The Anniversary Run - London

Today was the Anniversary Run in London. It has been two years since the Olympic Games started in London (where has the time gone?) and to mark the occasion The National Lottery organised a 5 mile run around the Olympic Park.

I signed up as I thought it would be fun but also I must confess because organisers told us that if we competed in this years event we would get early access to sign up for next years race which would be finishing in the Olympic Stadium. That was it then....I signed up!

Post cyst removal I had not been running for 2 weeks (which was a very foreign feeling for me) and as soon as I had my stitches out last Friday I went straight for a run that evening. Despite the raging heat of 30 degrees at 6pm it did not deter me from enjoying the run. I had a training session with my trainer the next day ( a pretty harsh one I may add consisting of an 800m run followed by a 600m one followed by a 400m one followed by a 200m one.) Tired from reading that?! Imagine how it felt running it! I jest but it was fun and it was good to be back having not lost any form after a two week break. So after a big session like that my coach had said to take the run easy on Sunday and just go how I felt. Good advice and nice not to have any pressure (which I hasten to add I entirely put myself under!)

 So race morning came around and I made my way to the Olympic Park. It always fills me with lovely memories of the Olympics heading to that part of town so I was excited being at the start line just next to the stadium and under the Orbit structure.

Sir Chris Hoy was there to start the race which was nice and off we went into the park. It is quite undulating but going past the stadium, copper box, velodrome, the former athletes village (apartments for sale so perhaps I should buy one to permanently be here?!), Orbit and aquatic center made it all worthwhile. It was pretty toasty so a shower at about 3 miles in was a very welcomed treat.

Soon I was on the last mile and before long I past the 300m to go sign, 200m and then 100m. Seeing the finish line was a good feeling and I crossed the line in 24th place (out of around 5,000 I think) in a time of 30 minutes 31 seconds. Very pleased with my result and perhaps this means I may be able to get just under the 1 hour mark when I do a 10 mile race at the end of the year? Let's see when the time comes....

So a lovely day running around the park followed by a spot of retail therapy in Westfield just next door.....

Some pictures below:

A relay race

A few weeks ago (Monday 7th July) there was a mile relay race in Battersea Park.

I had heard about it as I follow the London Frontrunners running club on Facey-B and they had posted a note saying that they were putting together a few teams of three in order to enter the race. I messaged back and I was in. It was to be my last race before my operation to remove the final piece of the cyst on my back the following day which would mean I was not allowed to run for two weeks.

I turned up at the park quite nervous. My team mates were very friendly and I was then not worried about the format of the race. I hadn't realised how large an event it was and how seriously some of the other runners would take it. It did make me smile as it's hardly the Olympics!

We were all teams of three and basically had to run a mile each...fastest three teams won a medal. Looking at the seriousness of some of the teams me and my team were not focused on medals but having fun.

Battersea Park is a gorgeous place to run and being a perfect summer evening it made the event hugely enjoyable. I completed my mile leg in 5 minutes and 32 seconds which I think may be a best. Pleased with that my feelings were a little dashed when on the results list I saw a runner had been there called Tom Daley. WTF - how could I have missed him?! I tell myself that it was just a coincidence as had it been the real one I certainly would have spotted him even if I didn't have my glasses on!

After a few team photos I found a nice local tapas bar to firstly change in the toilets into more appropriate (less sweaty) evening wear and enjoy some lovely food! Definitely an event I would like to do again...any takers for making a team with me?!

Some photos below:

The next day I was up early to have one last run ahead of my operation. The operation itself didn't hurt as much as I thought it would (despite the doctor saying the pain would be "intense")?! For those interested in further photos (given how popular the previous cyst photos were) you can see below what it was like both post op with stitches and then more recently (i.e. last Friday) when the stitches are out:

The doctor says my back modelling days are over but I think we can all agree they were over prior to the scar from the operation if we are to look at what my back was like beforehand?!