I crossed the rubicon a couple of weeks ago and did something I never thought I could ever do. I was in a race! Well race in the loosest sense, more of an amble with a thousand other people - and I didn't actually come last!
Our littlest man is growing to love running so we looked for a cross country thing he might be able to do and a friend suggested the Dovedale Dash, just over the hills from home. But the thing is, there is an adults race too, all around the beautiful dale and the pretty estate village of Ilam.
Before I knew what I was doing I could hear myself saying I would do it too to give Archie some encouragement and support. Blimey how things have changed!
Look at his face! He absolutely cantered around, hurtling up the hellish ascent that is Lin Dale to the finish as pleased as punch. I was totally overcome with emotion for him, it's a hard run and I was just bursting with pride.
My run? Well I chickened out of splashing through the freezing River Dove (bit worried I might lose a shoe in the first 1/2 mile!) and took the stepping stones instead.
Our course plodded along the riverside, over steep, rutty fields then through the village, back over fields, through the thickest mud I HAVE EVER SEEN, skittered back along the river below Thorpe Cloud and eventually back up the ridiculous Lin Dale (admittedly I walked most of that).
4 & 3/4 strenuous Peak District miles I will never forget. I got a lovely certificate, a pounding head and eventually a very nice feeling of proving myself wrong.
Here's a shocking picture (excuse the spare tyre - ugh Lycra) but proof I did it and showed my boys that their mum can move, something last year they may have questioned. And that change is enough for me x
20 comments:
Well done, you and your son!
Dear Steph, a big well done to you and your little man! Reading your post made me smile, I am no runner by any stretch of the imagination but somehow I always get sucked
into taking part in 5km charity runs. Epic challenge for me…. I always want to cry at the beginning of a race asking myself why I ever said yes in the first place. However once I cross the finish line though, I can't help but to feel a huge sense of pride in having taken part and not being last is the icing on the cake.
I so get your achievement and congratulate you on taking part and not coming last!!
Anna xx
What an inspiring post and what a gorgeous place. Well done to you both!
wow, well done you xxx
Well done, both you and your son, have done a few runs( ?jogs, plods, stagger!!) many (many) years ago, and was always happy just to NOT come last!!!!
Well done both of you - just looking at the photos of that hill makes me breathless!
Well done, that's amazing, and well done to your son as well. Tina x
Congrats! You look lovely, healthy and happy...
Good on you. I've done a couple of 10k flat races but nothing like fell or hill running, which I'm told is a great deal harder! So respect to you, that is brilliant. (And I always have a banging headache after a race too.) x
Gosh, well done Steph, and your son. You inspired me to start going swimming again a few years ago, not so sure about running up hills though! Penny Lxx
Well done to you both! xx
Wow! I did this race many moons ago and know how hard (and cold) it is. Well done both of you. Love the photo of you all xo
Well done both of you! I don't think I have ever left a comment on a blog before but here goes. Having spent the last few evenings reading your blog (backwards) to the very beginning I thought I should say how much I loved it all! Your smashing home and family, the countryside and your shopping finds, oh! it is all so lovely. Thank you soo much for the past posts and I will be sure to keep up with you from now on. Love and cakes- Alex Clark
Well done both of you! I don't think I have ever commented on a blog before, but here goes.
I have spent the last few evenings very happily reading all your blog (backwards) to the very beginning and I had to say how I loved it. Your smashing family and home, the countryside and all your shopping finds, all soo lovely! I will make sure I keep up to date wit you from now on. Especially like your Christmassy posts, I have a similar addiction to the festive magazines and scrapbook them too. So thank you for a lovely bit of escapism, Love and Cakes- Alex Clark.
Absolutely brilliant. Both to you and Archie. As for spare tyre - lycra does that to a person. Like swimming costumes. Pay it no mind.
Have a great weekend,
Leanne xx
Well done! My lads were cross country runners when they were younger, then suddenly they turned into teenagers and that soon stopped....! We do hill walking - much slower pace :)
Wow, well done and congratulations
Well done and congratulations to you both, what an achievement. A run is one thing but a hill run with those conditions is something else!
Lisa x
well done, the idea of a race horrifies me - so I am very impressed!
well done - that is some run you did! And well done to Archie too! You get a great feeling of achievement at the end don't you?
Caz
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