Boutique Run

In the lead Sophie W. crosses the finish line at a very cool, seemingly effortless 58 mins

In a close second, Megan B-R. sweeps across the line at 1hr 4 mins

Bringing up the rear, Girl on a Mission RUNS across the finish line at 1hr 8 mins – WOOP, WOOP.

I now have the pleasure of adding running 10km to my list of things “attempted once and NEVER to be repeated.” I can confidently say that the race was a bit of a trial – everyone says that the race atmosphere helps you to keep going – what I hadn’t fully appreciated was the PRESSURE of race conditions - everyone running superfast and all those spectators’ eyes on you. I DIDN’T DARE SLOW TO A WALK ONCE.

....For the first 5km anyway, which I am massively proud of. I crossed the 5km line at 33mins of NON-STOP RUNNING, no easy feat when my left ankle was playing up a bit. After that the field started to disperse and I stopped caring about what the spectators might think of my paultry running efforts and gave myself a few walking breaks. The fact that the c. 10 walking intermissions only added 2 min to my second 5km lap time really says it all about my running speed! However even at 6pm, it was baking hot - 31C - so I feel pretty fan-dab-tastic about my overall time.

Race Highlights:

1. Grabbing a water bottle mid race, taking a few sips and then throwing the bottle to the kerb all whilst running – SUCH A COOL “MARATHONesque” FEELING.

2. Having SUPERCHICK FOUNDER Cat bound up to me just as we were coming up to 5km to spur me on. (I later found out that she had effectively SPRINTED 1km in SUPERHEAT, just to give me some encouragement as she thought I was finishing at 5km. At the time, it was taking all my energy just to keep willing my legs to keep going, so I was rubbish company whilst Cat was being fabulously tiggerish chattering away to me for a few minutes. Now that I’ve regained the function to think - THANK YOU CAT – IT WAS REALLY, TRULY BRILLIANT TO HAVE YOU THERE LOOKING OUT FOR ALL THE SUPERCHICKS AND FOR SPURRING US ALL ON)

3. Passing the half naked 9km Marker Man. Nicer than passing the finish line is knowing that the finish line is nearly upon you, thank merciful Jesus.

4. But my tippy top favourite moment was beating the Awesome Jo by a mere 60 seconds!!!! I had been keeping my eyes peeled for Jo all race but when I saw one of the SUPERchicks who had been part of our slower running pack from our Monday night practise run, way way way way in front of me (some of the course snaked across a field meaning that you passed within a few feet of runners who were 1km ahead of you and this is where I spotted my fellow SuperChick) and so I just assumed Jo was up there with her and put it out of my mind. But comparing race times back at base, Jo admitted that I’d been in her sights for a while and that if the race had been a few meters more, she’d have totally crushed me. FAIR PLAY TO JO though as she ran the WHOLE 10 km – Jo you still have the title of “totally brilliant slighty slow-mo SUPERchick Runner” for now. Be warned SuperChick Sports Day could change all that!

Only Slight Race Niggle:

The race was more pain than pleasure as the Boutique After Party was a bit too skewed towards proficient runners – i.e. by the time I had recovered enough and gathered my wits sufficiently to queue to get my bag then queue for a shower, all the massages, makeovers, mani pedis were fully booked and the music/food was packed up. Sorry Sophie. Plus I literally had just sat down with my champers when the party was over – 10pm and we were asked to leave!!

My fab party dress (UK SIZE 12 - a first for me!!!!!!!!!) never got its long overdue night out on the town which is a VERY sad. As a consolation prize I took it for an evening stroll through Sloane Square, past Harvey Nicks and Selfridges, grabbed a sandwich (after 11 hours of no food I was starting to die) then admitted defeat and hopped on the night bus home.

All in all a brilliant night but it did leave me yearning for a "Boy on a Mission" to twirl me around the dance floor – ideally to the White T’s “Rhythm of Love”:



p.s. I will try and source some photos to prove I was there and how BEAUT-IFUL my dress was. I was too race fatigued to remember to get snap happy with my camera or even use the SUPERchick Photobooth – (they closed that too when I joined the queue with Jo!) but I know others have caught some of the action.

p.p.s. Slightly regretting walking 2 miles home in my heels as my lower back is crippled today!!