Session: Women’s & Girls’ fun run
Distance: 5km (+ 1km warm up)
Time: 24.24min
Av pace: 4:50min/km
Cals: 293
Weather: windy, overcast; 15.9*c at 9am (felt like 13*c)
Sleeps to marathon: 42
Oh my lawd, it’s lucky no-one saw me get out of bed this morning – slowly and with a certain amount of stiffness in the legs and lower back. Hmmm, running 5km seemed like a huge ask after such a long run yesterday. But I was part of the MamaMoves team led by the awesome Michelle so there was no thought of wussing out. Suck it up honey 
However after breakfast and coffee I felt a little more mobile. At Stage 88 where the run would start, I caught up with other MamaMoves team members for a pre-run photoshoot and then Ruth, Margaret and I set off on a short warm up run. Omg, the legs did not want to cooperate and the back was protesting at this point.
The run itself wasn’t so bad. I had made up my mind just to suck it up and tough it out. After all what’s 5km?! Quite a long way actually when you’re tired…..however I was surprised to still have some get up and go in my legs. The run out toward the Carillion wasn’t helped by the wind but it did make me appreciate the return trip. The final hill that seems to go on forever did hurt. I do recall saying to Mr B (who was spectating) at this point “just shoot me now!” Finally, though, the finish line came into sight and I crossed in….24.24min. The fact that I ran the 5km under 25min was a bonus as I seriously thought it would be a very slow run.
Certainly not my fastest 5km but a satisfying one, given what I had done the day before. 
After many barrel draws (no, I didn’t win anything) and announcements of winners and place getters overall and by age group (a shout out to Michelle who came 2nd and did a massive PB on that course), I enjoyed a delicious brunch with my 2 favourite people, Ruth and Mr B, at Black Pepper cafe.
“It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit.” – George Sheehan
A good next day run, well done. Congrats to the team.
Thanks Steve. I wouldn’t recommend backing up after a long run by doing a 5km event though. It’s not much fun!
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Great run CJ, You were well up in the field of course.
Thanks Geoff, I’m happy with my run given how I was feeling.
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