This post is a little overdue in going live but you know what they say – better late than never! It was an 8am start for this 10K so I was up early to greet the day.
My daughter and visiting son-in-law were running too.
We set off from Paphos castle and headed behind the harbour restaurants and into the town. My second 10K in a week – I was feeling so chuffed and my goal was to try and come in just under last week’s time of 1hr 14 minutes. I set off cautiously, letting most runners disappear into the distance as usual. I’ve learnt that it’s really important not to ignore the compulsion to keep up with them; if I do that I’ll just end up crashing out of the race before long. I deliberately focus anywhere except on the departing legs in front of me.
As I reached 3K a chap ahead appeared to be struggling and pulled off the road to lean into the bushes. As I drew level with him he suddenly straightened up and jogged off but a kilometre on I came across him hunched on the side of the road again.
I stopped. ‘Are you okay? What’s up?’
He waved me on, ‘Go, go…Too. Much. Beer.’
I hesitated but decided to go on. I wasn’t quite sure what to do; I’d never leave anyone who needed help but he was very keen for me to go on. Basically, he just wanted to empty his stomach with no fuss.
My watch buzzed 7km and shortly after my energy level plummeted and it was all I could do to keep shuffling along. Why do I always feel an overwhelming urge to stop at 7-8km? Nearly there and I seem to lose all focus. Hell, from here I could even hear the strains of the band at the finish line. Of course, once you spot your family and friends you have to dig deep and just keep going. Just so they don’t realise you’re about to keel over.
1 hour 9 minutes.
