Wokingham Half Marathon is a 'fast, flat course' and I have done this in 2011, 2012, 2013... 2014 it was cancelled due to the floods, so our entries were carried over to 2015.
It's a race that 'has become like a Parkrun' due to my familiarity of the course, and having done it in rain and shine (the muddy shoes at the finish). A mantra for the days when I hesitate to go out for a long run - that 'I've completed the 13.1 mile at Wokingham whilst raining throughout, nothing can stop me'.
This year, I have special privileges.
I have a special parking pass, which I placed on the dashboard, and walked around 300 metres to the start, upstairs into the building.
This year, I am a race official - a marshal for the Wokingham Half Marathon.
We worked in pairs, and I teamed up with Mark, a veteran marshal on the course (but not a veteran finisher of the course like myself) - together we gathered the space blankets, the high viz jackets, a set of instructions, as well as my backpack with thermos and a paper bag of official snacks, a director's chair - we boarded the van that would take us to our marshalling point, just off the first mile of the course - a strategic location as we will see the runners start and return.
"So why am I not running today?" he asked.
He would be one of the very first people to be let in on the secret! I was in my first trimester of pregnancy and didn't want to take any risks. Another 'benefit' of being a marshal this year was that you get automatic entry into the 2016 race - which means a deferral without an extra fee. Who knows what next year might lead me, but at least it is in the calendar.
Being a marshal and speaking to Mark made me appreciate the work that's been done behind the scenes. Most of these marshals are sourced from local charities, and these men and women give up their 3 hours on a wintry sunday morning to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Interesting observations that I hope to take into my future training (whenever that might be)...
- The keen runners actually run up to mile 1 as a warm up before the race starts (thats 2 extra miles on top of a 13.1!) (well it's nothing, I still remember passing Liz Yelling doing bonus miles after she's completed and won the Half one year)
- the ones that finish earlier return to mile 12 with a more refreshed look than the later finishers who seem to be walking and looking tired.
It's a local race, and the atmosphere was great. Kiddies supporting their parents, or neighbours pouring out to the streets to cheer everyone on. I had my colleague to cheer on as well - having previously told no one that I'm not doing the race...she was a little surprised when I called her name on the way out at mile 1. Its always good spotting someone you know amongst the runners.
It's so much 'easier' being a runner, to be on the course for a time that you can sustain, and be rewarded with honour afterwards. Ladies with medals returning to their families and the pram with their little one , smiling with pride on finishing in good time - could that be me next year?
This marshalling experience will encourage me to say my Thank You to all those who helped. After 3 hours + standing there, we were picked up by the van (luckily containing no runners) and drove into the finish....following the very last runner of the race, as the clock ticked 3:00:00.
What will this year hold for me in terms of staying active? It was still early days in February, and one needs a crystal ball to be only able to imagine....
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