Remember You're Alive: Home Page

A great weekend and real sense of personal achievement would sum it up.
My training had gone to plan and I felt prepared. However, I felt an odd nervousness the day before and had broken sleep as I ran through my race tactics and plans - which was to stick next to the Shreky-likey for 9 miles then start running ;-))
The event had a real sense of occasion and we left to the tunes of Rocky playing in our ears ! After 4m I commented to Ian how we were being beaten by a pastie, and that this was unacceptable ! So we left the pasty behind .. eventually !
Once leaving Ian at 9m I then tried to make up some ground/time .. great plan but seemingly inpractical within the hectic roads of London - the level of congestion and inability to move past people suprised me to be honest - even at 24m it was still congested along the route.
The crowds were great and continually encouraging everyone - though I couldnt help but think - as we past a pub full of revellers enjoying an early morning pint that we'd got the raw end of the deal !
Past 16m you notice more people walking and dropping off .. theres a real urge to have a little rest yourself or walk a bit - thankfully I managed to avoid this and keep going. The last 4m coming back into central London along embankment and Whitehall give you a lift as you know you are near the finish and my 2nd quickest 5k was between 35-40k !
I finished in an official time of 4:05:54 - though I'd scrub 3 mins for Ians loo break ! I was hoping for between 4-4.15 and so given the constraints faced I was more than happy with this .. and would even consider doing the whole thing again !!
It was a great feeling running up the Mall with the end in sight with "You'll Never Walk Alone" playing on the ipod .. I finished 13,000 out of 35,000 - so in top 35% which I was happy with :-)))
It was great catching up with the girls and Ian at the end and enjoying the moment and atmosphere .. it was funny seeing the girls weary looks and hearing their greeting comments of  "Ooh, we've had a hell of a day" !!!!!
Big well done to Ian who also finished - which considering his checkered prep was bit of a miracle
The night-time was a bit of a wash-out for me as I was a right lightweight and had a near-death experience .. which provided Ian with priceless comedy value and photographic opportunities ( as I'm sure you will see from the site ! ).
Cheers
Paul