Longrun Parkrun

I have quite a few friends that had already taken part in the Longrun Parkrun and this Saturday my lovely Saturday running partner Ali gave me leave to take part. No amount of cajoling was going to persuade Ali to join me but as she is recovering from a chest infection she really needed to be resting.

I was very nervous on my way into town. Does anybody else worry about silly things like will there be a parking spot? I don't know why I let these small things get the better of me. Oh and will there be a loo? No of course not, and I wont need one anyway so stop adding to  unnecessary and pointless stress.  
Where do I go and where is the start? Strangely enough it will be where all the other people are heading and surely there will be marshals to ask.

As usual I quickly found people I know and we had a natter. We were called together for the usual info about Parkrunning and for a plea for volunteers to help out. Just over 200 of us headed to the start and I placed myself somewhere in the middle of the pack, on the track, no grass for me thank you. After a bottleneck right at the beginning of the run we soon spread out and the proper athletes could be seen streaking ahead. I was determined to put in as much effort as I could muster but it took a while to get my breathing under control. I hadn't run since the 10K and I was expecting this to be fairly easy. It wasn't.

We had been warned about MUD on the course and I was trotting along thinking the middling sized puddles I was jumping and dodging were fine but then I came to the MUDDY section. It was possible to see that this part of the track is in fact grass however all signs of grass was quickly disappearing under a sea of gloopy mud. I don't do MUD. I hate MUD. It squelched into my trainers. I ploughed on, literally and was very glad to get back onto terra firmer. It's not just the revoltingness of MUD that I dislike it's also that one slip and I would be on my backside, my balance being what it is cannot be relied upon to aid with such disasters. Plus my coccyx would not survive another fall.

I was so pleased to see Ali waiting on the bend that signaled the start of the second lap. I thrust my jacket at her whilst fumbling in the pocket to get my barcode. No barcode = no time. Onto the second lap. Having to lap is not my idea of fun at all and just as I got into my stride my loose lace called for attention. I knew I was putting in some good effort because as I came back up to continue running I had a dizzy. For the next few minutes this took my mind of the pain of running whilst I pondered over the dizzy spell and prayed it wouldn't develop into anything more sinister.

I took right to the edge of the slippy section in the hope of getting some grip on the mangled grass. This second lap hurt. It was hard. I was seriously wondering why on earth I do this running malarky. I so wanted to walk. I didn't walk. I  kept going, I couldn't catch anybody, I couldn't overtake. Not strictly true, I did pass a few parents with their young children but they quickly regained their places ahead of me. I don't think I managed to pass anybody the whole way round!

Finally the end was nigh, sprint finish? Not today, not an ounce of anything left in the tank. So Mr Higham I must have put in all the effort on the run? I joined the queue with my number, 168 out of 200 or so. Ali came to my side and congratulated me. I felt sick. I vowed never to do another run again.

I had no idea the lovely Mrs Higham was behind me, and she joined Ali and me as we were talking to her family. If only I had known she was there I could have run with her. The best bit  for me about Parkruns is the lovely table of stats they produce. I could be pleased to say I came thirteenth for my age group however I have no idea how many of us were in that age group! I also know that I ran at 49% for  my age, not quite sure how this works but I know I was in a fairly good place on the table but there is room for improvement.

Driving home and I had already changed my mind about running again. Of course I will. I've even volunteered to sort the number counters after a parkrun next month! Will I get Ali to join me? Of course I will!