4. Run the Avon Berlin Women’s Running course - 10km section

Well I ran 10km! It wasn't the race I had planned to run (the Avon women’s 10km in the Tiergarten) because I was nervous that I wasn't quite ready for it, so I signed up for the Nike -We Own The Night 10km for women which was due to be held 3 weeks after the Avon one. It was only 20€ to enter so I figured even if I had to walk some I wouldn't feel like it was a waste of money. I had managed to run 10km one time before the race while I was back in NZ for my sister’s wedding. It had been okay, I ran it with my Love and it was tough but I did it, even if I was walking funny for a few days afterward! I had also run a few 8kms that I had finished well, feeling like I had more to give. So I was a bit nervous but feeling ready! This was my first running race so I was pretty excited to pick up my swag bag! There was a cool t-shirt in there and some samples of products, some running/nutrition related and then there were a bunch of makeup products. I don't really wear makeup much, but it will be fun to play around with on the odd occasion that I do :).

The race atmosphere was pretty cool, it started at 9pm and they were going for a party theme so when the course went under bridges there would be lights and smoke machines and dance music playing, it wasn't that good for visibility and I really didn't want to break my ankle so early in my running habit so I was a bit worried about that but thankfully I finished the race with my ankles intact!

The race course wasn’t really well thought out, there were a lot if places where the runners bottle necked to the point where we were forced to walk which was frustrating because I was feeling kick-ass! The course was just a bit too narrow for the number of runners, especially at the end where there was a small hill on a narrow path (~3 people wide plus party lights so ~2.5 people wide) and everyone decided to walk the hill in the final kilometre of the race!! It was a bit frustrating but overall I was pretty happy with it all :) I finished in 1 hour 8 minutes 14 seconds which I was very happy with for my very first 10km. There was also a medal inspired finishers necklace which was an extra bonus! And free coconut water in 3 different flavours at the finish line!!!