Race for Life

The King's Lynn Race for Life event took place on Tuesday evening. I completed the 5k run in approximately 32 minutes, and have so far raised £85 for Cancer Research UK.

Now, I know that Race for Life is supposed to be a charity 'fun run'; it is aimed at all women, not specifically athletes. It gives you the option to either run or walk. It is designed to give women a sense of elation and achievement when they cross the finish line. It is not a competitive event; there is no prize to be won or reputation to uphold.

However, the uber-competitive streak in me refuses to walk: I am not the best runner, but, quite frankly, if I can't run 5k without stopping, then I must be very out of shape. I feel weak if I give in and walk; I feel like I have failed. Thus, I find it quite demoralilsing and frustrating to get stuck behind women who have claimed that they are going to run the race rather than walk it, yet begin walking after only the first 200 metres! Not only that, they decide to walk in the middle of the track, rather than move to the side so that faster people can get past.

So, I ended up feeling quite cross as I completed the run, which detracts one's focus from the whole point of the event. Besides, at least these women are getting out of the house for the night and doing something proactive for charity. Of course, I don't believe that charity fundraisers should be at all discriminating, but I do think perhaps that there need to be slightly stricter guidelines surrounding these sorts of physical events: for example, perhaps people who know that they are going to end up walking the course should accept this and start after the runners have set off; perhaps there should be a separate track for the walkers.

I know I'm sounding very intolerant and cynical; perhaps I need to lighten up a little.