Hi Monika (yes, revealing times is revealing real identity!), well, we must have run alongside at some point. The only runner I can vividly remember is this older guy who had a bit of a noisy style: he spent most of the second loop behind me, would produce an effort by huffing and puffing, to en extent that I had the impression that a steam engine was coming from behind, then pass me and slow down, so I would pass him again, and then he would start to huff and puff again. He did it at least 3 or 4 times, and after a while I could not hear him anymore, so I think he's the guy over 60 who finished 1 minute behind me. Noisy, but I wish I can run like he does when I am over 60. You must have come accross him as well! So, I can see your disappointment but I also detect a determined individual who will now train this bit harder a do a cracking time in your next race.
Hi DT2 (Darren!), well, thanks for your encouraging words, I was a bit disappointed just after the finish, but on reflection, I think I was just a tad too ambitious, and it is actually not such a bad result. I only started to train on my own early March, entered the Kingston breakfast run and was encouraged by my time, went on to do a 10 miles in Maidenhead, which was a nightmare, so decided to give a go at 10k. So, slowly building up some experience. Last time I entered races was as a student in the South of France, with no training and sometimes heavy partying the day before. And we could still get to the finish line - ha, those were the days!
Well, anyway, thank you all for helping to set the atmosphere before the race, I do not know what will be my next challenge, but I'll certainly enter the Kingston 8.2 miles in September/October, and hope to do a few 10k between now and then. And a few parkruns in Bushy Park.
