So who wants to be 60? Certainly not me, that's for sure, although I hope I'll be in a position to change my mind in 2 or 3 years' time. But as we know, time waits for no-one, and it wasn't going to make an exception for me, so I had to get on with it. I can't remember when I learnt that the Bristol 10k was going to be on my birthday but when I did, I realised that this gave me something to do on "my" day, alongside the other 10,000+ runners, of course.

on the way to the start . .

Initially I had a Grand Design to finish in 59.59. I hadn't done very well in May 2013, finishing in 68.23, but then in October I'd completed the Wistow 10k, in East Yorkshire, in 61.48, on a very wet and windy day. So it seemed reasonable to imagine that if I was able to get a decent run of training under my belt I could get under the hour. Unfortunately life got in the way and I've probably spent more time driving up and down the motorway to York and back this year than I've been able to spend running.

waiting to get under way . .

As race day - and my birthday - approached I recognised that I had a choice. I could try to race as hard as my lack of fitness allowed and see if I could get round (relatively) quickly, but whilst I'm happy to dare to dream, the dreaming needs to be tinged with some realism. I knew that if I tried to go for it, the race would very likely end in tears as I simply wasn't in any sort of shape to really give it a go.

finally we cross the start line . .

The alternative was to float around at a sensible, sustainable pace, maybe stop and chat to any friends I saw on the way around, and carry a small camera and take some photos to remind me of my birthday. In short, I could just go out and enjoy myself. I decided to take the latter course, and having been encouraged by parkrun friends to make sure everyone knew it was my birthday, draped myself in a "60 today" banner.

 
the start . . and responding to a spectator who wished me a Happy Birthday . .

I can't imagine that anyone has ever been wished Happy Birthday more times than I was on my way around the 10k. So many complete strangers in the crowd and amongst the runners noticed my banner and called out. My shoulders were sore from all the slaps on my back. And of course my friends, those in the crowd, those marshalling and those running - all looking out for me (I suspect I was hard to miss!) and so many of them wished me well despite being focused on their own races.

enjoying the Avon Gorge . .

(l) the parkrun and Bristol & West "wall of sound" . . (r) one k to go, approaching the Centre, and the moment I realised this wonderful race had to stop soon . .

the finish . . still smiling and still enjoying the whole thing . .

Then, glossing over the interminable queue for kit bags, and the fact that they ran out of medals and t-shirts (I was lucky enough to get there before that happened) . . the fun and laughter in the Berkley afterwards that just never seemed to stop.

Cheers . . and Happy Birthday to me ☺

Throughout the day I received heaps of messages and good wishes from so many people. I wrote about daring to dream, and I'd dreamt of having a birthday I'd never forget, and that's what I got. It couldn't have happened without all my friends - both here in Bristol and further afield - who made sure I enjoyed this big day. Thank you, everyone of you - I'm very fortunate ndeed. And perhaps being 60 isn't quite so bad after all?