It's 5 January 2019 in Stratford, and I am running my first 10k of the year. The treadmill has been replaced by the park near the Olympic Stadium and people out on their morning stroll stare aghast at why anyone would put themselves through running on a cold Saturday morning. I am in a small group of runners near the front of the race, and I can hear their various rates of breathing; some people are huffing and puffing, whilst others have a more even breathing pattern. Whilst we hurtle around the course and down to the River Lea, I am just grateful that things seem to be going okay and my breathing is noticeably better than anticipated. I had expected the heavy deep gasping from my treadmill training in November 2018 to follow me round this course, but I feel in control and my mind feels calm. It is just over a month since I have started receiving coaching, and I urge myself to not get overexcited at the thought of achieving a personal best at this race; don't ruin your race by getting focused on the outcome! I am just happy to be running with people and almost start to have a chat with my fellow competitors and then laugh inwardly at myself for thinking such things.
