10k finish line!

Just did my first ever 10km race today and I'm very proud of myself as I was seriously contemplating withdrawing in the last few weeks. I'm glad I went ahead and did it, and in a better time than I expected.

I officially started training on 1st Jan... It was a new year's resolution. Running was the one sport I could never do... A personal trainer once told me that I was rubbish at running as I didn't know how to breathe!

Anyway, before I started on 1st Jan, I was one of those people who could barely run continuously for 1 min. I followed the fantastic NHS Couch to 5km podcast programme which promised to get me running for 5km or 30 minutes in 9 weeks. I surprised myself and completely stuck to it and got into the habit of running three times a week and during the final week, I was running more than 30 minutes each time and I finished the programme on 1st March. I was on track.

Then work got super busy and I barely did any exercise and definitely no running for almost 6 weeks. Then we had works start on our house which finished just 10 days ago. So training just didn't happen. Between 1st March and this week, I had gone for a total of 3 runs and 2 gym sessions. It wasn't looking good for the 10km which is why I was planning on withdrawing.

But four days ago, I decided to try the route out to see if I could walk/run it within the 1 hr 45 min time limit and I did manage it (not by much!). Could barely walk after.

So I went ahead with today, with my only goal to not finish last and get swept up by the sweeper bus. And I did it! And 15 minutes faster than I had thought.

It was a fabulous experience and very inspiring to see all those people taking part. And it was amazing having complete strangers cheer you on!

Husband is in the half marathon tomorrow and I'll be cheering him and everyone else on.