Baltic Wharf - The Run
No more car alarms in the night but I did manage to knock over my water. Only my magazine got wet though. My turn for Misty so I fed her and put the kettle on before we walked over to the dog postage stamp. As it’s near the gate I was able to see that there were already stewards and cones I place. The run will go right past the site on the opposite side to the wharf. No exit or entry here till 3pm.
Chris and Ian were in full race mode from moment one. All stretching and porridge. Tape, bandages, gel and sun cream were all applied with vigour. There was more stretching and lots of trips to the loo, until about 10am they were ready to depart.
They would be meeting Vicky at the start, if she is real and not mythical. Chris, being quick, would be in the first wave. Vicky and Ian, being slow, in the last. This has been a real bone of contention as Ian feels he must have put down the wrong expected time and should be in wave one too! Not that Chris has been making fun of him or anything.
After they had left Misty and I settled down to write this blog. We also opened up the AJ Bell tracking app. This turned out to be a very smart move. It was brilliant! You could see more or less exactly where all three of the were on the course. Soon, Kathy and Heather were stalking them all too. It was particularly good for me as I could pop to the site entrance, where they would run past, at the exact time it happened. So that is exactly what I did.
Chris came past first, being in the first wave and all.
As you can see, photos were tricky, what with trying to hold Misty and avoid all the randomers crossing in front. Ian was next.
Then Vicky flew past last. I do have two daughters!
After Vicky had gone by, Misty and I headed over to the finish line. But the fates were against us. It took an age to drag Misty there in the heat. Then the finish was heaving, and with no internet or phone signal and the lack of a designated meeting place , I could not find anyone. So I just dragged Misty back to Dame Shirley again. Eventually, Ian, Vicky and Alex arrived, triumphant and with medals. This is what had transpired.
Chris had set off in that first wave, had a good but very hot run, and finished in 1.41. He was happy with that in the heat,his friends, Toby and Kirsty with baby Cecily, and Jamie and Amy, had come along to cheer him on. Afterwards he met them for a course side burger from where they all cheered Ian and Vicky on.
Ian had wanted too get right to the front of his wave, but even with his pointed elbows had no chance. He lamented the slowness of the start but eventually got into his running. He finished in 2.05, and miraculously found Alex at the finish.
Vicky had not even tried to get to the front, and had paced herself nicely. She did find herself flagging at the end and managed a huge blister on the bottom of her foot. She finished in 2.22. She also managed to find Alex at the finish.
They stopped for crepes at a little hut in the way back. Then headed back to me.
All three said they saw loads of people collapsing and being dragged off in ambulances. The consensus was that it had been a hard one.
Chris returned a bit later after waving his friends off, and after a while Vicky and Alex returned to his flat to shower. We all showered and got our glad rags on to head up the hill to the Lost and Found, where we would all be eating. I did like the ambience of this restaurant, I also was very keen on the food, I had chicken. Sorry, I forgot the requisite photo. But my cocktail, a Victoria Society. was one of the best I have ever had.
We said our goodbyes and rolled back down the hill to dame Shirley, where we did the pub quizzes. I forget who was mastermind of the week, but we did well on the Sunday one. Then it was time for bed, it had been a long day.
Neighbour watch
The daughter of the miserable family had run the 10k and I was trying to make eye contact to congratulate her. In the end I just yelled across. The family just dosen’t want to mix.
The two gay men left a bag of rubbish out overnight. The crows found it and the woman on the pitch next to them had to clean up the mess. She made sure to tell them about it when they appeared.
What an experience for you all. I’m glad you didn’t have to get taken a way in an ambulance .
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