Blackheath Race for Life 5k

So, Sunday 4th July saw the Blackheath Race for Life. I was originally planning on doing the 10k, as part of the build-up to half-marathon and to try to improve on my Bupa 10k time, but I ended up doing the 5k with the lovely Holly, Kath and Kath’s lovely Aunty Kathy. In hindsight, I’m glad I only did the 5k as it was so damn hot at even 11.00am, I think the 10k at 2.00pm would have killed me!

The race took place on Blackheath Common – my ‘home ground’ so to speak. We had to hang around a little while for the crazy warm-up – I think it’s good that they lead people through it, but most people who genuinely want to run will do their own warm-ups, I think. Though, I’m being a killjoy because I dislike looking stupid when doing aerobics. Places gathered, myself with the runners, Holly in the joggers and Kath and Kathy in the walkers, we were all ready to rock.

Runners moved over the line fairly quickly – I was forced back a bit and crossed the line about 17 seconds after the clock started, but that’s ok. I was also timing myself anyway. The course was quite bumpy and I tried to focus on a steady pace as I wanted to run the whole way round. I often run in the evenings when it’s a tad bit cooler, so running in 27/28 degree heat was a little bit of a first for me! I think the heat got to a lot of people, but it was crazy that a lot of the ‘runners’ were walking by about 500m! They should have gone off with the joggers, or at the very least moved to the side to let the runners get by. That isn’t me being competitive – it’s also health and safety! When people stop dead in front of you, it’s very easy to bang into them and then take ages trying to get round!

The KM markers seemed a bit random. Apparently the first KM took me seven and a half minutes, but then I’d hit the second one by thirteen and a half, the third by twenty, the fourth by twenty five seventeen and then rocked home in thirty forty nine! I think the first KM was a very long one and the last two were pretty short!

I was quite pleased with my time, especially in that heat, but I did really want to go sub-30. I’m going to a Park Run soon and I’m confident I’ll do it in that. The Race for Life events are great – really feel good and it’s amazing that so many people are together trying to achieve so much – but it’s no good if you want a clear run! But, that’s the competitiveness in me coming out, I think. I reckon I lost a minute trying to weave around people, so who knows?

Holly did really well – like me, she is going to do a marathon next year, but has done no training yet. She finished in about 41 minutes, doing jogging and walking, but mostly jogging. We managed to give her a wave at 4.5km, then went to meet her at the finish before going back to give Kath and Kathy a wave as they walked by. They finished in around an hour – but they were walking. Kath looked fab in her pink themed outfit! Pictures on my Facebook – but will post them here later.

It was a great day and I’m so happy that we all did well and especially that Kath and Kathy were able to enter the day before – Kath, your mum was raising a glass to you, wherever she is

Love you, girlies x