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FCA North West Education Officer completes 10k Charity Run
July 23, 2010
Pete Shotton, an Education Officer with FCA North West, has recently completed a 10k charity run for BUPA.
Pete has been kind enough to share his story with the us...
Last September I stood on the shores of Lake Windermere and watched as my wife, my daughter and my son completed the mile long Great North Swim, raising over £1000 for charity.
I felt so inspired that I decided that I should do my bit, so a couple of months ago I put my name down for the BUPA Great Manchester 10K run. I've been an occasional jogger over the years, managing 2-3 mile runs, so I figured it couldn't be too hard. As you've probably guessed, my plans immediately went awry.
Every time I tried running I got piercing pains in my calf muscles after a mile or so and I'd have to stop. I then had to rest for a few days until the pain subsided, and then I'd give it another go, with the same result. For an FCA Education Officer, I'm a bit slow to learn at times! With just over 3 weeks to the big day I still hadn't managed to run more than a mile and a half without breaking down and experienced colleagues who'd run 10ks advised me to see a Sports Physio (some of the more straight-talking told me to give up!).
The physio gave me the kind of look a builder gives you just before he asks you 'Which cowboy built this?' and then proceeded to tell me that due to my age, my lack of regular running since breaking my leg playing football a number of years ago and the slight weakness in the leg that I'd broken he didn't fancy my chances of completing the run. He gave me some stretches and strengthening exercises and told me that the first time I would run 10k would be on the day, if I was lucky. I did the stretches at every opportunity which could be confusing for workmates and family because it looked like I was trying to push walls down all over the place. I avoided running because I didn't want to start the race in pain.
On the day I was so nervous that I was feeling twinges all over the place. As I stood in the throng on Portland Street in Manchester at the start, I was equally intimidated and inspired by my fellow runners. They were all ages, shapes and sizes and so enthusiastic that I let my nerves and anxieties go and set off, gamely supported by my daughter's boyfriend as a running mate. It was one of the best things I've ever done. After 5 kilometres my injury kicked in and my right calf felt as if a dog had bitten into it and was grimly hanging on. I knew if I stopped I wouldn't be able to start again so I kept going, and the kilometre signs kept ticking by. The last 300 metres was agonizing, especially with all the crowds around the finish. In place of the final sprint to the line I did a kind of shuffle and stumble, but I did it.
My time was 64 mins 12 seconds, and I'll definitely be going again next year. Oh, and I'm doing the Great North Swim in September....!
