Park Run

Ran the Park Run at Silverknowes on Saturday.  I was aiming for a PB which I didn't get, but I ran 21:52 and was 18 seconds faster than last week so that's good.  It's better to compare myself to last week than to last year.  It was 26th June 2013 when I ran a 21:27 and that remains the target.

Some thoughts on the Park Run...

1. The highlight was being overtaken by a guy pushing a buggy.  He later stopped to put the dummy back in the baby's mouth or something, and started running again and I still didn't catch him.  Good effort by the buggy baby guy.  Kata thinks that people pushing buggies should be made to run at the back 10 minutes after everyone else.  I second that motion. 
2. I ran wearing earphones.  I still think that helps.  The right music pushes me on.  I still think it's rude to wear earphones during a race, but I do't consider Park Run to be a proper race :-)  I think at a race where it's a big coming together of people sharing in one event, you should participate and play the game, not stick in earphones and run on your own.  It's just my opinion - still music helps. 
3. I need to work on speed.  I was running well again up unit about 4.5km and I felt strong.  I upped the pace to try to put in a good time and I felt really sick.  Couldn't breathe and kept coughing.  Much the same as last week but much much worse.  I was practically walking at the end.  I had to stick close to the fence at the edge so as I had somewhere off track to vomit if I needed to quickly.  One of the marshals asked if I was alright and then joked I had "too many red wines last night" which was ironic as for once I hadn't been drinking the night before!  :-D  Need to work on speed.  
4. Running is Marxist!  When I parked the car, the car in front was a Porsche 911.  I saw the girl that got out of the car later in the race (I overtook her - easier on foot than in the car) and she was wearing the same manky trainers and Nike/Adidas/Brooks/Ronhill/whatever gear as every other person running the race.  When running everyone looks the same and is doing the same thing.  You can't tell if someone is an investment banker or a chimney sweep.  Some runners will have gone to the opera that evening and some will have gone to Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie.  But for the duration of the race everyone was the same.