Wycombe half
Although i didnt run this specifically for charity, for those of you that care, I finished in 2.17 ably spurred on by rich phillips.  If ever you're thinking about doing a half think hard before choosing the Wycombe as the first 1 1/2 miles is a serious alpine ascent up a chiltern hill and not to be underestimated!!! having said that, the next 6 are mostly down and the last 6 are pretty much flat so you can get yer puff back...

Match report!!

Rain, the wet stuff, lots of it descended in sheets on most of the country most of last night and all of this morning as an unofficial count of 12,000 people fought wind and rain to stand, walk, wheel themselves to London for the BUPA 2008 10k which for the first time took in a chunk of the real marathon course.

We chuggers in the green lane waited for the hotshots to leave and we trudged off down birdcage walk and across the mat at almost ten past ten off to the city and back past throngs of well wishers, drum bands, flags and screeching kids.

Most of the race was a blur of puddle avoidance but with a goal of sub 60 mins there was an edge in it for me.  This, my second 10k took place only 24 short hours after my 50th birthday party and despite a period of total abstinence and severe hydration in between I was low on training and high on ambition.

Running in the cool was actually quite enjoyable and K5 and k6 slipped by as did many of my fellow runners I was pleased to note along with a Donald Duck and two trees (how do people run in these outfits???).

So to the time! I hit halfway at a little over 30 mins so I had to stretch my legs a bit on the way home and k9 where the Sportcam photographers lay in wait I was not pretty site but up Whitehall I snipped a bunch of puffers and a host of stragglers from in front o me and entered admiralty arch with what looked like a real chance of the sub 60 mins - that last 400meters was a big effort but by my reckoning I came home unofficially in around 58 mins - fantastic! job done and a thousand quid in the bank for Mencap thanks to the heroes who are listed below.

Still time to stick a few quid in if you haven't already done so
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Update!!

Thanks to those who have donated so far - SHAME on those who have not!!!

come on guys, get your credit cards out and support this man who has never enjoyed any sport all his life and who is giving it up for mencap.

give give give
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