There's nothing like the Race For Life to give you a reality check. I've been out of sorts this week, tired, emotional and very sorry for myself. I've had little motivation for anything really, just managing to do the bare minimum to get through the day.
Well Race day dawned and what a fabulous day. Blue skies with a cooling breeze. Not too hot. Perfect. And silly old grumpy me, prowling around this morning, I so did not want to do this. Mr A came with me ( a first ) and do you know the minute I stepped foot on Worcester Racecourse my spirits lifted a little. The carnival atmosphere was infectious, and I got generally caught up with all the high spirits and positivity.
I am so pleased I was wearing sunglasses, no-one could see the tears in my eyes when I was reading all those messages people were wearing on their backs. I had to make a difficult decison today though, sadly I wasn't able to run. Being post-viral I walked, I am tired and my dropped foot isn't working properly, and I really didn't want to fall. So my time was rubbish really, just under the hour, but not to worry. I'll run next year!
Well Race day dawned and what a fabulous day. Blue skies with a cooling breeze. Not too hot. Perfect. And silly old grumpy me, prowling around this morning, I so did not want to do this. Mr A came with me ( a first ) and do you know the minute I stepped foot on Worcester Racecourse my spirits lifted a little. The carnival atmosphere was infectious, and I got generally caught up with all the high spirits and positivity.
I am so pleased I was wearing sunglasses, no-one could see the tears in my eyes when I was reading all those messages people were wearing on their backs. I had to make a difficult decison today though, sadly I wasn't able to run. Being post-viral I walked, I am tired and my dropped foot isn't working properly, and I really didn't want to fall. So my time was rubbish really, just under the hour, but not to worry. I'll run next year!
Here I am before the race
Progress 
Getting over 5,000 runners organised well done to all the marshalls and organisers - a difficult job fantastically done
Never been so please to see the High Street - the end is in sight!
A lovely spot to rest afterwards, on the bridge overlooking the Cathedral
And for Jo and FatCat, a garden pose minus water butts, compost heaps and garden sheds! 
All in all a great morning! A very uplifting morning too, and I've given myself a very good talking to. It's been my privilidge over the years to nurse some remarkably courageous people who have faced cancer with great dignity and spirit. And here am I allowing the minutiae of day to day life get me down. Well I'll tell you this, I have my health and a wonderful loving caring family and today I feel like the luckiest woman on earth.
And I know this isn't knitting - it's far more important than that!!!!!!!!! But it deserves a place on my blog. And I want to say "thank you" to everyone who has helped so much by sponsoring me, to Chrissy for her auction, Terri for the virtual encourgement, Noo for doing so well yesterday, and to everyone who has supported me recently. I'm still on virtual holiday, and I have the knitting grumps, but I'm recovering, and from today onwards I intend to enjoy every single minute of every single day!!!!! Starting now!!!!!!!!!
And buggrit - this is MY space and I'll post about what I jolly well please! And as long as people want to reply to my posts without any hidden agendas they will very welcome! After today, let me tell you that there is FAR more important stuff going on! Seeing a young child, no older then ten, with "In memory of my mum" on her back say it all. I'll remember her for a long time.
22 comments:
You go girl!!! Well done for getting through the race. You should be proud. Can't wait to have you back.
Kate
What a brilliant achievement, Joy -and especially so given that you are still post-viral. You have my complete sympathy on that one as I'm in the same miserable PV club, coming down with a whopper on my way back from Bristol! Photo's are great and these events are so moving and force us all to reflect on the blessings we have in life. And you're so right, it is YOUR space:)
Brilliant Joy, well done for getting through it, you have my utmost admiration. I have tears in my eyes thinking of the 10 yr old without her Mum :( Missing the shed back-drop though ;)
darn it - I have a glisten in my eye for the umpteenth time this weekend!!! - I went back today to watch the 3rd Guildford raceforlife, and it was even more emotional to watch..... - I had sunglasses too - learnt the hard way yesterday! Fabulous to hear you back in high spirits. We love this place because it's YOUR SPACE, and I'm proud and happy to be part of the circle that visit here!
(p.s. thank you soooo much for the sponsor.... it really means a lot to me)
Well done Joy...i'd be proud too. xxx
take care! Linz xx
What a lovely post Joy!!! It is SO important to keep a sense of perspective in life and things like that really bring it home to you :-) Well done you and here's hoping we 'see' you again soon!!!!
Well done, I'm so proud of you!!!!! You're right, that life is too precious to spend time worrying about the little things, you have your health, family and friends who love you, and what else do we really need eh!!!!
Hurry back, I miss you xx
Congratulations.
BTW: I don't blame you for going to moderated posts, I've done the same. This was due to spam, lots of it :(
Well done!
I did the Moonwalk a couple of years ago in London in the middle of the night in my bra! A marathon of women walking for other women. I was so exhausted by 24 miles and my friend Lucy was the same. We stopped for ten seconds and agreed that we just couldn't speak, we had to completely focus on putting one foot in front of the other and not say a word. To this day I don't know how I did it physically, but all those people with things on their backs just like that little girl kept me going.
I saw a programme with Victoria Wood in it about the Moonwalk, and that's why I suggested it to Lucy. VW was saying how exhausted she was, and how sore, and then she said that someone somewhere was sitting on a plastic NHS waiting room chair HOPING that it wouldn't be them that got the bad news, and that she was SO glad all she had was sore feet and that she'd never had to sit on that plastic chair.
Well done Joy - I'm so pleased for you. You are a brave woman.
Bravo! You've made me well up Joy! What a wonderful post, and well done on doing the Race for Life.
Hooray!!! Well done you and there's no shame in walking it, I did the same myself a few years back. Have a hug ((((Joy))))
Well thank you everyone for all these comments and support - what lovely friends you all are!
Noo, you are very welcome, and Natalie - that's so true, what you have said. It nearly WAS me a few years ago, which is why I do this every year now.
Thank you all for the encouragement, and I hope to see you all soon!
Joy, you're the best. Walk, run..who cares? You did it and you're fabulous.
Well done Joy. Hope you're feeling better soon, too.
Joy you are a star, very well done, I couldn't do it this year so was very happy to be able to support you doing it. I found the race for life very emotional and very inspiring all at the same time, sadly everyone I did it in celebration for are no longer with us. I just hope that one day it will be an illness of the past
Well done for completing the race Joy, especially if weren't in full health :)
Well done Joy, you should be rightly proud of yourself.
Huge congrats on completing the race!! We are all very proud of you :-) It does make you think and reflect. So glad that you are in high spirits again :-)
Well done for completing the race. I'm imprssed.
Well done! It is a fantastic achievement, especially when we knew you weren't on full par. :)
It's your blog Joy, you blog what you like :)
Once again, thank you to everyone, I shall remove my link soon as I have paid all my monies in.
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