Hi everyone
The Perth Mothers Day Classic 2011 is now over. What a gorgeous morning to be walking or running riverside this morning. Being my first MDC I was amazed at how many people there were. I knew we were expecting 4-5000 but you never know what that looks like till you are there. There was a sea of people...running, walking, cheering and generally enjoying being with family, friends and loved ones. The weather was perfect!
I arrived at 7.15 with my husband Steve and son Nicholas in tow. We checked in at the VIP tent as I was to be interviewed along with Lindsay Bennett (NBCF) by Dixie Marshall and Paul Murray close to 8am. Julie Bishop the Perth ambassador for the event was there. Didn't she look amazing? She was there to participate in the 8km run (I think). Prior to that there was a welcome to country, reminding us of the traditional owners of the land. Robyn McSweeney was also there, saying a few words. Dixie looked fabulous as always...she looks great on TV and fantastic in person!! Paul Murray (whom I met on Friday) was in fine form and he and Dixie kept the program moving.
After chatting to Dixie, the warm up began for the runners and I scanned the audience for my various family and friends and those who had volunteered. At just after 8.30 the call went up for the 8km and 4km walkers and 4km runners to warm up and then assemble at the starting point. At 08.50 the crowd started moving ...initially I thought it would be a morning dawdle not a walk but then the crowd thinned as the road became wider and we took off at a reasonable pace.
The river was flat, the sun was out, and Perth looked beautiful. I managed to walk past where my sister was volunteering as a course marshal. She often gets emotional at these kind of events and had earlier sent me a text as the first runners went by. A big hug and we continued on....all of a sudden the finish was in sight...well so we thought. Nicholas was quite excited about finishing only to find that we had another leg to finish. So we soldiered on. By this time though I was feeling pretty pumped and felt like doing another 4km. We decided to finish however and good job we did. My husband who had had the flu the past few days had bravely done the 4km walk. He looked terrible by the end and sat down in complete exhaustion (luckily we could go to the VIP tent) and had a coffee and a rest. What a trooper to still get up and participate today.
Sadly it was time to go but not without plans to participate or volunteer in next year's event. Our team of family and friends discussed having a theme or wearing tutus, so already the inspiration for MDC 2012 had been sparked. My sister in law who had run the 8km whilst pushing a pram looked as if she had just taken a morning stroll. She inspires me with her commitment to her fitness and I am hoping to internalise that inspiration and make it work for me over the next 12 months.
I hope you all had a wonderful time at the event and a fabulous mothers day. I have enjoyed writing the blog and hope you have enjoyed reading it. Thank you all and take care!
Sunday 8 May 2011
Thursday 5 May 2011
Not long now
Hi everyone
Just 3 more days until the big event. How is your training going? Are you fit and ready, intending a flat out run or a more leisurely walk? The weather forecast is looking great ...fine and 28 degrees. I am excited, got my MDC shirt in the post yesterday, have organised what I am going to wear (yes I did spend time thinking about it) and bought myself a pair of Pink Ribbon socks. Caps are purchased for my menfolk, so between us all we will look the part.
I think what I am most excited about is spending my morning on Mothers Day doing something worthwhile. I am not a breakfast in bed type nor do I want to waste my day having a sleep in. Don't get me wrong, the occasional sleep in is great but it is not necessary to sustain me. Nicholas is looking forward to it too. He wore his new cap with pride yesterday.
I won't just be walking with my husband and son, I will also have the company of some of my family members (my sister will be a course marshall on the day)some workmates, two members of the Amazons dragon boat team (one walking and one volunteering) and probably spying a few other faces I know in the crowd. Paula's Pointed Posey will be there and I will certainly be looking out for them. Look forward to seeing you Paula!!
I have been thinking about my online tribute. Sadly only yesterday I attended the funeral of a lovely woman who I met through dragon boating. I mentioned her in my last blog I think and mentioned that she was in the fight for her life. Unfortunately she lost that fight. She and her lovely family will be in my thoughts and I will carry her with me on Sunday morning. It just reinforces to me how important it is to continue to raise awareness and funds to assist in research.
On the subject of research I noted there was an update on my facebook page from Register 4. You will remember I have mentioned this previously on this blog. It was about a breakthrough in Breast cancer genes. Here is the link http://breakthrough.org.uk/media_centre/news_views/breast_cancer_gene.html
I thought it might be of interest. Further to that it again reinforces the need for funds for research and the need for the online register.
Anyway Perth, make sure you get in some more walks or runs before the big day, hydrate well in the lead up and I believe there will be warm up sessions on the morning. I look forward to seeing you on the day as I will have a birds eye view from the stage at about 7.55am.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mums for Sunday. Have a fabulous day!!
Just 3 more days until the big event. How is your training going? Are you fit and ready, intending a flat out run or a more leisurely walk? The weather forecast is looking great ...fine and 28 degrees. I am excited, got my MDC shirt in the post yesterday, have organised what I am going to wear (yes I did spend time thinking about it) and bought myself a pair of Pink Ribbon socks. Caps are purchased for my menfolk, so between us all we will look the part.
I think what I am most excited about is spending my morning on Mothers Day doing something worthwhile. I am not a breakfast in bed type nor do I want to waste my day having a sleep in. Don't get me wrong, the occasional sleep in is great but it is not necessary to sustain me. Nicholas is looking forward to it too. He wore his new cap with pride yesterday.
I won't just be walking with my husband and son, I will also have the company of some of my family members (my sister will be a course marshall on the day)some workmates, two members of the Amazons dragon boat team (one walking and one volunteering) and probably spying a few other faces I know in the crowd. Paula's Pointed Posey will be there and I will certainly be looking out for them. Look forward to seeing you Paula!!
I have been thinking about my online tribute. Sadly only yesterday I attended the funeral of a lovely woman who I met through dragon boating. I mentioned her in my last blog I think and mentioned that she was in the fight for her life. Unfortunately she lost that fight. She and her lovely family will be in my thoughts and I will carry her with me on Sunday morning. It just reinforces to me how important it is to continue to raise awareness and funds to assist in research.
On the subject of research I noted there was an update on my facebook page from Register 4. You will remember I have mentioned this previously on this blog. It was about a breakthrough in Breast cancer genes. Here is the link http://breakthrough.org.uk/media_centre/news_views/breast_cancer_gene.html
I thought it might be of interest. Further to that it again reinforces the need for funds for research and the need for the online register.
Anyway Perth, make sure you get in some more walks or runs before the big day, hydrate well in the lead up and I believe there will be warm up sessions on the morning. I look forward to seeing you on the day as I will have a birds eye view from the stage at about 7.55am.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mums for Sunday. Have a fabulous day!!
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