Stuart Buchan reports.....
I made my way down to Portsmouth at the weekend to take part in the BUPA Great South Run, lining up with 18,000 other runners on a VERY wet and VERY windy Sunday morning.
I was hoping to get another PB but the atrocious weather conditions put paid to that - however, I did manage a respectable 67.57 minutes, finishing in 314th place, which was only 14 seconds off my current PB.
As soon as the race started the heavens opened, however, I managed to maintain a good pace round most of the 10 mile course and was still on course for a PB until the last 2 miles which were into a headwind and sidewind! But I managed a good sprint finish at the end for the cameras! Then it was back to the hotel for a hot shower and some hobnobbing with the TV Times/Leukaemia Research celebrity runners (more B list than A list though - unless you're an Emmerdale fan!).
My daughters Alys and Liesl also took part in the Mini South Run on the Saturday morning (in lovely sunshine!) and finished their 1 mile course in an excellent 12.48 and 12.56 respectively to their immense pride and got a lovely medal to show off as well!
Despite the weather though it was a thoroughly enjoyable and fantastically well organised weekend of races.