Over 30,000 people in the biggest 10k event in the UK. So, a big enough challenge to make it round among the throng, you may think. Apparently not, fancy dress was the order of the day...
Now, I have always been about the running time and was decidedly sceptical about dressing up and making a physical endurance event that much harder. However, I am also far too sensitive about being challenged in any way on just at anything; so when Roz called me out I had no choice but to accept and help decide how embarrassing this was going to be. After some reflection, Roz being taller, Nintendo being a paragon of gaming excellence for decades, and the costumes not being too restrictive, we opted for Mario and Luigi of Super Mario Bros. fame.
It could have been worse, at least we just had to wear a large 'tache instead of giant kinky afro, even the hats were a loose fit. We had the added bonus of meeting a lovely lady in our hotel at breakfast, she spotted Roz's top promoting the Team's CF Trust fundraising and went on to thank us profusely. Her grand-daughter has Cystic Fibrosis and we discussed briefly all of the progess being made to help advance treatment. It certainly reminded us of why we were doing all the challenges, when she talked of all the medication and physio her loved one had to take. So we rolled out of our hotel onto the start line in high spirits. The conditions were good too, a little overcast and not too stiff a breeze.It. Was. Awesome. The buzz of the event was good enough in itself as we set off all together, now the wave from Jessica Ennis at the start was fun, but the reaction from the crowd all the way round was phenomenal, it seems love spreads. We ran the first kilometre together and got loads of shout outs from the crowd. I hadn't even considered how popular we would be with kids along the route, but whether it was high pitched youngsters or parents pointing us out on the way round we had loads of well wishes and cheers helping us to step on. A personal highlight being at 7km as the route turned back on itself when a girl screamed, 'Hey, go Mario - we've just seen Luigi!'
The organisation was great, so much so we could arrange to meet up at a charity village and the CF Trust stall there at the GMEX centre. There we met a friendly support team with plenty of crips, juice and chocolate to aid us in our recovery - even taking time out to take a snap of us without moustaches but with some medallions!
So a shower at the hotel, a late check out and time to come home with a sit down on the groovy train back to Edinburgh. A cracking weekend all in. Onward to June and the Glasgow to Islay bike ride, around 90 miles to knock off. No worries...what were we thinking...
As always, huge thanks for all the support and generosity - it is really appreciated and is making all the effort more than worthwhile.
https://www.justgiving.com/teams/FCF - Over £3,000 raised, you guys are awesome!
Bri.
