match day report May 26, 2009

some one should invent running proof make up

Had to get up at the crack of dawn to meet the team mates. Being prepared, we had checked TfL and planned our alternative route to the start in advance. Being stupid, we had not appreciated that the Jubilee line was in fact going, and this was a completely unnecessary detour. Other team members were raring to go, overdosing on lucozade, though it was very cold and no one really wanted to take their jumpers off. Got into the Glastonbury spirit early with many trips to the portaloos.

Then off to the start line, where Jeegar joined the elite athletes on the start line and the rest of us lined up many miles behind. We were live on channel five, though I hope that no one saw me. First couple of kms went fine, Rihanna saw me past the Houses of Parliament. Embankment was a bit hideous, as we were running straight into a wind tunnel and I think I must have swallowed several leaves. Then I got passed by Sally, Andy, and Liam in quick succession, as well as Batman and some clowns. So now I was near the back, with the other stragglers. Realised that Poker Face is more of a song to listen to while playing beer pong than to run to. By now I was deep in a deserted City of London, which was interesting as I do not normally go to that part of London. This was the hardest bit though, as there were hardly any spectators to cheer you on/embarrass you into running. I think it may have been at this point also that I realised that I actually walk faster than I run, which was a fairly low point. However, Gwen Stefani helped pick the mood up, as she told me that I was a super hot female, that I had wicked style, and asked me what I was waiting for several times. By now, I had picked out a helpful pacemaker and so basically copied whatever she was doing. Weirdly, though, it soon became clear that I was acting as her pacemaker too, and so this system was less effective than it might have been. After a while we had a chat: this was her first ever 10k and she was just doing it to prove that she could, which I thought was pretty awesome. I said goodbye at 9k in order to pick up the pace a bit and make more of an effort on the run in. It is sort of awful when you can see the end. Despite a sprint finish with help from Girls Aloud, I was still overtaken on the line by a lady with a 60th birthday balloon and a couple of girls doing a three legged effort.

The British record was actually broken in this race, which was cool, and Jeegar was 418 which was pretty awesome, beating some of the elite types and all the other Afrikids runners were amazing too. No one did a Paula Radcliffe which is all anyone asks. And we were all rewarded with medals and lemon flavoured raisins, which although a crime against nature were actually a lot better than they sound. If you are at all into running, I do think this is a good course to do next year: seemed a lot flatter than the British 10k.

We have now raised more than £1200 and if you can contribute at all, please visit:

www.justgiving.com/afrikids10k.

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