And the time is...

You'll remember Fit Mark's challenge: Run the Machen 8 (actually it's 8.2k, I just want you to know that...) in under an hour before September or you can't enter the Mud Runner in October.

Eek. Up until now the best time that either Ice Cream Sian and I have managed is 1.05.17. Being one hour, five minutes and 17 seconds... I did some maths and worked out the fastest time we'd done over each kilometre (my first time with Fit Mark I was quick on the second half, and the second time I was quick on the first half and pretty much expired on the second half) and added them all up - 1.02.39. Still eeeeeek. So to be under an hour I have to shave another 2 minutes 39 seconds off a time I haven't actually even run yet.

I think the pressure must have been getting to me because last night I dreamt I did it - but only by having Guy standing with my bike on the nice flat bike route so I could cycle that bit and padlock the bike at the other end... I'd then carry on running where the bike couldn't go and Guy would find the bike, take it to the next flat road bit and I'd pick it up further on and pedal the flat road bit too... I reckoned I might just make it. And that was, quite literally, In My Dreams.

So, Sunday morning, crunch time. There's only 1 week left before September.

All prepared, and GO! I have all the kilometre timings written on a bit of paper stuffed in my running shorts. As each kilometre passes I check to make sure my clever watch thingy is showing faster than the bit of paper. Half way round and the time is at 29 minutes... So therefore under an hour should be a doddle, right? I hadn't allowed for tired legs though... and feeling faint. And blurry eyesight. Although, to be fair, this latter might have had something to do with the fact that I later found out I'd only put one contact lens in...

Anyway, the bramble scramble was better - positively whizzed down the slope so beautifully cleared by Guy last week, but then my legs were like lead and it was REALLY hard work on the homeward, mostly flat, stage.

And the time?

SO CLOSE! That's 8.2k in 1 hour, 0 minutes and 44 seconds.

Try again on Wednesday...

By the way, did I mention that Ice Cream Sian didn't quite make it under the hour??? Probably because at the time I was pounding my way round the Machen 8 (actually it's 8.2) she was sleeping off last night's party somewhere in a tent in Cornwall....

In the afternoon, for light relief and a little bit of gentle exercise, Guy and I took Rubbish Running Dog and New Running Dog to the beach with Nic and Gareth and their 3 bonkers dogs. Gareth threw balls into the sea, the dogs chased and chased and chased, I swam and Blunkett sat on the sand. New Running Dog had to work hard to keep up with her 3 new chums, and the photos are fab:

This is Layla winning the 'I can leap highest to get the ball' game...

And this is New Running Dog coming out of the water - totally fab photo, that's going to be my new background on the computer!

And Rubbish Running Dog?

She enjoyed the sunshine...