My Poppy Run, Battersea Park, London

Race No 21 – The Poppy Run 5k

As soon as I saw this race advertised I knew I had to enter, like most people my age my grandparents fought in the war, my ex husband was in Iraq during the early 90’s and I have friends that have been involved in the more recent conflicts so the British Legion Poppy Appeal is something I always support

Unfortunately I didn’t really think the logistics of this one through very well, my local race was being held at night in a park, I am scared of my own shadow and now had to find my way to the registration point in a very large dimly lit park on my own, I expected there to be signs directing you to the start but unfortunately there wasn’t a single one, so I ended up walking around in a very large circle

The registration process was simple and the bag drop while the least secure I have ever seen (a pile in the bandstand) was perfectly adequate

The race itself was disappointing, two laps of part of the park, Battersea Park is beautiful and sits between Albert & Battersea bridges unfortunately, the organisers brought us on an earlier pathway so we didn’t get to see the bridges lit up at night. I also managed not to turn my watch on at the start, I am not sure what is going on with me and races recently so I don’t know what my time was other than not good – I also had to stop and tie my shoe laces, what is wrong with me recently

I have to give a special mention to the goody bag, entry to this race was only £15 and included a t-shirt, medal & one of the best goody bags I have seen at a race, I am loving the Whole Earth Peanut Butter sachets being given out at races recently