I’d not been well for much of the 10 days in the lead up to the Didcot 5 (miles that is not km). A stomach disorder meant I’d hardly eaten anything the weekend before and I’d not slept well either due to the discomfort. I’d not been up to racing the Jericho Run 10k the previous Sunday and had taken the Monday off work, I was 3 kilograms lighter than usual by then. I felt a lot better by Friday but still had to cut my trail run short as I felt faint and weak running uphill.

On Saturday though I’d arranged to get on the mountain bike and recce the route for our section of the Real Relay with Matt. I seemed to manage that OK and we had a pleasant afternoon despite having to push through some of the muddiest bits. So I decided I was up for the Didcot 5 and settled on the plan of leaving the club vest behind and letting myself run reasonably fast while resigning myself that I may find Friday’s weakness returning with the effort and have to slow, even walk, if I felt faint or queasy.

A pleasant, if windy, ride out to the start at the Willowbrook Centre, out through Abingdon, Culham, Appleford then over a level crossing to follow a path that emerged at a roundabout in Didcot. Changed into my running shoes (I’ve not yet tried to run in my SPD cycling shoes but one day I expect I’ll forget). The start was on the other side of a playing field and it became clear that we would be finishing with a 200m dash directly into the wind.

I had found someone’s upload of the route from a previous year and it looked very convoluted, using the same stretches more than once but not in exactly the same way. I had a chat with Vince and Barry from Oxford parkrun, they commented that I wasn’t wearing club gear and I’d explained that I wasn’t expecting to run well.  The mayor started us off and sure enough a few minutes later we passed the 2 mile marker with a few groans of ‘if only’. The distinctive sound and smell of a steam engine emerged from behind the hedge and I realised we were next to the Didcot Railway Centre. The marshaling turned out to be well up to keeping us on route and I soon settled into enjoying the run along leafy cycleways I had no idea existed in Didcot just going where the smiling helpers pointed us.

Recently I’ve been running with the Garmin just showing heart rate and flashing up my pace at the end of every mile. I left it on these settings today and the first mile turned out to be about 7:30 minutes, I felt fine but eased of a bit for comfort. I had started very near the back and passed a few people but made sure not to get over excited and end up too far up the field. Soon I settled into pace focusing on an older Kidlington AC and the miles ticked by, one minute into the wind, the next with it behind, all just under 8 minutes.

My heart rate was up above 155 bpm but I felt pretty solid and was enjoying myself. A sub-40 finish seemed in the bag and, having already gained a few places at the expense of ‘gone off too fasts’, I gently passed Kidlington AC and, shortly after, Woodstock lady who had been in sight for the last few miles. Nearing the end and remembering the promised windy finish I left it at that as we turned the last hairpin and ran for the line. If I’d have known I was going to get 39:02 I’d maybe have pushed that tiny bit harder but as it was I almost joined those lying on the grass just past the line totally spent. Considering the quality of the field, it was a championship race of some sort, I was reasonably happy with 84th of 134.

There was squash at the finish and a free chocolate biscuit which I passed on. Also plenty of homemade cake but I didn’t ask if any was suitable for vegans. A fast and very well organised little race that I hope to return to. I was so pleased not to be feeling ill and weak anymore and a steady tailwind home only added to the joy. Come Tuesday my 4 mile run was back to slow and knackered but hopefully this was just residual tiredness and I’ll be able to make it round the NSPCC Half at Milton Keynes ok next weekend.