It’s a bright but very chilly morning. I walk through the castle grounds and I’m delighted to catch up with the She Runs Cardiff runners and speak to friends there. I meet my dear running buddy Helen and we head to our starting pen where we are amused to be complimented by a young man for still running at our great ages. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, ladies,’ he says, clearly fascinated, ‘How old are you both?’.
There’s a long wait for the start, but then we’re off and I settle in at a nice, comfortable pace. Tom’s waiting for me just past the 5k mark, and I’m so delighted to spot him in the crowd that I stop to give him a kiss and get told to hurry up because Helen’s in front of me! Today, however, I’m not hurrying, or going silly. I stick to my plan, I stop for water and to refuel and most of all I enjoy hearing the support from the wonderful crowd lining every step of the route, and chatting to other runners along the way. It’s brilliant.
The biggest and best surprise comes just as I need it most with a couple of miles to go. I hear my name being called and look up to find I’m right beside two dear friends, Ann - one of my Thursday Girls, (our very post-natal group) and her husband, Keith. They’ve travelled here from Surrey to cheer on their son, but it must be some sort of miracle that we’ve spotted each other in the vast crowds. Ann and Keith make me feel absolutely heroic so they both get a sweaty hug for thanks - poor things - and I feel a real spring in my step to get me to the finish line.
I come home in 2 hours 18 minutes, which is well within my standard finish times and just goes to prove that I don’t have to bust a gut to get a good result. Hey, I even manage 36/138 in my age group. Helen absolutely smashes it and finishes 1/8 in hers. It’s just a shame there’s no finisher photo of her in the hall of fame afterwards, I joke to her that next time we’ll have to shed 30 years or run in our underwear to get noticed, but nobody wants to see that! Joking apart, it’s a been a lovely race, I’ve enjoyed every moment and it’s boosted my race confidence no end. My grateful thanks to the organisers, the sponsors and to the brilliant volunteers who so cheerfully give up their time and make the event possible.
And in other news...
As an author, it’s always so lovely when readers take the time and trouble to leave a review for one of my books so it’s great to see 5* reviews coming in for Sailing Kind. I’m also moved by readers’ comments about how my books have touched them in some way. I’ve had such lovely feedback for Running Kind and it means so much when folks tell me they’ve been encouraged to run after reading it. Perhaps the happiest ending to one of my books, however, was when one very kind couple decide to give a loving home to a rescue greyhound after reading my novella, Only True in Fairy Tales. I’m delighted to say that Only True in Fairy Tales has now been re-edited, republished and given a beautiful new cover by talented young graphic designer, Isabelle Swan. Best of all, Isabelle has given centre stage to Gracie, the heroine, Eloise’s rescue greyhound. I love it and I hope you do too.
The biggest and best surprise comes just as I need it most with a couple of miles to go. I hear my name being called and look up to find I’m right beside two dear friends, Ann - one of my Thursday Girls, (our very post-natal group) and her husband, Keith. They’ve travelled here from Surrey to cheer on their son, but it must be some sort of miracle that we’ve spotted each other in the vast crowds. Ann and Keith make me feel absolutely heroic so they both get a sweaty hug for thanks - poor things - and I feel a real spring in my step to get me to the finish line.
I come home in 2 hours 18 minutes, which is well within my standard finish times and just goes to prove that I don’t have to bust a gut to get a good result. Hey, I even manage 36/138 in my age group. Helen absolutely smashes it and finishes 1/8 in hers. It’s just a shame there’s no finisher photo of her in the hall of fame afterwards, I joke to her that next time we’ll have to shed 30 years or run in our underwear to get noticed, but nobody wants to see that! Joking apart, it’s a been a lovely race, I’ve enjoyed every moment and it’s boosted my race confidence no end. My grateful thanks to the organisers, the sponsors and to the brilliant volunteers who so cheerfully give up their time and make the event possible.
And in other news...
As an author, it’s always so lovely when readers take the time and trouble to leave a review for one of my books so it’s great to see 5* reviews coming in for Sailing Kind. I’m also moved by readers’ comments about how my books have touched them in some way. I’ve had such lovely feedback for Running Kind and it means so much when folks tell me they’ve been encouraged to run after reading it. Perhaps the happiest ending to one of my books, however, was when one very kind couple decide to give a loving home to a rescue greyhound after reading my novella, Only True in Fairy Tales. I’m delighted to say that Only True in Fairy Tales has now been re-edited, republished and given a beautiful new cover by talented young graphic designer, Isabelle Swan. Best of all, Isabelle has given centre stage to Gracie, the heroine, Eloise’s rescue greyhound. I love it and I hope you do too.
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