SomersTownLisa

London Life
2021-07-12 10:33:03 (UTC)

London 10,000

I’d put a message out to see if anyone I knew was doing the London 10,000m but no-one had confirmed, but I decided to attend it anyway as I thought I would see someone I know. I timed it just right to get there in time to see the first wave of runners finish. I'd spotted three people from my running group when I was walking from the station: I recognised Andrew, and the other two looked familiar. When they went to the toilets I watched the earlier runners finish for a half an hour or so, then was in time to see my friends start. They were with another bloke, a 53-year old called Dave, then we saw another of our group, Jatin from Hackney, with his family. I saw them start the race. then investigated the race village which seemed to have no facilities except a couple of coffee vans.

I wandered back across the site and found a spot where you could watch the runners at 5km, saw the ones I know come through, then walked a few metres to the finish and saw them all arrive there. After a chat about the race, Michelle said they had a table booked at a pub by the station, which I recognised the name of as I’d often seen it from the train, so I told Jack, who was disappointed they weren't going into the old town. I remembered just in time that I'd left my bike near the start when I arrived, and by cycling I got to the pub before the others.

I’d asked Andrew the two girls’ names – R and Michelle. Of course I know R, I went to her charity film show but since had a minor spat with her online. Having realised who she was, I was able to reference in our conversation a letter she’d sent to our directors when they tried to change the nature of the organisation. Michelle seemed vaguely familiar, and later when I wanted to send her some pictures I found I was friends with her on Facebook, which must have happened some time ago as I haven’t linked with anyone new on that site for ages. We talked mainly about the current situation with the group and the changes since the pandemic.

Jack arrived and sat with us for a bit, then we went on a nostalgic trip around the old town of the local area where he used to live; unfortunately this was all-consuming for him and he wasn’t reacting to anything I said. The Elizabethan pub he’d recommended that I take my friends to, was shut due to an electrical fault. The old town is indeed scenic, hilly and very historic, and we got a meal next to the ancient hall where he used to work. We saw the Norman church where our banns were read, then got the train to his parents’ house, having to change at the garden city, where we had time to sit on the balcony behind the station, and admire the gardens rising up from the station.

Because I’d been to the 10,000m race, I had to watch the Euros final with Jack’s parents who live nearby, instead of at home. His sister was annoyingly singing and shouting a lot as soon as I got there, though this was actually less annoying during the game. Her daughter arrived before the game started. England matched the much-lauded Italy side, scoring early on and drawing 1-1 after extra time, then “losing” on penalties. If I’d watched it at home, I could have gone to bed soon after 11, instead after Jack had faffed about sorting out all the food, we had to get the last train at 00:08 and I wasn’t in bed until 01:30.




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