Running on empty ...

Tonight was the County's fitness test at Princess Mary's.

This was what the Fat Lad and I had been training for all summer. He had made the distance on just one occasion in training and dropped out after 3 laps on Monday (our last practice). I had recognised my limitations as my base fitness level when we started training was much lower, so all I wanted to do was to run as far as I could.

We had quite a few other local representatives with Captain Korma, Chewitt, Perry Mason, Marine Boy and the Fireman all trying out the 12 minute run and sprints. I'm pleased to say that they all did very well without any failures. The Fat Lad managed 2510m and ground to a halt at the same time as the clock stopped for 12 minutes. Chuckle Elder had run the last lap and a half with him to drag him through the line. He did this again in the next group and we had other referees from higher levels doing the same thing, even though they were wearing normal street clothes!

I was close to tears as I ran across to where Fat Lad had sat down. I was so pleased for him and this was the result we'd both been aiming for when we started this little venture. He managed the two sprints without too much trouble, apart from a little strain in the first run.

I saw some other colleagues from across the County manage their 12m/2500m target and the sprints so the County have a broad range of ages and experience to consider when the successful runners are assessed over the next few months.

And so to my run ... I had no illusions when I set off around the track. It was very good of Mr Steve and Deefor to let me run considering I hadn't applied for promotion. I started steadily enough with a 1m50s lap and had completed just over 800m in 4m. This was a good pace. As the clock ticked down I just kept on running and breathed steadily and easily for three laps, but then fatigue kicked in. I had Fat Lad, Mrs Fat Lad and junior Fat Lad on one side of the track, along with a few colleagues cheering me on. On the other side I had young Banno and Tommy D shouting me on. Also at the finish line Mr Steve kept telling me I had an ever increasing time still to run (it made me smile!).

With all that encouragement there was no way I was going to stop. Around 1min from the end, I found some extra pace, junior Fat Lad and CE joined me and dragged my fat backside around the track, so I finished with 2120m completed. It was a new personal best for me and psychologically I had broken the 2100m barrier meaning I was less than 1 lap short of the 2500m target.

So it's back to training on Monday but it will be a simple recovery session following tonight's exertions and the two games, Fat Lad and I have scheduled for the weekend. I am so, so chuffed for the Fat Lad (and all the other lads from my RA). Now we push on to get me to pass next year but my little trip to the hospital this morning might just put paid to all that ...