Tim and I headed to Havant and stayed in a B & B the night before as we didn't want the stress of driving down on the morning and getting up so early. At the B & B we were offered a full fry up but declined the temptation and decided on a bacon sarnie. Tim and I then got a train to Portsmouth to meet Dave, Lucy, Steve and Rona and then we headed to the race village. Rona's start time was earlier so she had to dash when we arrived. Dave started in started in the fast pace pen and then Tim, Steve, Lucy and I started in the pen behind. It was so cold waiting but luckily I had a top to throw away and a good old bin bag!!!
My aim for the race was getting a sub 1:30, I wasn't particularly hopeful as I haven't put the training in and also I did Cross Country the day before which was tough. Lucy also wanted to get a sub 1:30 and wanted to run with me which was great. So we headed off together and we had to dodge the runners in front to make our way through. We both waved at all the cameras in the hope of making it on the telly.
We soon reached the dockyard which was my favourite bit and was running at 8 minute mile pace which was great. To get a sub 1:30 it would of been 9 minute mile pace and was pleased we were running a whole minute under. At about mile 4 there was a loop so we could see the faster runners on the other side. We were looking out for Dave first and we worked out he would of already gone past and then we saw Tim and his yellow gloves. We both gave him a shout and a wave and managed to get his attention. Then I saw Iwan Thomas. At mile 5 we were still running at 8 minute miles and we were both doing ok and on target to get a PB and had a bit of a buffer! At around mile 7 I was getting tired but we were still under 9 minute miles. We saw a purple telly tubby and for a stretch we kept hearing look there is telly tubby!! We just had to get past we couldn't get beaten by a telly tubby!!! Between mile 7-9 was when I was tiring, Lucy kept me focus and we were picking people off, we picked men in pink Tuto's and man with a backpack. We then got to mile 9 where there was a blast of music and then jelly babies which Lucy loved!! Now we were on countdown and the end was in sight and seeing the final stretch I was able to pick up a bit and we crossed the line together. I loved the experience and it made it even more by running around with Lucy. We did amazing and I got a PB by 11 minutes and finished in 1:23:49. When we crossed the line we saw Sally Gunnell and Lucy and I stood behind her when she was being interviewed hoping we would make it on the television.
Now we had to find the others at the meeting point. Tim, Dave and Stephen were there getting changed and when I told Tim my PB he was gob smacked!!! Tim did amazing too and got his PB by 9 minutes so I had great delight in getting a bigger PB lol. Tim finished in 1:07 and Stephen finished in 1:15 and Dave finished in 59 minutes and got the times we all wanted. We now had to find Rona and heard she was in the VIP tent. Reception was really bad because of the shear number of people and we had to get her attention by standing right up at the window. Rona got us all inside and got us a meal of Shepherds Pie!!! Whilst having something to eat, Mokoko the winner was being interviewed. Mokoko is South African and Rona really wanted to meet him. So Rona, Lucy and I went out to grab Mokoko and we got our pic taken with him. Then Jo Pavey was next to be interviewed and we had a club photo with her and the same with Dame Kelly Holmes (Tim is on first names terms with her) and actually shouted out KELLY to get her attention!! This finished off the day fantastically as we were all together.
Splits
8:19, 8:16, 8:06, 8:09, 8:11, 8:10, 8:19, 8:25, 8:27, 8:34, 7:32
Distance 10:12
Time 1:23:49
