Unfortunately, 5 weeks out of training after my foot injury meant I just wasn't fit enough to run it all, and the scorching sun didn't help. But, I did it in about 42 mins, and I reckon I jogged at least half of it. There was a stonking big up hill for most of the second km, so I'm far from convinced that I'd have been able to run it all anyway. I definitely gave it all I could today, but 42 mins is certainly up for beating as my pb!
I've learned a few things, too.
1. Don't wear shoes without socks on a really hot day the day before a race/run, no matter how comfortable they've been in the past. Swollen and sweaty feet with no socks means rubbed raw heels and blisters. Really not a good state to start a run in.
2. If you're going to try to avoid long queues on the way to a race by taking the back route, either take satnav or a map, don't rely on your memory. Do have the sense (as I did, thankfully), to give up and go back to the main road when you realise you are thoroughly lost.
3 (and most importantly). Jogging/walking 5km on a scorching hot day, making yourself very nearly sick in the process, is not something I'd ever have thought could be fun, but I've discovered it really can be, and crossing that finishing line feels damn good
I'm going to do it again next year, and next time I'm going to jog it all, even that hill.
