The race was due to start at 11 and we were still faffing about looking for things and eating breakfast at 10.20. We managed to leave the house at 10.30 and by 10.45 Sarah-Jane and the boys had dropped me off at the race. They were gonna go find a playground for the boys to play in then meet me back at the finish at 12pm. The start/Finish straight was the drive of the Rugby club and health club which had the river running parallel to it which made it a nice Start/Finish. As this was my first big race I had no idea what I was suppose to do at this point. Did I need to register or tell someone I was here. I worked out for myself that I didn't and then my next question was what sort of warm up to do? There was lots of people doing different warm ups from sprints to stretches and power walking to jogging around the Rugby pitch. I'm always a bit self conscious when it comes to stretches in front of others, as I'm worried I'm doing it wrong and they look at me like "what on earth is he doing?" I did a few stretches and a bit of walking around that was fine by me as a warm up. On my walk about I came across a list of all the people in the race and they had reached their 600 limit. There was also a merchandise area with all sorts of equipment and clothing available, luckily for me I didn't bring any money with me. As 11 drew close everyone started to make there way to the start, followed by lots of jokes about not starting at the front so they don't get overtaken by too many people.
There was a small speech by the starter, who introduce everyone to a blind lady who had guide runner with her. Then we were off and after a slight delay we crossed the start line, as we reached the bottom of the rear entrance driveway a bloke in front if a couple of us went over in his ankle. Tough guy he just carried on he was determined and after a bit of hopping was off and I never saw him again. The traffic was stopped whilst all 600 of us got a head start up the main road to Meltham. There was a good 2 mile steady hill in front of us up to Netherton, then a half mile downhill. This was needed just so you could catch your breath as the next hill was a beast and as steep as you can imagine a road could be. I knew it was coming and as I starting up it I slowed appropriately as not to burn myself out even if it was only halfway and I had plenty of energy still. As I mentioned it was a beast and about 5 metres from the top a Lady stopped and walked which somewhere I'm my brain said I was allowed to do the same. I started walking and as I reached the top I could feel my stomach go and I knew it was inevitable I was going to throw up I pulled over and as I reach the 3 mile marker I thru up. I couldn't believe it I've never thrown up from exercise before and was slightly disheartened, but after a little bit more walking I was running again. After a couple of corners there was a downhill and another chance to get my breath back. Then there was another steep hill not as steep as the last but longer and about halfway up I walked again. I was about 32 mins into the run and this was the course record time for completing it never mind begin 4 and a bit miles in. At the top of the hill was Netherton again and from here we crossed over to Armitage bridge which involved a very steep downhill and I'm sure there were a few fallers on this bit and a few runners coming down with windmill arms. At the bottom there was a small diversion through a car park to add a few hundred metres to the run and then there was a small and final climb up to woodhead rd. this was the final mile and final stretch of the run, I decided to try and pick up the pace to finish on a high. I managed to overtake a few on the way down to Lockwood and as I entered the drive way onto the finish straight I tried sprint finish but it was more like a jog with added grunts. As I crossed the line I turned my App off and was told to keep walking so I didn't block the road. I joined the cue to get my bottle of water and my T-Shirt whilst waiting I looked at my time and I had completed it in 57mins. At first I was really disappointed but taking into account the 2 walks and the throwing up incident I was a bit happier with the time.
I Rang Sarah-Jane to find out where she and the boys were and they were just coming up the drive way. Dexter ran up to me and gave me a big hug which was ace, then said they had been waiting halfway round the route looking for me and cheering others on whilst waiting for me. We missed each other somehow and as they said they were halfway round the route I had to confess my throwing up incident to them in case they were bluffing and waiting for me to come clean. They weren't and I had come clean oh well it was always gonna go in the blog. On the way back to the car at the end if the drive Dexter decided he needed a wee so I sent him up a little bank and behind a tree to wee but he choose to wee towards all the people leaving at the same time so they got 1 last treat before they left.
It was a great day and a great experience and I will almost definitely do it again next year. But training now goes on and it's 3 weeks till my run the Shepley First School Fun Run, it's getting close. But most of all its getting exciting and we're still getting people signing up.....
Keep running everyone.
