Race For Life 2012

Just Arrived And Ready To Run!

After last years Race For Life (my first) I couldn't wait to get my fingers onto the keyboard and tell you all about it.  Running was very new to me and I amazed myself when I actually completed the race at a run - no walking breaks at all!    This year it's not quite so exciting! Not for me anyway!

Fresh As A Daisy

Just a few days before we were due to run it was announced that because of the heavy rainfall during the previous months the course was deemed too dangerous for us to use so it was postponed.  This wouldn't have been too much of a worry but when I checked the Lincolnshire Showground web site there were very few Sundays that weren't already hosting another event.  Our main concern was that the race would be in September when we wouldn't be available to take part.  On Sunday 2nd September my daughter and her girlfriend get married then they're off on honeymoon for the following 2 Sundays.   I was "gutted" for my girls as they've both put in such a lot of hard work to train for this 5k event. Last year saw them jogging the first few hundred yards along side me but then having to drop back to a walk while I carried on alone.   This year our plan was to stick together and cross the finish line together at a run not a walk.   Our plan worked!  Even though we had to go more slowly than last year (slowing down to the pace of our slowest runner, Hayley) we still finished strongly and completed the 5 course in 34minutes 10 seconds according to my endomondo account. That's a pretty decent time. I expected it to be much slower than that!  

Yahoooo - And We're Off!

Next year we've decided to line up with the RUNNERS rather than the Joggers!  We figure that if we go right at the back of the runners then we'll be at the front of the joggers pack (hark at us thinking about RACE TACTICS!) because once again the early part of this event was made more difficult because of the ladies who thought they could run but were quickly brought back down to reality and had to walk!  This is very frustrating for those of us who were jogging and trying to dodge past those who would suddenly decide to stop dead for a rest then walk! It made it very hard work!   I think we probably covered an extra half k with our dodging from side to side!    

 (Ladies - if you put in the work you would be able to run - don't expect to sit on your arses all year long then run on this one day of the year!)  There's no shame in joining the walking pack either.  Just as long as you join in, enjoy yourself and raise money!  :)

Come On Hayley - KEEP UP!

By the time we were at the half way point the numbers had thinned out considerably and even dodging those who dropped to a walk was much easier.  At this point in the proceedings my girls and I were starting to warm up a little and get thirsty.  It seemed like a great idea to shower each other with water which got a few laughs from the people around us!  :)  I think that maybe next year (yes, all being well we WILL be back next year!) we'll take along some Super Soakers - that'll keep us cool.  Mind you, maybe everyone else wont see the funny side of it!

Hey! There's Pa!

Back to the race - this year I spotted some stables along the course that I don't remember seeing last year - I must have been too busy trying not to collapse and die in 2011!   The encouragement we received from the race marshals and spectators as we trundled along was heart warming and very welcome.  Although I had company during my run this year so we "jollied" each other along a bit it was still wonderful to get cheers and applause from everyone who was watching.

Knackered But Yards From The Finish

We're Done (Ignore the official time - it took us a few minutes to cross the start line!)

Every now and again I'd glance into the crowd and spot Neil who had been entrusted with a camera to get some "action shots" of us this year.  He did a fab job and even managed to run down the final straight to try to get some pics of us crossing the finish line.

I didn't raise anywhere near as much as I did in 2011 but I think that £222 is a respectable amount.

This year I ran for a dear friend of ours, Wayne, who was diagnosed with cancer late last year.  He's in his mid 50's and his prognosis isn't good.  Since running the Race For Life last year I'm very sad to say that I've added SIX new names to my racing ribbons.  It saddens to to think that I will be adding more before next years race.   I hope that the efforts of all the ladies who run the Race For Life  helped raise millions and that one day we will find cures and better treatments for this dreadful disease

 

 

Showing Off Our 2012 Medals

Many thanks for continuing to read my blog. 

Netty