Another stitch and a runny nose

Good morning, just, it's coming up to 12 midday. I'm back from the Parkrun so I thought I would write an update. I must admit I was in two minds whether to go or not. I was up and out of bed just after 7am, and had coffee and toast for brekkies. Still I thought, should I really bother with this, then in a last minute decision I said to myself, just get on with it. I gathered the few bits and bobs needed, money for shopping afterwards, keys, phone, and bar code, and put them in my money belt. Dash upstairs to change into shorts and teeshirt, rush out the door and find I have not put my hearing aid in. Oh bother, it's 8.37am and I need to be gone. Rush back into the house and try and remember where I put said hearing aid, one of three places. Looked at my watch, shall I not bother, still in two minds. Oh stuff it, just go.

I got there with two minutes to spare, and joined the back of the crowd. I have tried starting in the middle, and in the front, but I find I do better at the back, not so much of a crush, let the other athletes stride ahead. I had a bit of a chat with the man next to me before we got the signal to go. Then once the countdown went down to zero we were both off and I never saw him again. I can't talk as I am running round, preferring to concentrate on my breathing and where my feet are landing. I vary my stride according to how I feel and the surface I am running on. Most of it is on tarmac with a twiddly bit through the woods. Most of it is flat, with one slight incline and one long stretch downhill.

At the halfway mark a volunteer steward was standing with his electronic timing gadget, he shouted 16 minutes something as I passed. That made me think maybe I have a chance of beating my personal best if I can keep up the pace for the second lap. I had forgotten to check my watch when I started, so hearing that time for the first lap gave me a bit of a boost.

The stitch came and went and I dabbed the dribbles from my nose with a tissue, and kept on going. I have a little smile to myself when I am running along looking at all the different shapes and sizes of bottoms. Some try and disguise them with baggy clothes, that's me, I don't like people staring at my @rse. Even as skinny as I am, I still have wobbly bits. Then there's folks who don't give a hoot and wear the tightest most brightly coloured lycra they can find.

After checking back in with my bar code, I sat in my car and ate a banana and had a drink. Then a quick pop into town for a few bits, and a pop into the Cash and Carry on the way home. I got ten packets of noodles for £1.

The results are up on the Parkrun web site and I scrolled down looking for my name. What was my time? Yippeeeeee, I have another personal best. 34 minutes 40 seconds. I beat a previous time by only 4 seconds, not much, but hey, it's going in the right direction. If only I could find out how to avoid the dreaded stitch, I could do a lot better.

Right, it's time to get up and go out. I've got some walking to do now, so boots needed for this. I'm helping Helen deliver the parish newsletters in her village. There will be a few miles covered there then. All good exercise.

Have a nice Saturday. Toodle pip.

Bye the way, it was a good party last night. I limited myself to one drink, had a veggie pie and peas with a pudding to follow, and had smashing chats with some lovely people.