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A 5 mile race around the Olympic Park finishing the last 300 metres
on the track in the Olympic Stadium, 1 year on from London 2012! Techinical T shirts had been posted out with race numbers prior to the event which people were encouraged to wear, but plenty didn't. Family fun run of 2 miles followed the main race.
12500 entry's had been accepted and runners were set off in waves, Red, White, Green and Pink. Sir Chris Hoy started the race and was gracious enough to have his photo taken with many of us as we crossed the start line.
Paula Radcliffe, Victoria Pendleton and Mel C were introduced and ran, although no official results appear for them, Paula was knowhere near the front apparently, perhaps she stopped to use the toilet!.
The race route covered, grass, sand, tarmac, gravel and just about any other surface you could name with the Olympic Park currently resembling a building site. The 30 degree heat and burning sun of the week leading up to the race had given way to overcast but humid conditions. Although there were one or two tight twists and turns I found I was able to run pretty much as quick as I wanted to and was quite happy with my time despite stopping for photo opportunities.
HRR's Anna Chappell spotted me as I overtook her outside the stadium with about half a mile to go so we stopped and took photo's of each other.
The dreary Olympic Park gave way on the approach to the Stadium. Down a ramp we went and ended up running beneath the Stadium for probably about half a circuit of it where it was particularly humid. The sound of Charriots of fire rung out as you entered the far end of the Stadium, running 300 metres down the back staright around the last bend and down the home straight across the finishing line where they had 4 different timing clocks representing the 4 different starts although it was chipped times.
At the Finish was Iwan Thomas MBE who again was very chilled in having photos taken with everybody. Various grouos had been playing on the stage to entertain the 2 guests that you were allowed to have each sitting in the stadium while we ran, although I was quick enough to get back to see "Headline act" Little Mix!
Goody bag containing food, water and a medal were collected on the way out.
Although I didn't see this myself there are various reports after the event of people cheating cutting through the barriers between the 3 and 4 mile points missing out a mile. No stewards at this point and no intermittent timing mats, how sad!
Neil had spotted me in the same carriage as him on the tube, Anna spotted me going past her inside the last mile, Julie I didn't find and I spotted Ulen on the track finishing about an hour after I did (presumably he decided to do a few extra laps of the park to get this months shockingly low mileage up)! ;-)
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