I know it's been a while again, but sooo much has been going on lately!
By far the most challenging and scary, was taking part in my first ever race - Reading Half Marathon! As the main focus of my fundraising project '4mydadTony' (raising money to help people who suffer from MS like my dad) the BIG challenge is the Marathon in 2020 and I set myself the smaller challenge of running a Half Marathon in 2019!
Well, I'm pleased to say that I have now had my first experience of taking part in a Half Marathon and I loved it!!! 😄
I was really luck and grabbed a lift in with a friend (Paul) who was also taking part - he's done a few half marathons with his wife (who unfortunately was too poorly to take part this time round) so it was nice to be able to chat on the way - my anxiety had been growing steadily for weeks, as Reading is a place that I fear - it's too big, with too many people and too much noise, so I usually have panic attacks if I have to go there 😉
I met up with the ladies from the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre - the charity I was running for this time round. They took the following photo:
 |
| just arrived at Madejski Stadium! |
The ladies, Yvonne and Rachel, then came and joined me in the race village, where we chatted - mostly about pets, as I was picking Yvonne's brain about dogs as she's a dog groomer and behaviouralist (so awesome tips on good dog breeds for first time owners and families!) I was very grateful, as I had just broken my headphones, so would not be able to 'run' like i normally do with the music that calms my anxiety 😟
 |
| lining up in the Pink Zone, waiting to start! |
Soon it was time to line up with all the other runners. I chatted to a lovely south african lady on the way to the Pink Zone (for the slowest runners, like me) who was giving me lots of tips and encouragement 😊
I met up with my friend Paul again and also another friend Nicky and we all walked and talked for the 35mins that it took to finally cross the start-line - we had started at the back of the Pink Zone you see, so with around 17,000 runners, it took a while for us to 'officially begin' 😉
As I can't technically 'run' (due to my spinal injury a few years ago) i was soon overtaken until i was the last person, power-walking as fast as I could. Unfortunately, all of the crowds and noise was too overwhelming for me and I had 2 panic attacks! I kept going though - helped along by a lovely bloke called Dave - who walked along beside me and gave me some tips and encouragement - he was impressed by my technique - arms swinging are a good thing apparently! He gave me some last quick tips before I got my head down and dug deep to get up the bloomin' big hill that I had come upto!
Well, I managed as best I could to keep going, but after 6 miles, when I was on the road leading upto the University, a decision was made to scoop me up. Just before that happened, the safety guy Andy, has shot past me to head off a car that was coming my way! I still have no idea how the driver got past all of the road blocks, but very grateul to Andy.
It was Andy who suggested that for my safety and so that I didn't get lost when I made it to un-maned stations, I agreed to get onto the 'sweeper' van - I did cry at the guy from the van, Steve, as I was so desperate to complete the race, as it was for charity. He agreed that I could get out and complete the last mile, which I was happy with, so I sat back and enjoyed the ride, whilst sipping the Lucozade Steve had given me.
It was a good laugh on the Sweeper Van - Steve had marshalled races up in Nottingham for years (I am def going to look into doing that one!) and the driver Carol had also helped in a few races as well. We picked up a poor guy who had twisted his ankle, and enjoyed cheering on the runners just infront of us - I nicknamed them the 'pink ladies' (they had those posh walking pole thingies and all had pink tops) there was 'grandad' a guy who was older, wearing a yellow top and then Jaqueline who was doing a great job too!
My back started to cause me problems, sitting in the van, so I begged Steve to let me out, so that I could walk the rest of the way. I asked if I could keep pace with 'grandad' would that be ok and he agreed. The injured guy decided to hop out too, so that we could both do the final 3 miles of the race.
Well, as Andy in the black safety car said t pick up the pace, I soon shot past 'Grandad' down the rod next to Prospect Park, onto the A4 and round the corner, keeping up with the others, when I stopped. There was no way that I was going to let 'Grandad' walk across that finish line all on his own! So, I started walking back to him and caucght up with him - there was a bit of confusion and worry that I wasn't ok, but I just kept to his pace and explained how lonely I had been at the back for the first 6 miles, so didn't want that for him.
Turns out his name was John, he was 79 and this was his 20th and final race! He gave me some great tips, like the 'traffic light' focus - spy one in the distance, then keep your head down and when you look up again you can be really happy that it's loads closer! I kept pace with him and there was a lot of 'Left, left, left right left' and 'come on John, we've got this' which helped keep both of us moving! 😊 He held my hand for the final mile and that was how we crossed the finish line! Magic moment!
I was surprised that I was still allowed a medal, even though I only completed just over 9 miles, but overjoyed doesn't do justice to how happy I was to finish!
