We had a running day yesterday, well my daughter did. Yesterday was her annual Race for Life event. For those that don't know what that is, it is a women only Cancer Research run over 5km (3.1 miles)and included around 3,500 women per race and they take place all over the UK. They raise some serious money towards Cancer Research and particularly women's cancer, an area that is neglected by the NHS as men get preferential treatment.
She did it for the first time 3 years ago and came in the 60's somewhere, in around 30 mins. As this is a charity event, it's not really a race but you do get some hardcore female runners who finish in around 20 mins. Last year my daughter came 27th in 27 minutes.
I should explain that the reason she started doing it was as an incentive just after we started running, to continue training with an end goal every year. That first year (and subsequent years) she has fallen in love with the day, the charity and the course. The course, the last 2 years, has been through Waddesdon Estate, plenty of shade and a beautiful run, as I found out as we have run it a few times.
Unfortunately the course wasn't a available this year as the roads were in poor condition and they were repairing them, so she was entered in the Milton Keynes run, yesterday morning.
She seemed particularly nervous as we hadn't run too much last week, 3 days out of 7 but she seemed intent on pushing her boundaries. We got there and there are over 3,000 women standing in a field commemorating loved ones that have died, are fighting or have beaten cancer. It is a celebration, a rememberance and a steely determined effort not to bow down to something that they can change, something that only women can do. If this were a mens event, it would be competitive and not quite so supportive. Last year a couple of ladies pushed my daughter up a hill she was struggling with, in a mens race we would trample them underfoot, checking them off as one down, so many to go.
There was a poignant moment when they had a minute of silence and released 12 white doves. They wheeled above the crowd of silent, pink dressed women and disappeared into the grey, leaden sky. You really couldn't help but reflect on those that you know that have fought and others that have died of Cancer. You could't help but glance at the sea of faces, young and old, all with a tale to tell.
The 10k runners went off first so I led my daughter to the start line. She was pretty far back as it was jammed with women, all waiting to start.
The start went down a straight for maybe 100 yards, then turned a sharp left and I positioned myself round the bend. I intended to snap the first ladies round the bend and then take a longer exposure shot of the ladies running past, a moving wave of pink and in between that, cheer my daughter. The horn went and off they set. I waited expectantly for the first runner, she came round the bend and it was my daughter. With the determination that only a 12 year old can muster, she pushed her way to the front and took off from the start like a rocket. By the time she got to me, the rest of the field was a second or so behind. I was cheering and laughing, the proud parent. I thought she would finish at around the 26/27 minute mark. The course had a hill and some turns at the finish so it was impossible see the runners until they were nearly on you. First place went to a young woman in around 21-22 mins. Second place was maybe a minute after that and third place must have been 23-24 mins, I know this because my daughter came storming home in 4th at 24 mins and 21 seconds, a personal best for her.
I was and am so proud. I am now considering the men's charity runs as they have a "Run for Moore", the Bobby Moore Cancer Charity run. They have a 13 miler in Windsor Great Park so I am about to up my running miles before I enter. I was also very interested in parkrun.com, a series of free runs across the Country. There isn't one near me but I guess that's because people avoid this area, no-one comes here for fun but there is the option of starting one.
Anyway, enough of the proud parent and next time it will be back to the grumpy old man!
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