-thirds of the race along major roads. Not good for the lungs or the knees. And the organisation could be better: there's no accurate timing, no clocks along the way and at the finish you're required to rip off a bar code and queue up in a funnel system so that your place in the race can be recorded. Which seemed to take forever. Bah humbug. Overtired. Going to bed.
Ran: 8.2 miles in one hour and fourteen minutes
Loot: Novelty Mug (much respect), ASICS Branded Pen, Organic Dark Chocolate, Banana, Honey and Oat Snack, LOADS of Lucozade
Really Dreadful Pictures:
www.sportcam.net/photos/0804010747/0/pv_BRE08_5193x015604.JPG
www.sportcam.net/photos/0804010747/0/pv_BRE08_5193cx013216.JPG
www.sportcam.net/photos/0804010747/0/pv_BRE08_5193x002182.JPG
Highs: Running along the river, Finishing.
Lows: Queuing to finish, grim porter loos, moody women in the bag drop, lack of proper time checks.
Ate:
Porridge with banana
Honey and oat bar (in race goody bag)
Hot cross bun
Chicken and avocado sandwich (yum)
Mint choc chip ice cream cone
Hot chocolate
Pineapple chunks
Pasta with courgette, tomato and bacon sauce
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