London 10km, well sort of.😀

[Realfoodieclub]

I am putting this up on both forums just because if it is something you fancy doing it is good to have an idea of what happens.

Firstly let me explain I was not running today, I was a volunteer Course Marshall.

My day started at 5.25 am when my alarm went off. I had got everything ready the night before and it felt exactly the way it does on Race day, apart from this morning I wasn’t to fussed about getting some breakfast down me. A short walk to the bus and then off I went to get myself to central london for 7am.

I got to the grand building where they were hosting the sign in and logged myself in, I was then directed to a big room that was full of people who were wearing the tabards and black base ball caps they had just been given. Breakfast was then provided, there was a choice of vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and the one I chose, a big brioche roll with crispy bacon in it. 😀. Coffee, tea, orange juice and water. A variety of crisps and snacks for the morning were provided along with water in little cartons, no plastic bottles. Virgin are doing no plastic bottle events now.

After we had our breakfasts we were collected in our groups to be have our final briefing and be taken to our positions. I thought I was going to be at Piccadilly but there was a slight change around and I was moved to Leicester Square. We got into position just over an hour before the event started, there were four of us on our little section and we chatted for the time we had and got caught up on all the events we had been doing and what we were hoping to do, if you meet other runners you will always find something to chat about 😀.

Then it was time at 9:46am the first runners came through and we clapped, cheered and shouted encouragement. Well for me that was that, how could I start like that and then stop, so I just didn’t, I kept going all the way right through to the final runner and I loved every moment of it. Sometimes I would catch a runners eye and I would get the biggest smile back in return, sometime I would smile and say you are doing great to a runner who was flagging a bit and they would look up give me a cheeky grin and find a spurt form no where. It was a great feeling to be part of the run on the side lines and I loved every minute of it.

My step counter has gone a bit crazy, I had walked over 9,000 steps by the time the race started but it calculated another 11,000 during the event, I did find that I had a rhythm going stepping from side to side as I called out and clapped. We saw the back of the pack runners through and made sure they were treated exactly the same as the front runners

So my stats from the event, walking to and from 25,424 steps

1 hour 45 mins clapping and shouting.

So far my calorie count expenditure for today is 3,605.😂😂😂.

I do feel like I have had a workout and in some ways I feel like I have done more than actually running the 10km. But what a fantastic way to spend the morning.

My rewards for doing this, I will be emailed a code next week that will allow me to enter a Virgin Sport event for free, I already have my eye on the one I want.

So if you want to soak up the atmosphere and get free entry to a race, this a great way to get involved. I will definitely be doing it again, 😀.

Happy running to you all.

Rfc x

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Fantastic day for you RFC, amazing statistics considering that you were not actually running, yes, get into a free event of your choice.

As for me, no parkrun yesterday, however, I did run a little, I put on week 5 run 3 of C25K with Laura and ran for 20 minutes then did a bit of weekend shopping, for this week and next week as I entend to run my second parkrun this coming weekend.

This morning I went for a 8.65 kilometer walk, according to my Mapmywalk app my pace 10.41, 471 calories with 11,092 steps.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you, You sound like you have some good stats going on there too 😀, great day, well done, it all mounts up. Rfc x

[Debston Graduate10]

Brilliant stuff, I bet your enthusiasm and encouraging comments made a huge difference to the runners, especially those who were starting to flag.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

Thank you. It was such good fun, all and get to do on here in real life, I was so in my element. Rfc x

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

How brilliant RFC. I usually stand and cheer at the Great South Run (not in any official capacity) and my hands are sore at the end of it. This year I hope to run it instead.

Did you just put yourself down as a volunteer and see what they put you down for? A free run for you is great pay back .

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

I have cheered on the sidelines and it is great fun. I went to event before my first one and from the first time I saw an event I knew I was going to be hooked, this just gives me a really nice way to be able to afford it 😀. I went to my event webpage and saw they had a volunteer page, I signed up and they let me know the events that I can do by email. Meeting other volunteers today I realise lots of people Marshall and get a free place and do this every year, and to be quite honest I think it is what I will do from now on as you get a great day and save a load of money in the process. Rfc x

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Excellent- entering these events is not cheap

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

That’s definitely one for my diary next year RFC 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️. It sounds wonderful. Good for you for volunteering, I bet it was tons of fun. Brilliant! 👍👏👏👏

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It was a great event and great landmarks for running around. I think I will marshall again next year as well, it was brilliant. Well worth putting in your diary for a good run. Rfc. X

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Good to have a volunteer's perspective & a great way to soak up the atmosphere and see what it's all about. I think part of the problem with committing to a race is the scary unknown of how it all works and volunteering certainly solves that! I'm impressed with your calorie expenditure too - everyone's a winner! 😁

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Slinkymalinki]

I wanted to do the report so people could see there is so much else going on around an event and there seems to be a whole other community within the runner volunteers as well, so friendly. I treated myself with a Magnum I e cream last night and glass of wine before I crashed 😀.

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Think you deserved that little indulgence! 😋

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Sounds like a great day RFC, good for you for doing such a fab job 🙂

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you, it was such a good fun thing to do 😀.

[angie31964]

Sounds like a great day! And you were very supportive! 🎉 and you did all those steps! Wow!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to angie31964]

Thank you, I really had a great day all round. 😀, the determination on some of the runners faces, it felt great to be helping to encourage them. Rfc x

[lexi6 Graduate10]

Rfc thank you loved reading that. All those steps Wow! What a lovely event to be involved with and I know if I had been in that race your applause and shouting would have made all the difference. 👍

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Thank you, I am still finding out all the new things that running can bring into your life. It never stops surprising me 😀. Rfc x

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

I know what you mean Rfc isn’t it wonderful? X