I Did It!…

On the 4th February this year, I was one of 20,500 runners taking part in the Cancer Research UK London 10k Winter Run. I worked in the city for quite a few years and certainly had a different view running along streets closed to traffic past famous landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral.

I was a real mix of nervous and excited as I got up in what seemed the middle of the night to get the coach to London. Nervous as this was my first real race and whilst my main aim was just completing the course, we were raising money for a good cause and so I wanted to take it seriously. Decked out in the lime green uniform of our local running club, we met in Trafalgar Square for a warm up (much needed as it was freezing). Actually, we were lucky as it was cold but sunny so perfect really for February. The whole event was so well organised with lots of wonderful volunteers dressed as snowmen and polar bears cheering us on. It took me about half the distance to work out how so many knew my name until I realised that it was printed on my race number pinned on me! There was some welcome entertainment along the way as bands played and groups of singers braved the cold to spur us on.

Ok, so this was not a marathon, barely a quarter marathon, but I have trained for 10 months to get to this stage so give me another 3 years and who knows?

For anyone who saw me in recent months jogging along Lake Garda or doing 50 laps of Celebrity Solstice’s running track, I’m glad I put in the effort for such a good cause.

The race numbers also contained a timing chip which is amazingly clever and as soon as I crossed the finish line, my running time pinged up on my mobile phone.