Parkrun # 8

On Saturday I left my camera behind when I did my 5km Parkrun. It was quite strange and twice on the walk (between the 3rd and 4th kilometer marker) I tripped over a pebble. I put this down to not being balanced...

LOL! 

I also had a couple of men, who passed me after the 2nd kilometer, ask where my camera is...

Nevertheless, before the event I had my camera ready and took several photos. 

Yip, I photographed a cat

The resident cat was intent on making friends with this young lady

The volunteers who had done a full 5km circuit already, chatted together

A young family waiting for the start

Diane, head-honcho of the local Parkrun and Chereen set up the banners

Grant arrives chatting to one of the volunteers, Pieter

Pieter, Chereen and Naomi were volunteers this week. Pieter's wife, Pamela - in front of him - took part in the race. Some weeks she volunteers and he does the event  

A group of visitors arrive to join the run

Now, because I didn't time myself ON the run, I won't give you a blow-by-blow account. On the dam wall, on the way to the 3km marker, I looked down and called to Anthony and Jenny. They were coming up with a great speed. 

On the last 800m stretch, a lady overtook me. As she passed, she said: Thank you! You have been my inspiration all the way! 

Just after this,  I heard footsteps pounding behind me. As the runner passed, I thought I recognized her. Sure enough, although we didn't speak, I saw it was Jessica, my beauty therapist here in the Valley. 

As I handed my card to Chereen, Pieter clocked me in. He was already clicking the person behind me so when I asked what my time was, he said 47 minutes and 04 seconds.

Oh dang! 

At the finish, Jessica and Anthony replenish their water intake

I stood and chatted with Jessica and Anthony. She said, from the beginning she had her eye on me: my blonde hair sticking out above my peak and my neon yellow top beckoning her. Her main aim was to catch up and pass me: which she did. Anthony laughed and said: he always keeps me in sight and is still aiming to pass me. 

Jessica's son, Matthew and daughter Mica, walked with their dad, (grey T-shirt)

Anthony had another appointment (where his brother John already was) and asked me to excuse him to Grant and Alan who were still coming.  

I walked back about 1km and saw Grant and Alan (our 86 year old hiking partner), coming along already. They were making much better time than Grant and John normally make.

Grant and Alan solving the problems of the world as they walk!

Alan left his stick at home and still managed to walk strongly

Hard to believe that in November, Grant was unable to walk 80 (eighty) meters without collapsing. Here he enters the home stretch of the 5km Parkrun walk 

Grant finished NINE minutes quicker than last week - 1 hour 9 minutes. While Alan had his first personal best at 1 hour 10 minutes. 

When we arrived home, Grant checked our results which had arrived in my e-mail: 

My time? 

46 min 53 sec ! 

  Whoo-hoo! 

A new personal best, according to the Parkrun chart. 

A whole three seconds shaved off my previous best time of 4 February! 

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here