Michelle and I did a charity race for Cancer Research UK today.
It's a women's only event, organised annually to help raise the awareness of breast cancer, and in due course, increase funds for the organisation's activities.
The race started at 11 this morning at Bute Park, which is just outside Aberdare Hall. I actually didn't know anything about RFL until about a month ago, when Michy said she was doing a charity run and asked if I was interested. Always up for some adrenaline rush and things for a good cause, I agreed.
Not wanting to suffer the embarrassment of finishing last, we did some training sessions at Bute Park over the last couple of weeks, just to familiarise ourselves with the route and also to have a rough idea of our fitness levels, which, needless to say, fell into the category of DANGEROUSLY UNFIT!
But although we weren't (at all) serious in our training sessions, I was surprised that we actually finished the 5km run around Bute Park in just under 40 minutes. I know it's not a record-breaking, Olympic-winning time, but still, we exerted ourselves and actually RAN! So even if you're not going to give me a pat on the back, I WILL!
And already did =P
I can't begin to count how many times during the race that I felt like giving up and walk instead (which one is allowed to do, fortunately), but I forced myself to keep running, because I know if I ever stop, I'd be too comfortable to want to start running again. Granted, there were times when we had to slow down because of the masses ahead of us (8000 odd participants showed up for the race, which is pretty incredible), but I think did well enough to not give in to my selfish and weak urges!
As I was saying to my family and a couple of people who knew I was racing today, I almost passed out after crossing the finishing line, but you know, the personal satisfaction in knowing that I've challenged myself to the max and yet came out on top is indescribable.
So much so I'm seriously thinking about the London (half) marathon next year!
Ok Munny, one step at a time...
Still standing...but our knees looked like they were ready to cave in, any second then!
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
