text: With the countdown to the race, despite still being in Race mode I remembered the 11am (2pm local Doha) minute silence for respect before heading down to our team to discuss “drink station”. Having had ” hydrate, hydrate” for the last few days I had literally felt I was constantly drinking water, to the point analyzing the race caused a stitch due to drinking too much. As you will know from watching the Olympics, GB have high expectations of medals and pretty much from the outset told the same that we had a chance, #nopressure! So that moves me onto the race….
  The temperature was hot, was sweating on the warm up but knew it was the same for us all, and why I opted for Race knickers v’s shorts and in the end the kit overall thumbs up from GB/Nike.
  Nervous as hell, multiple trips to the toilet, it was off to start for 6pm, the gun went off and now time to embrace 20 laps of the 2.5k course. What was hard was the surface, tiled flooring all the way and ceramic tiling which could prove dangerous with water. Pacing early stages was spot on for 6.30’s but slowed in the 2nd half with the hard beating on the paved tiles and blisters forming. Could you say a risk wearing race flats? However, I would wear them for a marathon and didn’t want to change anything for 50k. What was great about the laps was you got your position/time when you went round it was very helpful.