Well what can I say. Wings for Life is a truly great race and Madge50 is a great person to do a race with - for a start I think she must know everyone in Cambridge because she said hello just loads of people on route!!
So 'The Good': That would have to be the whole wonderful race experience; running with 4000 other runners; running through a really beautiful town; racing against David Coukthard in a car; the organisation and atmosphere; the fantastic medal and technical t-shirt; great company and a great pacer in Mary. I could go on.
'The Bad': That would definitely be tripping and falling flat on my face at around 9k and then running the remainder of my race with blood dripping onto the road from under the fingernail I managed to dislodge as I landed. Eeeewwww!
'The Ugly': That would be the sight of my bruises this morning. Suffice it to say I have a right shiner and my shoulder looks, well horrible. Dunno what my nailbed looks like -I put a dressing on it yesterday and haven't dared to look at it since. 😱
But am I put off doing it next year? Definitely not, I've already pre-registered for 2018 . It was fab! Oh and of course, I have a score to settle -150 metres short of my target distance. Gotta make it to 10k next year. xx
Written by
AncientMum
Half Marathon
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Hey Carrie! That's great, I don't know everyone in Cambridge, that's just me I like to say hello! 😂, most of them run away from me because I chatter too much....mind you there were loads of people from parkrun.....😄
I really didn't think I was going that quick, or steady......it was a joy to have a buddy to run with 🤗
That was right rough that road where you took a tumble wasn't it?, apparently they didn't go on there last year, and apparently DC said parts of the route were 'really challenging' meaning that bit, all the rest was normal road.......so they may change it....can't imagine it being much good for the wheelchairs....
Ohh, hope your not in too much pain, and that nail is settling 😱😫
Yes......we've pre registered for next year too......well it'd be rude not to, don't you think?.........don't know that I'd get much further though.....can't imagine going much faster......😂
Happy days though and thank you for your fab company 🤗
Thank you lovely lady. You definitely did act as my pacer, even though you might not have realised it, and I really needed it.
I did wonder how the wheelchairs coped with that bit of road because it was horrible, so hopefully she DC's comments may result in a change of route for next year.
''Twas great to have your company before, during and after the race, so I'm delighted to know you've pre-registered for next year. Who knows, we may be joined by others too.....
Oh Carrie ! So sorry to hear about your fall, how awful for you . You showed true Yorkshire grit though carrying on to finish, youre a determined tough lady !
Really glad you enjoyed it despite the fall . It sounds really good fun , and it mustve been so nice having our lovely Madge to have a natter with.
It sounds like it was a really great atmosphere and very well organized too . Many Congratulations to you , that's one ambition fulfilled .
Hope youre not too sore today , sometimes its worse the day after though isn't it .
Cheers Sweetie, I think I have the race adrenaline to thank for being so calm about the whole thing. I'm sure if I'd had the same accident just walking down the street, I'd have been really shocked. But, because it was a race, all I could think about was carrying on running.
I look really terrible now but (thankfully) bruises heal reasonably quickly, so hopefully I'll soon be looking just 'normal terrible', rather than 'injured terrible.' 😂😂
You're right, it was lovely to have Madge there to chat to. xx
Hope you're not too sore -otherwise sounds like a great day out and no doubt you would have made your goal without the trip. You can prove that next year.
Thanks Ali, definitely definitely not put off the race. Hubby thinks I should reconsider running in varifocals, although if i abandon them I won't be able to see my Garmin 😱😱 xx
I run in an old pair of single vision glasses, purely for the reason that the varifocals are so expensive, if I fell and broke them I'd be really upset. Mind you, if I had to read anything small I'd have to take them off 😂 E.g the keypad on the parking machine at the park and ride.....I can still read my garmin though 😂 So that's ok!
Oohhh - poor you! Falling is never pleasant (I know, I make something of a habit of it, too!). It's not just the shock of the fall and the pain of the injuries, it's the indignity. At least you were in a chase, so you had an excuse of sorts. Hope it is all healing well.
Sounds a great race format and despite the injuries, you clearly had fun! Good for you for carrying on. Well done!.
That was my first fall when running, thankfully, although I've come quite close at Parkrun a couple of times. Definitely don't want to do it again for awhile. I look so alarming at the moment that I'm frightening small children!
Do you run in varifocals? My hubby thinks that was part of the reason, although I think I was just tired and didn't lift my feet high enough when I came to the speed bump. There could also have been contributory negligence on my part from looking at my Garmin.
I'm short sighted, but I don't wear my glasses when I'm running - but I'm not THAT shortsighted, so I don't think that's my problem. I am VERY unco-ordinated (had a been a child these days I would have been labelled dyspraxic). I do have to think about where I am placing my feet and generally fall when I forget about this and fail to lift up my feet...
I am getting better (!) though there has been talk about making me run in wrist protectors and/or having stabalisers fitted...
Ouch, nails are just the worst! It hurts so badly. I hope you are healing up quickly. Great that you're already signed up for next year! You are an addict🏃🏃
Haha it's true, I am an addict! Still haven't had a proper look at the nail yet, but going to have to be brave because the dressing needs changing 😱😱😱😱
You know I told you, I used to be a nurse? The only things that turned my stomach were nails and eyes........ooohhhh the thought of a torn nail bed....eeewwww🤢.....I won't tell you about some hand/finger (including nails) suturing I helped with once, I looked just at the wrong time and had to take a few deep breaths....😱
Sorry you took a nasty tumble Ancientmum - well done for carrying on - I think you're right about the adrenaline helping in situations like that! (Oh, and pride and bling of course!) The race sounds fantastic - not many folk can say they raced against David Coulthard! Hope your bumps and bruises heal soon🙂
Getting back up and carrying on after a tumble takes real gumption. Something you clearly have in spades. I'm so impressed by how you tackled this race. Well done!
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Good start to 2021 and Hello Nessie
Banff 2020...here I come! 
So many good reasons to take up running 
