Runner number 455

Three and half years ago I hauled my body around the marathon course in London...running, walking, crawling and nearly crying.

Over the last 12 months running has become more of a passion for me and nowadays I enjoy lacing up the trainers a couple of times every week to blow off any cobwebs and clear the mind. Today I stood at the start of the Hoylake 10k with a personal best in mind and a slightly unrealistic hope that a sub 40 minute time might be getting nearer. At half way it still was, although I knew that the early race pace and searing sun would have it's say before the race was out. I gave the lungs a chance to recover and gathered myself for the final kilometre even managing a sprint finish inspired by the encouragement of the crowd and the hope that my two little uns would be cheering me in. I crossed the line gasping for oxygen before stopping the watch.

The positives: a new personal best by over 3 minutes and the knowledge that sub 40 minutes is now well within reach. The negatives: the speedy time meant that the boys missed it all and were left wondering why daddy was so sweaty!!