“Oh go on – it’ll be fun”………………..

These were the words that came back to me whilst I was lining up with the 25,000 other women at this years Hydro Women’s 5,00k run in Hyde Park.  A few of my friends had completed the run last year and were keen to gather more mums to race this year.  After giving it some thought back in May I thought September seemed such a long way off and surely even I could manage 5,000k.

My ‘training’ programme got off to a slow start and whilst I perfected the art of procrastination this was not getting the body into a ‘lean, mean running machine’!  By mid July a certain amount of panic had started to set in, especially as I realised that the running shoes I had bought in a rush of enthusiasm towards the end of May were still in the box – somewhere in the house!

Anyway, with the good weather upon us, children on summer holidays, I had finally run out of excuses on avoiding the inevitable.  It was to the great amusement of my two children and anxious glances of my 6 month old Labrador puppy who was going to accompany me on my first ‘run’.   Well we made great strides along the village to the church whereby the dog needed just a little rest!  We progressed in this fashion for a mile or so and on our return were greeted with howls of laughter on why we had not been long – I reminded them that one cannot rush greatness!!

Anyway the regime picked up and continued at a dizzying pace – I was fully committed and even went for early morning runs down along the coast – well living near Leith Hill – anything for a flat course…… And I could reward myself with a ‘full-English’ at the nearby café afterwards!

Inevitably, and all too quickly the race day arrived.  I was to be picked up at 8am (for a Sunday morning, this was my first shock of the day).  The day dawned bright and sunny – high temperatures forecast.  We got up to Hyde Park in good time and I was carried away by the literally thousands of women who were making their way into the park.  There was to be a ‘mass’ warm up which I decided to forgo – well no point in peaking early!

The bigger decision was whether or not to queue for the loos, but with 25,000 women and about 12 dozen port-a-loos I decided that the best course of action was not to drink any more water before the race.  It started to look a little busy along the start line so we made our way over and panic set in.  The previous week I had been planning to time my run so that I finished in under 30 minutes – now faced with the prospect of actually having to do it, all I could think of was that I had to get past comedian Jo Brand who I knew was in the ‘celebrity’ line up at the front!

The gun went off and we quickly started moving to the front and start our race – thankfully I did actually pass Jo Brand before the 1k marker but the nerves and the heat and the fact that I had not drunk any water since 9 o’clock due to the toilet situation got to me and by 1k I  didn’t know whether I was going to hyperventilate or just pass out.  Luckily I settled down – watching all the spectators and especially all the little children with their boards and messages for their mums was entertaining enough to keep me going and by the 4k marker I spotted Clive and Eloise, my husband and daughter cheering me on.  I suddenly found a spring in my step and attacked the last hill (well it was a bit of a steep incline) and from there on it was all downhill to the finish and into the BBC camera’s covering the race – Yes I indeed featured on BBC Athletics coverage (AND have the video to prove it!!)

It was – in hindsight a thoroughly enjoyable experience and one that I will definitely do again.  In the euphoria of the after race glow I was muttering something along the lines of “the next one will be a 10k” however commonsense has prevailed and I have not done anything silly like putting myself into the London Marathon ballot!

Three weeks later and I have kept up the running (so far) but the winter months together with wind and rain will be the real test, but I am now a committed runner and will definitely do another race……. So watch this space! 

Oh and by the way I completed the run in 33.56 mins so have to go back next year to get my sub 30!