What started as a Dare......... by dizzie1981

This weekend has been so much fun. I volunteered to join our running club's mixed team for the 'Emily Hart Netball Tournament for Acorns Childrens Hospice' (the charity I ran the WHW for). As it was in Sunderland we all agreed to meet up for Park Run beforehand. I arrived with 5 minutes to spare and set off at a steady pace. As we got going I decided I felt pretty good and could push the pace. I was suffering a bit on the 2nd lap of the park lake but I knew I was on for a PB so I held on. I realised I was in with a chance of breaking the 25 minute barrier and gave it my all on the last 100 meters. Sadly that stretch was uphill and although I got a PB of 25mins 8 secs (or 25 mins 2 secs according to the website) I was gutted to have come so close and missed out!

After a quick mcdonalds breakfast we headed over to the netball courts. We were pretty impressed with the turnout and possibly slightly nervous as half of us had never played before, the rest hadn't played in a long time. The bibs were handed out, I was given Goal Attack to start with but after the first game everyone swapped positions as we realised the hard way what each persons strengths were! We were well and truely beaten by the first team but we decided that was our warm up and eventually got our act together.

After the initial shock of how fast and aggressive the game was (and the men figuring out that the rules differ to basket ball!) we started to get pretty good at it. We even played the BBC's team twice. I ended up being more useful as Wing Attack but I really could have done with a position that required less sprinting after the morning's 5K PB!

I played in 5 of the 8 games over 5 hours and I'm really suffering for it today.My calves and Back are in bits and I've had to take a nap this afternoon!  Thought us runners were supposed to be fit!?

Thoroughly enjoyable day and I think we raised in excess of £700. We all commented that Elvet Striders should make this a regular event with perhaps boys v girls!