The Race Bug

Surprisinging how quickly you can get it, the race bug.
And not yet even a "proper runner". (To clarify, in my mind a proper runner was lean, athletic, fast and more than capable of running long distances.)
Basically, everything I wasn't, but what did I know? I was still very new to running.

 Anyway, despite all my misgivings in my ability as a runner, I wanted to enter races, and get medals. Maybe I was a runner, I just didn't know it.
I liked the idea of things that sounded cool or iconic even. So 'Run the Bridge' caught my eye. 
The Bridge is the Silver Jubille Bridge, or, The Runcorn / Widness Bridge that crosses the River Mersey. My husband had once photographed the bridge and it had become quite well received in various places (even though he claims it to be a lucky shot) and very popular on photography sites such as flickr. Perfect!
I booked. 
Felt sick.
Nervous.
What if I couldn't run the distance?
What if I was last?

 My bib arrived. The event was chip timed; it all felt very serious, and maybe it was.

The day arrived, 14th April 2014, another early wake up with a travel to Halton, Cheshire to boot. We parked, I used the loo ... And proceeded to wait nervously (the smile is a lie).

It was a big event and I set off both nervously and excitedly. This was it. I felt important, roads where closed for little old (slow) me!
It felt a long way. And then it was over. Almost as quickly as it began. Was that it?
Tee shirt collected, drink, goodie bag, no medal (my lust for medals would come later), then home. After a short wait for my husband to drive and collect me as the bus system they had in place to get the finishers back to their cars (and husbands) at the start line was a bit of lottery.
I had ran my first road race, and had my first race tracked on Strava, I was nearly a professional ;-)
https://www.strava.com/activities/132149791
Again I got my time by text. I was pleased with it. 5 mile in 50 min.
That's 10 minute miles by a 'not proper runner'.

Comments

  1. Unknown31 July 2015 at 07:59

    50 minutes for your first 5 mile? I hate you. My first race was also a 5 mile. It took me 1:01:44 to do the 5 miles.

    ReplyDelete
  2. cheryl31 July 2015 at 13:09

    That's what it said :) tbh I've only just realised it's not bad Don't think I'm any better a year later

    ReplyDelete

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