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Alison runs Essex 10k Cross Country Series for FMA UK

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Category: Fundraising

Published on Monday, 14 July 2014 13:06

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Alison Collins is running the  Essex 10k Cross Country Series which are five 10k runs, one a month, from May toSeptember.   She is also going to be taking part in the Westminster Mile in May, the Chelmsford Race for Business in June (5k) and the Anniversary Run in the Olympic Park (5 mile) in July.   Alison's daughter Emma has Fibromyalgia since she was 18, and because of this Alison chose to run and raise funds for FMA UK.

Alison gives us an update so far: 

Race 1 -  I managed to finish in just over 1hr 15mins which we were very pleased with taking into account a couple of hiccups on the way (some of my doing).

We got off to a false start when the lead runners went the wrong way so had to turn back after about ½ km and go back to the start line – still that was a good warm up I suppose.   Then less than 1km into the race, I ended up face down in the woods, having tripped up.   My right elbow and left knee took the brunt (can’t quite work that out), but my palms were covered in mud and sore so I made a detour to the nearest loo and washed the mud off my hands to check they weren’t bleeding.   We carried on for the rest of the race, with my knee and shoulder getting increasingly sore.  

We finally got to the last lap having been overtaken by most of the other runners and were on the home straight with less than ½ km to go when I tripped again and fell back onto my elbow, which was already cut quite badly, and winded myself.   I got up, rather tearful from the shock, walked a few steps trying to get my breath back to normal and then ran to the finish line to be greeted by Steve, Emma and Jordan – and a group of First Aiders!!

The aim for my next four runs is not only to get around, but to stay upright all the way!!

Race 2  - Well I’m pleased to say that not only did I improve my time on Saturday – finishing in just over 1hr 7mins, but I managed to remain upright throughout, with no injuries!

After a  very hot week, luckily for me (but not for everyone else) it was a very cool morning on Saturday, plus the course was less hilly so all good.   It was in two laps of 5km each and I managed the first lap in just over 33 minutes which I was very pleased with.   I struggled at the beginning of the second lap and then got a surge of energy for a while, but finished very slowly – the last km seemed to be twice as long, so I was really surprised with the timing.

This has been a real challenge and something I am unlikely to do again(!), but I am amazed that I have so far managed to raise £680 for the Fibromyalgia Association.  My next run is on 5^th July at Thorndon Park, Brentwood.

Thank you to Alison for more updates

Race 3 - Well, that’s one more 10km run over with.  I can now say I am over halfway through  my challenge!  Sarah and I managed it in 1hr 10mins and 55 seconds, a bit slower than the previous one, but it was a bit more hilly.   We had done this one last year so knew what to expect – one enormous hill (twice) so we paced ourselves for that and walked up it both times – last time we tried to run up it the first time and nearly killed ourselves!!  Heavy rain was forecast but, apart from a few spots of rain, it held off until we had finished.   Again we achieved our aim of not coming last – I think there were 5 or 6 people behind us!