Completed my first 10k in 1hr 7mins. I am well chuffed with that little result.

I was a nervous wreck this morning – left the house without my water bottle. Luckily, due to the fact that I left the house so early to make sure I got there on time (I hate being late) I had time to go back and get it.

Still got there in plenty of time – with an hour before the start Found car park easy, and started to walk to the starting area. Then realised I had left my water bottle in my car. Got it then proceeded to walk around and waste time before the start. Mainly visiting the toilet – on one of my earlier visits to the loo – left my water bottle hooked inside the toilet door on the coat hook – thankfully the loos were quiet so no one else had been in. I think I was in that loo about 5 times in that hour – I am a wreck – what the heck am I going to be like on my half mara.
Waiting at the start, biting my nails, nice bloke told me to calm down and smile – my angst must have been etched across my face!!

Anyway headed off, nice and easy. It takes me a couple of miles to settle my breathing down, so didnt mind being passed several times. The sun was scorching – so now regretting wearing base layer t-shirt under my vest – but thankful have sunglasses. after 3k the heavens opened and the wind would have cut you in two – now glad of base layer t-shirt. Rain and wind continued until until 6k – then the sun broke through and was scorching again – talk about all the seasons in one day.

When I got to 7k, I realised I was at quite a comfortable pace – so decided to push it and upped my pace then I starting taking over some of the people who had passed me earlier on – good feeling that one.

Finished with a wee sprint – which I have never managed before – and because it was a smaller field than my previous events – the bloke even read out my number and called out my name – so that was a bit bizarre.

Good day definitely. I did then proceed to get lost trying to get out of Paisley and passed the race start point about 3 times before finally geting on my way.

My next 10k is in a few weeks – so need to put the pressure on to get a real PB on that one now!

Shirley Ann Duncan

This entry was posted on Monday, August 28th, 2006 at 10:00 am and is filed under Race Diaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.