Park Run

Very first park run. Rhodes Sydney. 

Standing around before with Marcus and James and I asked about starting order. Indeed the fast start first but they explain there are people who walk and others that push prams. There's a smattering of kids. You know those very fit 10 year olds. Identifiable because they are wearing tee shirts with a 10 on the back. 

A young lady gathers an audience of newbies including me and explains the course which is a 1k loop followed by a 2k out and 2k back. 

I make my way towards the prams. 

And we are off. The croud stretching away in front of me. I'm working on a race plan here. Keep it smooth. 

The 1k loop is over and I've not needed the defib. 

Not long after as I'm on the 2k outbound stretch and through the rain I hear my name called and it's Marcus on his way back. A few minutes later and my name again. I look wildly round and manage to focus momentarily to see James also almost home. I plod on. 

I realise there's two girls in bright gear proclaiming some running club walking but I'm not getting any closer. I try to get out of the plod snd get a bit of spring. That improves things a bit and the gap starts to close. The path divides and I assume we are nearing the turn around. Alas no. It's just a corner. Finally pass the girls. And more finally the turnaround. Lucklily I notice most of the fit 10yearolds are teathered to old blokes.  Unfortunately exhausted and the plod returns. I Walk a bit and jog some more a couple of times. Then I see some figures running toward me. It dawns this is Marcus and James. They escort me home. Gone are any further thoughts of walking. 

Now as I walk the legs are wobbly.

Frank 229th in 38:08
Marcus 12th in 20:15
James 56th in 23:59