My first race weekend – here at last – and what a great weekend it has been. I’ve been under the weather all week with a cold, so I was feeling a little nervous about how this race might go. I shouldn’t have worried though. I completed the 13.1 miles in 1:42:07, which I was pleased about – of course the weight of all the tissues slowed me down a little! I came in the top 25% of runners crossing the finish line though, so I’m very happy with that.

I felt very organised as we pulled into the car park, as per the instructions on the map, with plenty of time to spare, on the morning of the race. With only five or six other cars of obvious runners in the car park, I was a little intrigued as to why there were not more people there. After I chatted with a friendly local, we found that as with at least 30 or 40 other people that morning, the directions we had been sent were not so great and we should all have been about a mile or two further along the coast.

This race was a wonderful to start my year. With only had 900 entrants, within a few hundred meters of the start line, everyone was able to spread out and find their own pace.

Running along the millennium costal path is a very enjoyable, especially when the sun was shining so brightly. There was a gusty wind but by the seven-mile marker, I was grateful for the cooling breeze.

Early on in the race I started chatting with a great guy called Andrew, who lived about an hour from Llanelli, near Cardiff. I found out he’s entered a fair few organized runs himself and has previously entered Paris – which I’m doing in April and LockNess - which I’m in the ballot for, in October – he’s given me a great tip for accommodation, which I’m going to check out.

Everyone at the race was really friendly. The brave spectators that came out to stand in the cold where brilliant in cheering and clapping everyone.

There was also another runner in the race raising money for Cystic Fibrosis, at around the five mile mark he was running one way, whilst I was running back the other and he shouted the encouraging words “come on CF” by the time I’d registered though he was long past me.

Andrew and I stuck together for the race, and with a real sense of achievement, we finished it together.

Afterwards I met with Chairman of the Council who thanked me for traveling so far to support the race and said he’d hope to see me here next year! Great idea, I’d love to do this again next year. I want to see how much my time will improve, having been running all year and completed 600 miles.

Talking of mileage – I now only have 587 miles left to go!
I took advantage of one the empty couch’s in the physiotherapy tent. I have to admit I’ve never wanted a guy to touch my legs so much in my life! My hamstring has been tight all week and, believe it or not, my legs actually feel better now than they did before I started the race!

After the race, we jumped in the car and headed off to Llanelli’s B&Q. When we got to the car park, I was having some photos taken outside the store with my race bib on, when a customer stopped me and asked what I’d been doing. When I told him, he explained that his 11-year old grandson also had CF – he was so proud of his achievements, explaining that he was keeping really well and was on a cricket and rugby team and was also going to Karate. He explained that every Friday his wife made Welsh cakes and sold them locally to raise funds for CF. We didn’t even have a collection box and he stuffed a two pound coin into my hand - towards my fundraising and wished me luck. I was really touched.

Inside the store, I was delighted to find out that the store manager, Karl Perry, was working and was only too happy to spare some time. Next month he will be getting his 20-year, long service award at B&Q – congratulations Karl and to the other two staff members on his team who are also celebrating 20 years of service this year. Karl has only been at Llanelli for six months but seems to be thoroughly enjoying working there. Built only two years ago, I can see why he loves it, the displays looked terrific and back at SSO (HQ) they’ll be delighted to know the water layflat looked terrific and has been selling well!

Having had a good look around we jumped in the car – guess who had to drive the 200 miles home?! I’m just off for a Jacuzzi! Roll on next weekend – we’re off to Siverstone.