Parkrun Saturday

Hi!!

Yet again I got up early to do the parkrun...quite surprised at myself for actually getting up early to do this on a Saturday!

So - got there as usual and hung around on my own waiting for the announcements and then the start - me and another woman realised we were both on our own so we started chatting - her name was Gemma.  She seemed younger than me - and looked fit - like a runner! It was her first parkrun however...she had to hang back after the annoucements as it was her first one - and I went ahead.  Off I went - struggling as usual!  After a while Gemma appeared beside me and we started running together - but I couldn't keep up with her, so I stopped briefly.  gemma however, didn't continue - she stayed with me - urging me to carry on!  I did - and the rest of the run was with her - pushing me to keep going and speed up!  God, it was hard!!  The attempt at a a sprint at the end nearly killed me!!!

I had definitely beat my time - so I rang the bell and Gemma took a pic (which she sent to me later!):

I was soooo pleased...not only did I really like Gemma - but she really pushed me, and it felt great (afterwards that is!)

She said that we had ran an average of 6:15 per km....she also said - you need to bring that down!  I was thinking - you're joking! my last best pace was 6:25 per km!  Based on the average pace I thought that we must have ran it in about 31.15 - but unfortunately the official time was 31.54.  However - still my best time EVER!

My big worry now - is that Gemma will be there again in 2 weeks - and we will meet up and run together - and I'm so scared!!!  Her pace is much quicker than mine - and I don't want to slow her down!!

I even saw somebody from taunton running club afterwards and we had a nice chat walking back to the car - and I was so happy that I finally feel that I am getting to know some people!

Gemma texted afterwards too which was nice.  So - now I need to train like crazy for the next 2 weeks to increase my pace!!

ANYWAY....after all this - I got a shower and me and Andy headed to the food festival in Taunton - which was really good!  Watched a cookery display from the chef of the amazing Indian restaurant we've been to - apparently they do cookery lessons later in teh year - so I REALLY want to do that!

We bought, pork pie, scotch egg, cider, cheese, beer, cake - and had it later for tea!  Was very good!

Played pool - watched the Eurovision song contest! lol...whilst messaging helen and paul who were watching too...there was a stage invasion during the UK song - which was rubbish anyway - and we came 3rd from the bottom as usual!!  Israel won - it was a good one!