Costa
del Wolverhampton Half
Pam Edmunds writes
Well after only being back from sunning ourselves
in Portugal 7 days previously Gail & I were on our way to collect Raj
who still smelt of suntan lotion as she had only returned from Spain 2
days ago !!
So how prepared for this 13 mile run were we ??
.......and how very nervous sick & apprehensive we felt !!
As soon as we arrived all clad the same in our
white Dudley Ladies shirts we were approached by The Express & Star who
asked if the "DUDLEY SUPERLADIES" would mind having their pics for the paper -
Which we obliged ( better now than at the end when we look the worse for
wear) ...that's if we get to the end ! Sadly he wanted our ages too for
some reason ! After posing happily we found ourselves at the start line.
I
t doesn't matter how many runs you have done you
still get the collywobbles which are made worse if you feel you haven't
done quite enough training .Even though we convinced ourselves that '
this is only a training run for the proper one' (Great North Run in 3
weeks time )
But when that hooter sounded to start the race you
are focused on completing this quite challenging hilly run ..... but we
all agreed to take it steady and not go too fast . After 4 miles we
were averaging 10 minute miles and feeling surprisingly comfortable Raj
was a little ahead but we were together again at 7 mile . They had
promised rain but alas that yellow ball appeared - a runners nightmare
but luckily the latter half of the race was cloudy & cooler ( Thank
goodness) .
Thanks goes to Rita & Phil who cheered & encouraged us on the last
lap when we needed it most!
We completed the race in 2 hours 22 mins with Raj
coming in minutes after Even managed a sprint finish ..well ok a
slightly quicker jog ! .We were just pleased we got through it and not
a bad time for 3 old Uns ( sorry Raj
However Vicky Spencer a new Dudley Lady ran it in
2 hours 10 mins, not bad for a first 1/2 marathon virgin !!!! ( sorry
Vicky ) but you did so well .Congratulations to you gal ! Also lovely to
see other Dudley Ladies there who came to support
So .......... was it the 12.3 training run we did
3 weeks ago or the aqua aerobics in the hotel pool and visits to the
Portuguese Gym by Gail that help us??????
In hindsight, I think it was probably all the
fruit we've been having in the Sangria !! hahaha
Missed everyone at club Tuesday, I'd got a
blister on me bunion so couldn't run, Raj had lost a nail and Gail
had got wooden legs, so we went over the pub instead but I so wanted
to wish everyone the best of luck for the Lake Vyrnwy Race on
Sunday I know lots of you have trained really hard and deserve a
good run . We will be thinking of
you all !
Love Pam, Gail & Raj xxxx
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