Romsey 5, 2018

This was my first proper run in nearly two weeks, after suffering from a January bug that threw a great series of pestilences; fever, then a sore throat, then uncontrollable 50-a-day coughing fits and finally great hanky-filling quantities of dreadful orange-green slime.  Despite being a wonderful patient, not running, or doing anything terribly interesting, was making me despair.

And then this morning the Lovely Mrs S and and I found ourselves in Broadlands park for the Romsey 5, a race I'd last done in 2016.  Mrs S was also returning to racing after knee trouble, so we were both thrilled to be there.  It was a mild morning, the sun was threatening to peep through, and the atmosphere was terrific.

A small warm-up confirmed that I remembered how to run (part of me was doubtful), and after saying hello to lots of familiar faces we were off.

I was a bit foolish.  I had planned to go off nice and sensibly for the first mile, and take it from there.  But no, I went off at a proper race pace, clocking my first km at 3:35, and found myself with Kath Bailey and Alan Graham, two of my adversaries.  I stayed with them for the first two laps, but by 5k I was starting to lose it.  My legs were fine, but my poor lungs were struggling to keep up and I panted for the remainder of the race, hanging on by my fingernails.

In 2016 I had had a great finish, taking Kath out in the final furlong.  This time, both Alan and Kath were some way ahead, and I heaved over the line in 30:24.

What a terrific local race!  900 runners, very efficient and friendly organisation, super atmosphere.

This was not a great performance.  I had set off fast and steadily deteriorated over the 5 miles, finishing around 70 seconds slower than last time.  But I was delighted.  In the context of the the last awful 2 weeks, it was wonderful to get my legs, lungs and heart moving again.  Spring is in the air, and the game's afoot.