As the time for the race start approached, the combination of options were baffling……….sunglasses, wind top, water, long running tights or shorts, jelly babies or banana; as race support team this was my time….. what I’d been trained for…………

I quickly checked the met office forecast on my phone….

“it’s going to get warmer ” I declared… “take water, wear shorts, eat banana now…. no NOW!!! , forget shades as you’re under trees for the first half and take jelly babies”.

The race was due to start in Fitz park and although Anna seemed casual enough, I was worried the support and planning were inadequate, and was nervous and sweating on the sidelines as the 500 or so competitors lined up….

Anna gets a flying start

The competitors disappeared out of Fitz Park. I retired to Keswick and did a tour of the coffee shops. But I couldn’t taste the coffee or even think about a cake…. was the race going to plan??? It had now got a lot sunnier than the start, infact I was squinting outside the Moot Hall…. BUGGER!! I had advised not to bother with shades………… I hoped Anna would now be in the shade of Lonscale Fell or she’d done what I’d have done; stolen some from another runner.

I made my way back to the finish. Nerves were getting the better of me…….. Oh!!! Another coffee place… and a cake stall…. OK then just to calm the nerves…. I needn’t have worried though, because I was still brushing the tell tale crumbs from my shirt as Anna powered around the finishing bend, 2nd in her class and 64th overall…. a brilliant run and a triumph of planning, preparation and planning : I was exhausted …….. hmmmmm maybe I should run next year??? It would be easier than supporting!!!!