In June 2009 a few friends and I
decided to enter the Aberystwyth 5k Race for Life in aid of Cancer
Research. This was my first race and although I had been running
regularly for the last 8 months, ‘training’ for a race hadn't ever really
crossed my mind. So we just went for it and luckily 5k (3.1 miles)
was a nice introductory length that you could get away with no real
training.
Race for Life is a woman-only race with
over 240 events taking place in towns and cities across the UK (for more
information go to http://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org).
Anyone who has been involved will be familiar with the overwhelming sense
of comradely at these events. Running along
reading who other racers were running in aid (sometimes themselves) or memory
of or reading about their story was awe-inspiring and it was clear that this
race was about more than just winning or getting a PB. Although some were faster than others, everyone went at
their own pace, helped each other out and got through. What a
perfect introduction to the world of organised racing!
As with a lot of things (particularly
netball matches), it was clear I was going to get pre-race nerves. No
matter how much I told myself it was just fun and for Charity and it was only my
first race I still felt sick and dizzy. My other half tried to take
my mind off it as he walked me to the race start from where we lived round the
corner by saying whenever he saw someone in a pink t-shirt things like “you can
definitely take her on” or “she may give you a run for your money” –
competitive much! But it helped keep me smiling.
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| Dawny, Jane and Me Race for Life 2009 |
I met my friends at the start line and
we let off some nervous energy during the warm up before embarking on our
race. I finished in just over 30 minutes with one short walk break
which I was really chuffed with! We collected our medals and hugged
and laughed before going for a nice big lunch. I then remember
getting back to our flat, lying on the sofa and sleeping all afternoon!
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| Santa's in unison! |
My next race was the 6k London Santa Run in Battersea Park that December. Jane and I planned a weekend in London to go and see Phantom of the Opera along with a matinee performance of Wicked and decided we could fit in a 6k race as well lol! By this time I had moved to the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and although running in the Forest was amazing I had somewhat lost my mojo once the evenings got darker and after work runs became a no no. But we went ahead with it, got the tube to Sloane Square, picked up our Santa suits and pinned on our race numbers.
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| Jane and me Santa Run 2009 |
I wasn’t really fit enough to make it
round in a half decent time but warming up and running around Battersea Park
with ~3,000 other Santas was quite an experience! Being overtaken by
a Mrs Santa pushing a baby jogger was a bit shameful but kudos to her! By
the end everyone was just walking around the park nattering, dressed in now
slightly sweaty Santa suits, as if it were the most normal thing in the world and I
loved it! We then hopped back on the tube, got changed in a Tesco
loo and went off to watch Wicked before catching the train home (on which I
also slept all the way!).
I was hooked
and my motivation restored when a runner's nightmare occurred..... enter
my first injury.....
To be continued.
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