Sunday 21st of March 2010
Started the morning with two banana's, honey and milk whizzed up; along with isotonics and supplements.
Nice sunny morning in Lincoln, with a bit of a nip in the air. The Burnley clan arrive at Yarborough school two hours before the race is due to start in order to get parked.
We're one of the first there and take a stroll down to the start.
Looking at some of the people arriving, I'm feeling rather confident that I have nothing to worry about, and certainly won't be last.
From a man in a thong, to people in costumes and the forces well represented in full combats, plenty of shapes and sizes.
Stood on the line, I was bursting for the loo but had just gone 10 minutes earlier and decided it can wait for an hour.
11:00am and the siren goes for the Elite runners, slowly followed by the rest of us filtering through.
I shook my mate, Julian's hand and bid him a good race as he sped off into the distance. I started at a very steady pace good advice from others.
Running the first 3k was fairly easy and was passed by many people, but I wasn't worried about that as I'd probably catch many of them up later anyway. At the 4k mark someone was being carried into an ambulance, he could hardly stand so obviously trained hard.
At this point I was still going okay and passed the 5k & 6k markers; by this time I was really needing to go to the loo.
Just before the 7k marker a bloke in full combats and bergen passed me, fair play!! Just after that, 6 more blokes from the RAF in full combats passed me and were getting great support.
At this point,my legs were feeling really heavy and I started to get into a breathing rhythm.
If there was one thing that was hacking me off, it was a bloke running in jeans, jumper and a pair of market trainers that had been with me all the way and I couldn't get passed him; I did in the end.
Between 8k & 9k I stared to pass a some of the people who'd sped passed me at the start but the Lincoln Cathedral was now in sight and the finish line not far beyond.
On the last half mile, the crowd started to grow and I saw some friends along the way. Rounding the Cathedral, I ran on the path as the cobble stones were a nightmare.
As I ran through the arches, I was greeted by Mother & Father In-law followed by Mum screaming, flanked by Keith and family, but no Louise and kids in sight just yet.
The little rise up to the Castle was a blur and I crossed the finish line at 1 hour 6 minutes non-stop.
At this point all those long hours on the road in the cold nights of winter and on the treadmill when it snowed and pissed down with rain, all became worth it.
I filtered through the finish and sat on a bench for 5 minutes before heading out to meet Louise and the kids who'd been watching me come through on the big screen in The Lawn.
JOB DONE !!! And thanks to everyone who supported me and sponsored me. Hopefully around £500 raised all told.
I've now signed up for the Woodhall Spa 10k and looking to get back out on the road after a week's rest in order to allow my legs to recover and the stabbing pain in my right foot to get better.
Later Folks !
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