Race for Life 5k

When someone asks if you'll do a Race for Life with them, the answer should always be "yes". It's a fun, short race in aid of Cancer Research UK and because they're held all over the UK, there's usually one local to you.

If, however, you ask ME to do a Race for Life with you then, well.... true competitive spirit kicks in. "Oh yes, I'll run that," as any runner would say. I am however no longer a runner. Not after the Chicago Marathon 2012 and certainly not after being diagnosed with Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction a month later.

I'd woken up with pain down both legs that morning, which didn't bode well at all. The hotel bed was soft and I'd put the pain down to that. I think I knew that something was really wrong though and that's why I visited my chiropractor not long after getting home.

She took one look at my feet and basically ended any running career I had there and then. My left foot was the worse, and her diagnosis explained pain I'd had for years. When I started running however, I'd dismissed it as training pain. I hadn't stretched off sufficiently, or was even overdoing it by running too much.
When I decided I was going to RUN the Race for Life, I started training in secret. This way I would only disappoint myself if I ended up walking in the end. I told very few people of my plans. I started treadmill running on Sunday mornings and basically built up from there. I couldn't run the full distance at the beginning and certainly not at a good pace.

Slowly I built up until I could make the distance. I was disappointed to realise that I wasn't going to make my 10 minute mile again and settled on a 12-13 minute/mile. I was after all lucky to be running at all.

During this time, I ran briefly on concrete whilst I was away for a weekend doing a parachute jump. That went OK, but I deliberately kept it short.

One week before the Race, I had to get my run in but it was a warm day and likely to be sweltering in the gym. I made the mistake of running on concrete. I had pain in both legs almost immediately and pulled up quickly, eventually walking home with tight and painful calves.

I couldn't believe I'd done it, after being so careful. I didn't run again and told everyone I would definitely be walking the race. I was pissed off to say the least.

Wednesday 19 June - the day of the Race
I had a normal day at work. I kept one eye on the weather which was pointless as the race was that evening and some 30 odd miles away. I guess nerves were setting in. I sat carefully in my chair all day, not wanting to bring on pain, icing on and off and deciding not to risk a walk at lunchtime in crappy shoes. Stressful periods of working didn't help but finally at 2.55pm, I raced down to the kitchen to put my ice packs in the freezer before preparing to leave for home.

Not thinking, I leaned over the fridge door to open the small freezer door inside - and everything in my left hip twanged.

I couldn't believe it. I'd done it again. Actually, it wasn't my fault. My SIJD was that bad, anything could make it worse. Slowly I walked back to my desk, got my stuff, got changed and left. Earlier in the day both my chiropractor and chi running coach had suggested I resort to walking the race. I knew it was all on grass, but not knowing the area I thought that could've meant anything. Track? Trail? Oh well, walking wouldn't be so bad I guessed.

Home, changed, play list sorted, and we were off. It was suddenly blazing hot - in the UK, at 6.30pm in the evening? Typical. I'd drank my normal 8 cups of water throughout the day and felt hydrated enough. I'd planned and stuck to a carefully laid out eating plan. It was now or never.

I didn't have an incredible amount of pain in either hip, foot or leg so when the announcer told us to get into our groups, I turned my back on the walkers and headed for the joggers. I knew there was no point going with the runners. I would just get demoralised. The joggers I could stick with, particularly considering the heat and the fact that most of the joggers didn't look like they actually did much jogging.

And we were off. And I was running. No substantial calf pain. Nothing mega in my hips or back. Taking it steady nonetheless with the heat and crowds around me.

It was all soft grass. It was similar to a school playing field with one major incline about a third of the way round. We had to make two laps, although it felt more like a big figure of 8 than anything.

I wasn't looking at my time on the way round, instead looking at my calorie burn go up. Not sure why. I guess I wasn't really thinking of the time at all, half expecting that it would actually take me longer. I kept going. It was fricking hot, too hot, with no shade at all and every now and then a glimpse of the road show and supporters waiting for us at the finish line.

I encouraged as many women on the way round as I could, patting the walkers on the back to get them going again, although no-one did the same to me. It didn't matter. I ran a whole lot with one woman - Kerry - and spoke to her afterwards too, although I'll probably never see her again. :/

I was very glad to get to the end, if only to get out of the heat. I wasn't particularly dehydrated, but needed a drink. I took my headphones off as I approached the finish so I could hear the crowd. Chicago, it wasn't but they did their best.Darren was waiting for me in the crowd, taking photos although I didn't see him until after I'd finished. My time? 38:08 minutes. I'd shaved a good minute off my training time on the treadmill.

I stuffed down the chocolate twinkie thing and tipped some of a bottle of water over my head. Then, the coveted bling. Ah yes, the medal. "Is this chocolate?" I asked. I'm still running for it, I guess.
 
Verdict 

Cost: 15GBP - a steal and for a great cause
Pros: Mile markers, finisher medal
Cons: No aid stations