I always thought I'd be a grown up when I grew up

Next time I have a bloody stupid idea, somebody remind me about this one.

On the bright side, being unable to breathe meant I couldn't run fast enough to make my legs ache too badly.

Anyway; round about 1 hour 19 mins, less whatever time the clock was showing by the time I got across the start line. Not bad, considering. It's not too late to sponsor me (please?). I might not have been caught on camera (at least, not the bits the BBC showed) but I did get my name & corset mentioned in the scrolling banner along the bottom of the screen (at about 5.15, on top of a bloke in a Pink Panther costume...).

It rained, lots. I'm very glad I was with the Marie Curie people, and had a tent to stand in beforehand, and that I'd got changed at the gym and so had access to a hot shower and hairdryers (very useful for drying out squelchy socks).

The course had been tweaked slightly from when the maps were sent out; I didn't have to run past Bentley, but instead Bauer Millett around 100 yards from the finishing line. Any further back & I'd have stopped to lick the window; there was a Morgan Roadster (not to mention the red Corvette) behind all the crowds...

If I keep this gym lark up, I'd like to aim for an hour next year (without corset).

The instructions & map for the Great Manchester Run arrived today.

1. I'm in the pink wave. Orange is first, for world champions and serious runners, then white for almost serious, then green for fit people, then pink for those who might fall over & litter the route. Pink! Bah.

2. I have to run, near enough, from my office to vulgarcriminal's, via the Man U stadium, and back again. Holy crap.

3. PINK!

4. The route goes past Bentley Manchester twice. I'm supposed to keep running and not stop to press my nose up against the window & rub around the ankles wheel arches of the display models. Sheer, unadulterated, cruelty.


Should anyone want to come & cheer me on, I'll be geting changed in the office then meeting up with the rest of the Marie Curie team in their marquee in Albert Square until about 10.15. There's rom to watch by the side of the route, a big screen will be set up, and I'll be carried back to the Marie Curie tent afterwards. I'll grab a shower at the gym, but then lunch would be nice if anyone's interested in meeting up.

And the Beeb are showing it, later that night I think. I doubt I'll show up in the actual race footage, since I'll be starting after most of the first wave has finished, but there are always a few shots of "runners of all ability" (read: unfit nutters). And I'll put money on being the only one there in a steel boned corset...