Perth 10k

Last Sunday myself, Neil and two of my friends from Southampton, Nick and Hannah, headed up to do the Perth 10k. It was a nice sunny day but it was blowing a gale! The race starts off on the track at Perth Grammar School, we run a couple of laps and then follow the river before doing a couple of laps of the Inch. Part of the Inch was fairly sheltered, but as soon as we turned back it was like hitting a brick wall. I felt strong from the start and decided to start off steady and try and maintain it, rather than go off too fast like I usually do!

The course was really scenic and the marshals were very encouraging. I had wondered what position I might be in, when one of the marshals told me I was third lady. I could see 2nd just ahead of me (as well as Nick) so I tried my best to close them both down, but they were just out of reach. I came through in a PB of 41min 36 seconds, which was unexpected and I was really pleased with.
Nick came in just ahead in 41:32. Neil also got a huge PB by 3 minutes, coming in at 43:35!! A great run from Hannah too, who is coming back from injury. I think they may well have been the only Southampton AC runners to have run the Perth 10K.
After the race we headed into Perth for a well deserved pub lunch! What a great race! I'm now feeling confident for my attempt at a PB in the Wolverhampton Half Marathon this weekend!

Edinburgh Parkrun #4

On Saturday morning I headed down to Cramond with Neil, and a couple of Neil's friends up from London to have a go at the parkrun. It had been 5 months since the last time we did one, and with a frustrating summer of injury I was interested to see how I would get on.

I started off a bit far back in the pack and was frustratingly boxed in for the first few 100metres, but once I got a gap I managed to get in a good fast couple of first kilometres. They felt pretty easy, perhaps I hadn't lost as much fitness as I thought?! Neil was running just behind me, and I was pretty confident he'd be on for a PB today!

As we approached the corner to head back down the promenade, it became clear why the previous 2.5km had felt easy - it was the strong wind pushing us along which we were now having to run against on the way back. The next couple of km's were just a push to the end. I still felt fairly good, and was pleased to go sub 20, in 19:55 (4th woman). Neil was close with a big PB of 20:30. And Duncan and Sapna also both had PBs, so a successful morning all round!
Off to Falko for a German style breakfast and the morning was complete :-).
Now looking forward to the Perth 10k this coming weekend.