The Derwent trail Race

As the time for the race start approached, the combination of options were baffling……….sunglasses, wind top, water, long running tights or shorts, jelly babies or banana; as race support team this was my time….. what I’d been trained for…………

I quickly checked the met office forecast on my phone….

“it’s going to get warmer ” I declared… “take water, wear shorts, eat banana now…. no NOW!!! , forget shades as you’re under trees for the first half and take jelly babies”.

The race was due to start in Fitz park and although Anna seemed casual enough, I was worried the support and planning were inadequate, and was nervous and sweating on the sidelines as the 500 or so competitors lined up….

The competitors disappeared out of Fitz Park. I retired to Keswick and did a tour of the coffee shops. But I couldn’t taste the coffee or even think about a cake…. was the race going to plan??? It had now got a lot sunnier than the start, infact I was squinting outside the Moot Hall…. BUGGER!! I had advised not to bother with shades………… I hoped Anna would now be in the shade of Lonscale Fell or she’d done what I’d have done; stolen some from another runner.

I made my way back to the finish. Nerves were getting the better of me…….. Oh!!! Another coffee place… and a cake stall…. OK then just to calm the nerves…. I needn’t have worried though, because I was still brushing the tell tale crumbs from my shirt as Anna powered around the finishing bend, 2nd in her class and 64th overall…. a brilliant run and a triumph of planning, preparation and planning : I was exhausted …….. hmmmmm maybe I should run next year??? It would be easier than supporting!!!!