My race

This year has been one of injuries , but I managed to stay injury free to build my self back up to do the 10 K Wirral race.

It was a very cold but a lovely autumn day, the sun was high in the sky and the leaves in the park where a golden brown. I was full of nerves I did not sleep well that night I was more scared of this race than of doing the full marathon last year, I think because we had done so well in training last year I was ready for the big day. But training this year had not gone as well, it had been full of injuries, yet we had made it. We worked in the last 6 weeks to build me back up to strength, well at least run in this race. Extra sessions with my PT, he had pulled the stops out.


The start of the race was in a park, very muddy from all the rain we had this year, my friend grumbled that her trainers where getting dirty. It was busy  ten thousand people, some doing the full marathon, the rest of us the 10 K. We where late so not much time for warming up after going to the ladies. We climbed over the barriers that penned us all in and moved to the back I am slow, very slow so I prefer to be at the back so as not to get mowed down by the good runners. Moving to the side I tried to stretch out my legs the way Steve had taught me, it  was so cold I was worried my calf would not like to start off this run so cold. But its hard to stretch among ten thousand other people all crammed in between two barriers.

The important person started to speak, who he was or what he said we where too far at the back to hear. People started clapping , cheering we joined in laughing what are we cheering about. I guess we are starting. Slowly people started too move forwards at a slow walk at first than faster until there it was the start line and we break in to a jog , we are off.

The cold air hit my lungs as I started to breath hard , making it harder to breath, a man pointed and I looked down my shoe had undone, moving to the side I stopped to tie them back up. A tiger want by and some soldiers with kit bags, core its hard enough to get yourself around never mind with kit bags. Well done to them.  A lady pushing another in a wheel chair, fireman collecting for a good course.

So we run on, but its up hill now, goodness I trained on the flat and this is all hills one after another, another lady chats to me who put the hills in she groaned. I wanted to stop could not get my breath seems like we been running for ever and yet only two miles done. The cold weather effecting my lungs when I was younger I had both asthma and bronchitis and could never run, my trainer has done wonders with me. But this cold weather was making it difficult to breath, still stopping was not in the scheme of things, I only needed to think of my trainers disgusted face and this spares me on he can be quite tough at times, besides my bag is at the other end if I want my things I have got too finish.

Three miles we get water but its at the top of that hill, is that why they put it there to spare us up the hill and now the hills do kick in one after another you get to the top get your breath back and then up another you go. The spectator's cheering us on well done, keep going. This is what keeps you going.

Than at last down hill towards the finish 6 miles I thought here is the finish line, Oh no its not there, another woman groans I though 10K was 6 miles no its not the finish line is over there. Could we cheat and nip across the field what a bad thought. Most not cry they moved the finish line, got to keep going think of trainer's disapproving face if I do not and keep on going. A man joined me running alongside me come on nearly there he says, others who have finished with medals around their necks walk past smiling they had a right to smile they had finished, oh if only I was just a bit faster, I hate being so slow, most learn to go faster. Nearly there they shout.

There it is there is the line and at least 10 K has been done I fall over the finish line and grin at the young boy who gives me a medal finished I can stop running.

So I have the medal and the T shirt and I can text my trainer and say DONE.