Last week, I managed to take part in an event on my birthday which was a first, but I also achieved another first by running an event as a family with my wife and my son.
We took part in the BUPA Westminster Mile.
Despite it raining pretty much all week and during the morning, come 10:30am there was a window in the weather which enable us to all run round together without getting soaked. We completed the mile in 11 minutes with my 4yo boy running all the way! It was fantastic that the three of us could do something like this together.
Some friends of ours (Brian & Suzy) were also running with their two young boys and the finish ended in a competitive yet friendly sprint, which we managed to win :-) That will be the only time I will ever beat Brian, seeing as he is a Sub3 Marathoner. We all had a few beers afterwards (well the kids didn't) as it was my birthday.
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| My Family |
Saturday 31st May, I set my alarm for 05:30am to get up for another event, the Kent Road Runner Marathon. I had entered this year's event having won a place in last year's event via Southern Running Guide. (Blog on that event can be found here) Having immensely enjoyed last year's event despite being injured pre-race and not running anywhere near as fast as I would have liked. I had registered straight after.
Unfortunately, I still have issues and was unable to run. But I wanted to be part of this great event again, so had no hesitation in volunteering. So, a 6:30 a.m meet was arranged at the gates of the Cyclopark in Gravesend.
I along with another dozen or so volunteers met up with Ian the Race Director on a beautiful crisp sunny morning. A lovely day was promised, for maybe a gentle bike ride or a spot of fishing, but probably not ideal conditions for running a Marathon? We all had a brief chat and received instructions and then it was all hands to the pump with absolutely loads of stuff needed to be done, too numerous to mention. I helped unload the van, erected a large Gazeebo where all the important electronics would be for the race timing and was also given the task of erecting the inflatable arch.
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| Stunning Morning |
It was amazing the amount of tasks that were completed in such a short time. Wearing a hi-viz vest with 'Marshal' on it means that with hundreds of runners milling about you then become a focal point for questions, which I was delighted to help with, despite not always immediately knowing the answer, but it also meant that it gave me an opportunity to have a chat with all sorts of wonderful people.
The race started shortly after 9am. Prior to the start I had started chatting to another volunteer Neil, who had driven up from Southampton. (I think that shows what a great event this is, that people are willing to travel that far, just to volunteer) We were asked to be on the microphones at the start/finish line. After an hour, another marshal was needed on the course to relieve somebody from their duties, Neil offered which meant I was on my own on the microphone.
Now, friends and family will know that I am a shy, quiet character and was worried sick being in this situation. OK, complete lie, I was in my element.
The beauty of the KRR Marathon is that it is 17 laps of a cycle track, which meant that I got to see every runner 17 times!
Anybody who has run a Marathon I am sure will tell you how uplifting support can be. So I made a conscious effort to try and encourage virtually every runner. I can tell you, I had so much fun. I was high-fiving a crocodile (as you do), telling Orpington Runners that Petts Wood Runners are better ;-) and basically having banter and laughs with the runners. Some asked me what lap they were on, which I was able to oblige with as I could see all the timing gear. Some people accused me of being a liar as I was telling them that they were looking good.
It was good that I could encourage the supporters to applaud finishers as I saw them coming up the hill and it got to a stage that I was even recognising and remembering names of people despite them being a couple of hundred metres away. It felt like I made a couple of hundred new friends in the space of a few hours :-)
It was a very rewarding experience, and I know people had to run a Marathon in blazing sunshine, but I can tell you, standing there for almost 7 hours encouraging and applauding is bloody tiring :-)
But there was still work to be done as the tidy and pack up needed to commence. I eventually left at 4.30pm. There was still work to be done, but unfortunately I couldn't stay any later.
Just like the runners, the volunteers were also presented with a good bag which is a nice touch.
I have my own family and if you are a runner, you automatically have an extended family!
I will definitely be at the CycloPark again next May, if not as a runner (hopeful but unlikely) certainly as a volunteer!
Until next time
TJH
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