Newbie to this running malarky! by abbylovescakes

So, after a long wait Satruday finally saw my first proper race - The Big Fun Run in Derby.  It didn't start brilliantly when we got lost on the way to the park, and I was so desperate for the loo we had to stop on the way.  Still, we arrived with nearly an hour to spare so there wasn't any huge rush or anything.

There was probably less than 200 people competing, and it was a very chilled out atmosphere, not at all competitive.  I didn't see many people who looked like really serious runners and there were no clubs there.  Probably about a quarter of the people running were raising money for charity (although my Dad and I were the only ones with our names on our tops!)  Pre race pic -

I said in my last blog that the weather was expected to be scorching and it really was!  It was probably about 20degrees by 11 o'clock, when the race started.  Now I don't run in the heat - I always run either first thing in the morning, or in the evening when it's a bit cooler.  I also run mostly in the shade along the River Lune.  So imagine my delight when not only was I running in the SERIOUS heat, but there was very little shade (despite the fact that it was in a blimmin park!)  I was aiming for a time of 35mins, so 7 mins per km, and my plan was to do what I've been doing in training, so run for 10 mins, walk for 2 mins, run for 10mins and so on.  It started fairly well, and I ran for 10 mins, and got to the 1km marker at 6.45mins (in retrospect, I wonder if perhaps I went off too quickly.  Having never raced before and never run with other people before I knew this was a mistake I was likely to make but I found it really hard not to try and keep up with other people.)  Once I'd been running for 10 mins I took a walking break for 1.5mins, then started running again.  Whether I was running too fast, or if it was the heat I don't know but after 5mins I had to take another walking break.  I was absolutely knackered, boiling hot and feeling awful to be honest.  I started wondering why I thought I could run in the first place, and paniced about all the races I'd entered!  The rest of the race was pretty much like this, running and walking off and on, but I walked a lot more than I expected to, and more than I normally do in training.  But the heat really was killing me!  Just before the 3km marker the route went past the finish line so I saw my Mum and we all got cheered on which was nice.  I reached 3km at 21mins, just as the winner was coming in!  It was a really young lad - probably only about 12 who apparently also won last year!  So I'm hoping that he might be at the 2012 olympics!   This is me at this point (I was running honestly!)

 Anyway, I got to 4km at about 28mins so I was still on for my time of 35mins.  By this time though I just had nothing left, and even though I could hear I was getting close to the finish I honestly couldn't find anything left inside me to give my that last push!  But I started jogging again and as I came round the corner to the finish line and saw all the people and my Mum I had this huge rush of adrenaline and pride, that I'd competed my first race, that I raised money for a charity which is so important to me, and I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face and feeling absolutely amazing!  There was a guy with a microphone shouting everyones numbers out when they crossed the finish line, but because I had my name on my top he shouted 'And here's Abby running for Bowel Cancer UK - what a great cause!'  I can't describe how amazing that felt (although I know that most people reading this will now EXACTLY how it felt!) and I've got tears in my eyes just writing this!  Here's me nearly at the finish line!

 My Mum told me how proud she was of me which was lovely, and I just felt so chuffed!  Of course in all the excitement I completly forgot to stop my watch!  When I did remember it was on 36.45mins, so I think I completed it in about 36mins, which I was really pleased with considering all the walking I did!  My Dad came in about 5 mins after me, and even though he was supposed to be walking the whole thing he came round the corner running and crossed the finish line like that!  I nearly didn't recognise him!  He was pretty knackered after his 100m sprint finish but he was as pleased as me to have finished and raised money for charity.  Post race pics -

As a first race I think this was perfect - not competitive, fairly small, friendly people etc.  I did get a little confused by some of the signs saying 'Edinburgh Marathon - Runners Keep Left'.  I though, well I'm in Derby now so if I'm going up to Edinburgh I've got a hell of a long way to go!  I also learnt quite a few things, about me and races in general -

1.  Don't get caught up trying to keep up with other people and PACE YOURSELF!

2.  A lot of the race was really quiet with no supporters, which really suprised me, but it was quite nice to think about what I was doing

3.  Having marshalls talk to you gives you a huge boost!  There were quite a lot of marshalls but only two of them spoke to me.  One said 'Keep going, you're doing really well!' which gave me a huge boost just when I needed it.  The rest of them just ignored me or talked to their mates.  From about half way through to the end I had a huge gap in front of me and behind me, so it was really quite lonely, and I was getting really worried I'd gone the wrong way!  It would've been nice for them to say something then but no-one did :(

4.  I need to train in the sun and get better at running in the heat!

Overall, it was a fantastic experience, even though at one point I thought I'd made a huge mistake and felt rubbish!  The elation I felt when I crossed the finish line is something I honestly don't think I've felt for about 10years since I performed in dancing shows.  And as people on this site warned me - it's addictive!  I wanted to go for another run that evening but I managed to stop myself, and had a rest day yesterday.  Back to it today though (and thank god it's raining!)

One other quick thing - people talk about the goody bags you get after a run, and I was honestly expecting this one to be crap, but I was really impressed!  There was a medal (OK, maybe it's a bit of a rubbish one but I'm so proud of it!), water, fruit juice, banana, 2x cans of deodrant (1 male, 1 female), a small bottle of body lotion, a 100ml bottle of body wash, a sachet of muscle gel, 2xfruit bars, 2 bags of seeds and various vouchers for discounts at gyms and hotels.  I thought that was ace for an £8 entry fee!

Anyway, that was a seriously long blog and I apologise but it was just ACE! And I managed to add pics!