My Race Journey

Five weeks ago whilst on a weekend away with friends, I was coerced into going for out twice for a three mile run. My friend is training for the Great North Run. I wasn't overly keen as the last time I had run any distance I was 18 years old. That was 25 years ago! I remember it well. It was "Run the World", I finished it delirious and dehydrated!

Despite my concerns I eventually agreed to run with her only to be told that she had forgotten her shorts so I had to lend her mine while I ran in my grey velour pyjamas. It was a good job we were in rural Wales! The sheep looked slightly disconcerted but at least we weren't spotted by any of our fellow humans. The run was flat and on the road and, I have to say, I wasn't nearly as tired as I thought I was going to be so we did the same run the next day.

I felt quite inspired by my friends commitment to training for the Great North Run. She and I are both no great athletes. I decided I would try to keep it up when I returned home to Derbyshire. That same week I ran another 2 miles and then a 4 mile run with friends. I actually managed to keep up with them and so I started feeling really invigorated.

Each week since the Welsh weekend I've tried to do 3 or 4 runs of 2 - 4 miles each. I am quite goal orientated and was beginning to feel a little bored so I set myself a target with the advice of my friend, the editor of this website! She advised me to get a pair of proper running shoes and to enter the K Swiss City of Manchester 10K on 4th July. I had a mixture of emotions. I was very excited as my whole family decided to come and cheer me on. (That made it very emotional too. I cried most of the way round!) I was also very nervous. I thought I might be setting myself up for a fall but the great concensus from friends was "Fantastic! Have a go!"

The week before race day I did a 4, 3 then 2 mile run on alternate days. I tried to eat better too. (The running and better eating led to losing half a stone which was a good thing!) Although I'd only entered on line ten days before, I decided I would try to raise a bit of cash for charities close to my heart. Eliza, our daughter died five years ago on 7th July and Gabriel was still-born at 16 weeks on 19th November last year. They both had Trisomy 18, Edwards Syndrome, so I raised money for Support of Families with Trisomy (S.O.F.T.) and Smile Train. (Gabriel had a cleft lip and, had he lived, would have needed an operation). I raised £200 in a week!

Race day arrived. The event was amazingly well organised. 2,500 people ran and there were hundreds of spectators. The organisers didn't just put on a race. There were lots of activities for children too so it was a win win situation for us as my husband came with our two sons, Noah 7 and Japeth, 4. It was great to have them there seeing me, their mum, doing something so positive and life affirming. Sometimes mum's do feel as though we're seen as head cook and bottle washer!

I started chatting to another lady runner explaining that I was a virgin racer and she kindly gave me a few tips:

• Don't start too near the front (too many elbows and you may get trampled!)
• Don't set off too fast
• Just enjoy it

That's exactly what I did!

It was perfect weather. It was overcast which was a relief as we'd been having very hot conditions. The atmosphere was giddy and everyone was chatty. I mostly ran on my own but I did talk to a few other runners. Around the half way mark I could see a guy in front of me with "For Dad, God Bless" printed on his tee shirt. He was walking, shoulders slouched. By the time I got level with him I was choked up and I told him what a great thing he was doing and his dad would be proud. We ran together for a while in companiable silence, thinking about our reasons for doing this run.

The sun came out during the last 3 kilometres and that really slowed me down but the support was fantastic. Local people were clapping and cheering for all the runners. I recognised two ladies on my second lap and thanked them for all their cheers.

The final 400 metres was a lap of the outdoor athletics arena. I was overwhelmed when I caught sight of my husband, children, mum and dad all waving me on through the blue finishing funnel, my dad insisting that the harsh wind (what wind?!) was making his eyes run! My race time was 60 mins 30 secs. I was pleased, but it's kind of bugged me that it wasn't under an hour so that's me, totally hooked, trying to find another race so I can have a personal best of 59mins 30 secs instead!