Somewhere to run, nowhere to Hyde.....

RACE ONE: HYDE PARK - 27TH MAY 2012

Team Tonia members at Hyde Park: Rebecca Dunlop, Rachel Henley, Natalie Smith, Charlotte Spickett, Sam Hodgson, Rona Mackie, Liz Bragg, Sheila Oldacre, Vikki Bealing, Kate Bone & Emma Dowinton

A record number of runners and walkers turned up to Hyde Park on Sunday, and amongst the 9,000 were our eleven beautiful ladies adorned in their pink Team Tonia t-shirts, along with their ever-loving supporters. 

The atmosphere was buzzing, the energy was electric, the queue for the toilets was eternal and the heat was almost unbearable.  Our Team Tonia members had travelled from Andover, Guildford, Newbury, Haywards Heath and Liss, by car, train and tube, with one runner even camping overnight in London to ensure she was there on time. 

Team Coach Ian was there early to erect the banner; 

with hinged legs and guy ropes (the banner, not Dad) and measuring equipment to ensure the poles were banged into the ground in exactly the right place, the banner proudly marked our base camp - they don't call him 'Technical Ian' for nothing.  Team police officer, Roy, was slightly concerned to see him carrying tent pegs, a hammer and a small crow bar strapped to his waist, which saw him very nearly arrested when he dropped said crow bar on the underground.  If only he knew a half-decent lawyer......

As our runners congregated at the meeting point next to the fruit smoothie stand, we realised that two of our members had not received their race packs and numbers.  The queue for the enquiries stand was three times as long as the queue for the toilets, so there was some debate as to whether they should run without their numbers, especially as they were both officially registered but fell victim to an administrative error on the part of Race for Life.  However, the shy, retiring wall-flower, Rebecca, stormed to the front of the queue and somehow sweet talked her way into getting her number immediately, swiftly followed by Sam with spokesperson Charlotte!  Now a complete and fully 'numbered' team, we made our way to the start line.  Or so we thought.  We stood eagerly under the sign marked 'Runners', waving goodbye to Sam who made her way to the 'walkers' start position.  Little did we know that there would be what felt like a 3 mile walk to the actual start line, at which point we would then start in groups every two minutes due to the huge number of entrants! 

Still, the atmosphere at this point was brilliant - excited giggling, enthusiastic discussions about our possible race times and mexican waves a-plenty.  Eventually, it was our turn to run, and after a(nother) count down from ten, the claxon sounded and we were off. 

And then the heat hit us.  As we jogged out of the shade and into the heat on the street, we realised we were attempting to run 5km in what felt like one of the hottest days of the year, and at the hottest time of the day!  However, we cannot have been as hot as the lady in the head-to-toe pink pig outfit, or the three ladies dressed as superwoman.  There were several other great outfits; lots of wigs, tutus and even one runner who looked suspiciously like a man.....

Our t-shirts looked amazing.  Our team name showed so clearly that the official race marshalls were cheering for Team Tonia through their megaphones.  The dedications on the back showed that we were running for people who meant so much to us; in particular Linda, Lillian, Debbie, Ken, Alan, Lesley, Norman and Ernie.

As we made our way through Hyde Park we were distracted from thinking about the heat and the aching legs by the sights and activities around us.  Hyde Park was full of pink runners as well as members of the public carrying on their usual Sunday morning antics - weight lifting, horse riding, skateboarding, skiing on wheels (?!), pedalos on the lake, and 'normal' runners - who must have cursed us for ruining their usually quiet Sunday morning jog!

Just when we thought we couldn't take any more of the blistering sunshine, we saw ahead an elderly race marshall, holding a sign reading '500 yds to go' and carrying a small stereo.  As we passed him, he shouted 'well done Team Tonia, only two more right hand bends'.  He then proceeded to turn on the stereo and dance to Lady Gaga, thus providing us with enough of a distraction to get us up the very steep hill ahead.  Once we'd got our breath back (from laughing as well as running) we motored down the final stretch, our eyes locked on the finish line ahead.  Vikki, Emma, Rebecca and I crossed the line together, hands held and arms raised.  As we slowed to a walk, we enjoyed a sweaty, emotional hug as we realised we had completed the first of ten races.

Further on we were greeted by the rest of the team who had kindly waited for us, and we made our way back to base camp to the cheers and claps of our supporters.

It was a great day and a great atmosphere, and Emma and I want to thank the Team Tonia Hyde Park ladies for making it so special.  Thank you too to the family and friends that came along to support us and to the children who played so nicely together, and asked us 'did you win?' as soon as we returned!

Our next race is in two weeks time in Swindon and we cannot wait to run again. 

One down, nine to go!!!

The TeamTonia Hyde Park Ladies: (from L to R - top) Sam Hodgson, Natalie Smith, Rachel Henley, Rebecca Dunlop, Vikki Bealing, Kate Bone, Sheila Oldacre; (front) Charlotte Spickett, Rona Mackie, Emma Dowinton, Liz Bragg.

Kate - 28th May 2012