I arrived at the Winter Green ready to register about 9.40am, there were already lots of clubs In their club kits and runners milling around. Some very athletic looking runners among them.
I was so excited when it came to registering to find that my club t shirt had arrived, so pleased I had choosen the blue Cameo’s this morning a perfect match, my first Grand Pix race and a race our club had organised in the Handsworth Roadhogs kit. I know it sounds really silly but it made me feel like I was a part of something and a sense of belonging. I was no longer a lone runner. (not that I ever was with my fab running buddies by my side)
We set off at 10.35 on our walk to the starting point, little did we know the start was 1 mile away from where we had registered! Good job we strolled across when we did, climbing up a steep hill to where the starting banner was sat. So pleased the banner was at the top and not the bottom.
With Sharon marshaling this one she went on ahead to get positioned in her post and it wasn’t too long before her daughter who’d decided to run this one was pre warning me to pace it as shed been informed this was a hilly one with some steep areas early on. Cheers for that one, got to love those uphill flat bits!
This was the first real race event I had ran alone, I knew I wasn’t really alone Sharon’s daughter was there and I was surrounded with a good few hundred other runners, but I was missing my pacing team and had decided to not run with ear phones on this one. I’m not entirely sure ear phones were allowed to be honest.
Looking around I could see some proper athletic type runners and knew these would be off and away before I even got to the first K mark, so I positioned myself just behind them but before the 5K lot as they were setting off a few minutes behind.
The horn was sounded and off we went down a trail type path with high grass on either side. I could see all the power runners sprinting off ahead and knew if I allowed myself to get caught up in their speed it would not be long before I would struggle. So I paced it down a bit and told myself it did not matter where I came number wise, running for me has never been about speed its been about completing runs and increasing distances, knowing that every time I ran a race I was improving personally and it was all adding to the training.
About 3.5K in one of the fellow Roadhog ladies ran alongside me when I asked if she was ok her reply was I will be I 1.5K, this got me thinking whats coming up in 1.5k, what do I need to prepare myself for I was hoping all the hills were over with. Then I realised as we came to a marshall holding up a marker and she ran back past me as I was directed to the left, she was doing the 5K. As she past I remember feeling why wasn’t I do the 5K and did ask her if I could go her way lol.
I knew I was starting to feel tired and I started getting a bit angry with myself last weekend I had done 11 miles and not felt this tired until the last couple of miles so how was it that at the 5k mark it felt such an effort? It was warn but no warmer than I had ran in before.
I ran into a woodland area where I was faced with a steep but small incline with Sharon stood directing people, (thanks for the photo Sharon) for a split second I was expecting her to say to carry on up the even steeper incline behind her with small wooden steps so was delighted when she pointed to the left and I heard those words of I think the hard parts over all flattish now. There were several marshals with cameras and I did try to smile as I passed just in case one good picture was snapped.
I carried on determined and telling myself I could do this and to stop being a whimp. When I arrived at a bridge with steps up I used it as an opportunity to take a breather walking up the steps, slow jog along the bridge and then walking back down the other side I knew if I had ran down the steps it would have turned into more of tumble with disastrous outcomes doing a loop and returning back over the bridge again using it as another 60 second walk. At the bottom stood a fellow Roadhog marshaling, who cheered me on asking me who I was as and commenting on the blue cameo tikkis, I had yet to meet most of them with only running on the ladies night yet but already everyone who I had seen on route had been friendly and welcoming. Following the route back along the way I’d come until reaching the corner of the lake where a Marshal directed me to the left up a field, I knew looking ahead it wasn’t so much as steep but my word it was a long, gradual incline that seemed to go on and on, this was going to be a tough last stretch to the end. I could see the marshall at the end of the hilly bit so focused all my energy on getting to him, I had come this far this was not going to be the race I didn’t finish. About halfway I knew my legs were giving up so took it a step back again and took it as an opportunity to walk quick whist taking a drink before starting to run again and before I knew it I was at the top, last 800meters to go as I went out onto the road and round a corner. As I turned I could see the end and out of no where came a sudden adrenaline rush I wasn’t crawling through the finish line I wanted to sprint through. I seemed to have found a new pair of legs as I pushed along quickening pace down the path way to the end!! Yay another one in the bag!!
I stood on the side line to cheer in the remaining runners not sure how many more were left but I knew Rebekka wasn’t far behind.
I was so relieved to hear even some of the more athletic runners saying it was a tough one, as they waited for others to come in, it made me feel so much better about how tough I had found it.
Shortly after I had finished, Suzie and Stu turned the corner after having spent ages round the housing looking for the finish line and it wasn’t much longer before Rebekka came up the finishing stretch. Suzie managed to claim a medal for her cheering skills 🙂
Slow walk back to the pub through the houses for a victory glass of wine, it has to be done at every race! Many of the Roadhogs came over and introduced themselves to me, whilst Suzie played on the park area some even asking about my running plans for the future which really made me feel part of the group.
Once the crowds had gone and tables started emptying we decided to stay at the winter green for carvery. Well what can I say, the surprise I got when I went to the counter and discovered Stu had ordered giant Yorkshire puddings!! I was definitely podged when done! Definitely flexible syns being used today. To be honest I didn’t manage it all but gave it a good go!
