Another year, another challenge by iacamp

I took the chance of some race experience today. 

The search for the safety pins and the race information. The difficult decision of how much and what to wear.Turning up far too early. Finding all the shops are shut. The joys of the crowds at the start as they greet long-lost friends (well people they haven't seen since last week). Queing for the toilet. The cheery banter from the marshalls. The bizarre conversations around you as the first mile marker is reached. The undesired increase in pace as we all warm up.  The search for a good spot behind similar-paced but larger runners, to protect from the wind and rain. The water stops and the challenge of drinking from plastic cups. The thinning of the field as we leave the 15-mile runners behind. The final push as we climb the hill before the finsh. The cheering and clapping of a few spectators, struggling with children and large umbrellas. The finish and the funnel and the realisation that the 21 miles+ is over.

Fortunately I found someone's hand to shake at the end and agree that we'd had a good time. Otherwise it would have been straight home for a hot bath.

It might not have been the London Marathon, but all the characteristic features of the day were there. Except for the baggage lorries. And the Lucozade Sport. And the sheer scale of the event. Not long now.

Keep up the training.  Sponsor a runner today.