Yorkshire Coast 10km Road Race & Family Fun Run. Sunday 11th October 2009.

Hayley J Harris

What a great day! Exhausting, but great. I ran the McCain Yorkshire Coast 10k Road Race for one reason: to say thank you to St Gemma's Hospice. 

My Grandpa sadly passed away to cancer in May of this year. He was admitted into St Gemma's Hospice, Leeds. The care he received from them was just outstanding; the staff were kind, compassionate and understanding, not only to my Grandpa, but to visiting family and friends. Because of St Gemma's, a horrible time was made much bearable. I wanted to do something to say thank you and help at the same time - so I chose something I have always found ridiculously hard: running long distances!!

Why did I choose the McCain Yorkshire Coast Road Race?? Well, that's linked to my Grandpa too - him and my Grandma (who also passed away from cancer, in 2002) had their honeymoon in Scarborough back in 1948, and from then, Scarborough was always top dog for them. So where better to run in their memory??!

I haven't been running very long (I began on a whim in July) so on race day, I have never felt quite so nervous about anything before: there I was, a 'newbie' surrounded by so many in running club vests, the smell of deep heat reaching me in subtle waves, runners surrounded by other runners that they knew - it was all slightly intimidating to begin with and I did feel rather alone. My worst worries were that I would start too quickly then be too tired to finish, letting all my sponsors down. The whole reason I was running was playing on my mind, so I was feeling slightly delicate before even beginning.

Then, suddenly, that 30 minute warning given by the Race Organiser had dispersed into nothing, and the race began. I took up a safe place near the back and as soon as I started running, I fell into an easy rhythm and routine took over. It was really encouraging that people were clapping along the race participants; thank you, water suppliers - you had the nicest smiles and the biggest claps! Everything was going well and I still hadn't needed to walk yet - steady does it, as the tortoise would say :)

At 5k, I was starting to feel a bit tired, mainly due to my right ankle, weak from years of hockey-playing. Nearing 6k, it was even worse, but that's when my biggest boost for me came - out of nowhere came Jay. Somehow a conversation struck-up between us and had it not been for our lengthy discussions over that last 4km on the NHS, teaching, my dodgy ankle, his dodgy knees and our families (amongst other things!), I think I would've had to quit the running and walk. No chance! We sprinted the last bit and over the line together, with huge smiles that could rival most runners out there! If you read this; thanks, Jay! As for feeling intimidated by all the club runners, one of the many 'elite' runners came to say well done to me for a great finish - I didn't dare say that I couldn't actually feel my legs by then... haha! 

As soon as it finished, I wanted to start again and not be worried about messing up, but just to enjoy it. I'll definitely be back next year! There were many people running for charities, which was great to see. I'm sure so much money has been raised for charities through the 10k Road Race - such a fantastic thing! I'm hoping my final sponsorship total will be over £300 - just a tiny token of thanks to help the care of St Gemma's carry on. 

Here's to 2010, at 10:10:10! :D