Run > Race

10st 2 1/4 day before race. The strangest race? Kathryn attempting to qualify for England vest and needing to run sub 2.30 but she'd been ill much of week. Sent home from work Wednesday. Undecided whether we should run but went anyway. Most of night prior to race was worried that she wasn't well enough. Soon as alarm went off I told her I didn't think she should run - and she agrred! Said we'd have a quiet morning and then go home, but she wasn't having that and insisted that I should still run. Reluctantly agreed but then decided it would be better if she was with me so said she should run with me. We set off steady pace and were just below asking rate but having already negotiated the steepest hill I though we could make it up. Then at 3 miles she announces she's stopping. Didn't know what to make of that but she said she was going to run back to finish. I said I'd go back with her but she says I have to carry on! So I'm now towards back of field and set off getting to finish asap. Overtook loads and was hardly overtaken at all. Past lots of young people. Heat was pretty brutal. Lots laid out on side of roads. Narrow in places and got stuck behind 2.20 pace runners on really narrow section. So hot that during race at different points poiured 3 full bottles over my head. Phone didn't like it but kept going past people especially on steep hills towards end. I was running 11.18 pace when I dropped Kathryn off and ended up doing 10.30 pace. Was delayed a couple of times when unable to tear top off my gels. Even asked for help on a drinks station and a lad couldn't do it. Must get Maurtens in future. 3613/5902. 2530/3582 gender. 6/14 age group. Laps 11.17, 10.55, 11.40, 10.06, 10.03, 10.40, 10.13, 9.58, 10.13, 10.22, 11.02, 9.52, 10.08