Aware 10k Saturday 8 December 2018

I was awake at 6.30 am in the morning, in advance of the alarm clock, knowing I had to get up and run. Funny how I used to really resent having to get up early on a Saturday morning, but I think marathon training has kind of knocked that out of me. Kind of. Despite the coziness of the bed I decided to just get up and have my breakfast.

While waiting for the coffee, I opened my Facebook app and the very first post I saw was one from a woman I know, marking her 47th birthday by announcing she has cancer and is about to start treatment. Such a blow for her but she was defiant and asking for donations to the Irish Cancer Society for her birthday. She only went public to remind us of the importance of being vigilant and following up any health niggles we have. So as I got ready to go running I thought of her. I thought about her all day actually.

Aware is an Irish mental health charity who offer free services to people who struggle with depression and anxiety. Like most developed societies, Ireland has a huge problem with depression and suicide and Aware is there to support people who suffer, often in silence. For the last few years I have participated in their 10k run which is held in the beautiful Phoenix Park in December. It is a very nice event, two laps of a hilly but lovely route, with plenty of Santa hats and Christmas outfits and actual reindeer who live in the Park.

I can’t say I trained much for this event. I was assuming that since I ran 42k a few weeks ago I could manage 10 on a Saturday morning! It was a very mixed morning weather-wise, and I got wet on the way down and the way home, but the actual run itself was lovely, with plenty of winter sunshine. I was actually really hot after the first 5k and dying for a drink of water, which didn’t look like it was going to appear but finally did as we turned back onto Chesterfield Avenue.

While I really don’t care about times, I was looking at my watch and I had run the first three miles at 10 minutes per mile. That is pretty speedy for me so I was wondering if I could keep that pace up and finish 10k in an hour or so? However as I started the second lap I was feeling really hot and tired and thinking 5k would have been enough.

But then I had another stroke of running luck when I saw two of my marathon training buddies up ahead – Miriam and Galina. I was so glad to see them and glad to find they were going at a similar pace to me. I was really pleased to have company for the second lap. The three miles flew by as we caught up on how much running we are doing these days (once a week is good, twice amazing and three times outstanding) and what races we have signed up for next year (Dublin Marathon and various halves). We all agreed that keeping moving over the winter was a priority, because it is just too hard to have to start from scratch each spring.

I was glad to cross the finish line one hour and five minutes after I started. There were sandwiches and bananas and water available, plus chocolate I couldn’t be bothered to queue for. I had a cup of tea and walked back to the car, which felt like a right trek in the rain. However I was not complaining; I was counting my blessings. I was physically and mentally healthy and in the fortunate position of being able to run to help other people. Long may that continue.