Some of my running firsts.

You may have read about my first attempt to run on the treadmill and the near vomiting and out of body experience it caused. Well here are some more of my firsts.


First 5K.

This was the Lindfield fun run and was also my first race. I really didn't know what to expect and was a little intimidated by the sight of tracksuited runners doing laps of the small park as a warm up. They were running faster than I would normally run and they were only taking it easy. Fortunately most of these "professionals" were entered in the 10k that ran at the same time.
It was a cold and damp spring morning but I soon warmed up as the race began. Being a fun run there were a lot of children in the 5k. They burst away from the start en masse, there enthusiasm certainly not dampened by the drizzle. Their sprint start was soon halted by the first hill after 100m and the adults could pick their way through. I soon crested the hill and there was a nice downhill tarmac section and the speed felt good. I found myself running on my own through a riverside meadow which was knee deep in wet grass with only a few runners ahead to try and catch up with. Eventually I came across a 1 sign and thought "what a long kilometre that was, I don't think i'll make it" But I kept going and picked off a couple more runners, then the 2 sign came and then the 3, as I ran down another hill a marshall told me it wasn't far and he was right. The race was 5k yet the markers were in miles! I rounded the corner and sprinted past another runner in the last 100m. I'd finished my first race in 7th, my first 5k in 23mins.


My first league race.

The Arunners are part of the West Sussex Fun Run League. My first race was Hove Park 5k. This race was 3 laps of the park.
What a great sight it is too see all the runners in their club vests. I made my way to where the Arunners had set up camp and discussed race plans with a few of the club. Then it was into a circle for warm ups and then final toilet stops before heading to the start. The race itself started with a mad dash which the leaders kept up all the way round. The good thing about the short laps was being encouraged by the front runners as they came past and being able to encourage the back markers as I passed them. At least I hope I was encouraging!
This was also the first race in which I had to pit stop for the toilet. I had to make do with the nearest bush and when I popped back out I hoped that no-one thought I'd been hiding in there until the race was nearly over! Toilets breaks seem to have become a habit in my races, I always go before a race but a few minutes in I feel the urge. I can't think of a much worse sound in a race than the footsteps of half the field passing by while I'm tucked behind a bush!
I finished the race fairly well and in 22mins 2secs.


My first 10k.

This was at Arundel and what a treat it was. Starting off in the town centre you are quickly in the grounds of the castle and then through into Arundel Park. The first half of the race is pretty much all uphill, not too steep but long. Fortunately the Arunners run in Arundel on a regular basis so it wasn't a shock. It was a warm day and I was able to pass a lot of people who had been caught out by the hill after a fast start. The course planners have been a bit cruel and put the finish halfway up the high street. After a nice downhill back through the castle you turn into the high street with great encouragement from the sizeable crowd. This encouragement is desperately welcome as the steepness of the vision is muscle killing and determination wilting.
This is where I picked up my first running injury. Sprint finish for the cameras and overtaking one last runner I pulled my Hamstring. I crossed the line happy but hurt in 48mins.


My first Half-Marathon.

My Mother-in-law works for a Hospice in Northamptonshire. Each year the organise a fund raising 10k and half-marathon. www.cransleyhospice.org.uk Being a dutiful husband and son-in-law I was signed up alongside my wife to run the Half.
This was going to be the farthest I'd ever run so two weeks before I ran 10 miles and it went okay.
Strangely for a race which starts and finishes in pretty much the same place it is more uphill than down. I don't know how they managed that!
It was a scorching hot day and there was little shelter on the lanes. I found the whole thing tough going but the water stations seemed just the right distance apart and the marshalls were all friendly and encouraging.
When I got to the end I was exhausted and very pale. I was handed a bottle of water, the heaviest bottle I've ever picked up. Then, just to finish me off they handed me my memento. Not the usual medal but a paperweight. I'd just run 13 miles and they thought what I needed was a heavy piece of glass to carry! They made up for it with a chocolate bar and milkshake which really helped my recovery.

The big one... My first Marathon.

Brighton 2010. Wow, what an experience. My training was close to non-existent, injury and laziness put paid to any plans I'd thought of following. But I had survived a few 10 milers and a half marathon in the few months before.
It seemed like the whole of Brighton had turned out to watch as we twisted our way through the city streets and then out into the country. The numerous switchbacks meant we were able to see friends ahead or behind us a different points. It was great to encourage each other with a wave or smile. I managed to run the first 15 miles without stopping, the farthest I'd ever ran. From then on it became a run for 2 miles walk for 2mins and then run a mile walk for 2mins. At 20 miles I caught up with a fellow Arunner and we ran together for a couple of miles, I was pleased to hear after the race that my company had helped him on to a pb.
Crossing the line in 4hrs 7mins I didn't know what to feel. I was happy to have finished, but had no one to celebrate with. Surrounded by thousand of people but on my own.
I sorted out my kit and had a recovery banana, it wasn't long and my wife finished her race and we could go through what we had just done.
We got hope and pulled out the sofa bed, stairs were too hard. Saying good night and never again we went to sleep. Two weeks later my wife ran her 2nd marathon, nine would have to wait, but only 6 months. So much for never again!