I decided to run the Hornsea 1/3 Marathon even against advise as i had potentially over £130 for Marie Curie nurses. I knew i wouldn`t get a great time but as i`v never competed, a finish is as good as a win for me.
       I wandered around to see if there was anyone i knew in a running shirt, not a bean. I recognised a couple of guys from Hornsea running for the Harriers, but i didn`t know the to talk to so i registered my name and picked up my runner number `94` I liked that for some reason.....partly perhaps as there were so many people running - it meant i`d got my act together early for once, and partly, because i`d never he a competition number before! I suppose it can be likened to a child's first sack race to some but to me, it meant that for this race, I, was counted! I spoke briefly to the Nurse practitioner who`d seen me the week prior with my injury, Then i made my way to the start line once i`d established where it was... and which side of it i should be stood on! It was like a human herd walking to the line, it seemed rather a distance from the amenities?? Anyhow, i arrived and waited realising that my training watch come heart rate monitor hadn`t yet been adjusted from winter saving then BANG! I nearly jumped out of my skin, i had been slowly sinking into a daydream in the soothing mid morning sunlight, then launched into orbit. And were off! the pace was fair and i didn`t feel was too demanding, 176 on the hr monitor... well its a race i thought - so it shouldn`t be any less, besides - having rested for a week...... Past the entrance to Densholme far, then the Pub touting Sunday lunches sinks away behind, round the bend, up the main route then off onto the rural medley of metalled lanes.
                                    For the first 2 miles i felt ok, comfortable with the pace and keeping up with the pack, then my left knee started to give me grief even though i`d stretched, ice massaged, and had pain killers and anti inflamatories strapped it........ Its the ligament on the inside left knee below the patella. The problem is that it begins to swell, then rubs on the over lying cartilage and so on. At the 2 mile point i started the little argument in my head about whether to turn back, but rather than go home with my tail between my legs, i thought i`d just push on for a mile at a time, and kid myself. The Marshall's and little crowds clapping and cheering at different points on route i found very encouraging and undoubtedly added to the decision that i wasn`t going to stop. At around the four mile point some people i know were cheering or jeering! I was well ready for the lovely cool water that was provided by the marshalls, Not far to go now, through the village and back out into the country roads, hot, refreshed by the drenching and back into the pounding rural solitary test. mile 7, a runner caught me up, we exchanged some anecdotal banter and off she went. I was aware of someone else`s unrelentless pounding approaching me from over my left shoulder, i tested my knee to see if it would allow me to go a little quicker, thats when i realised how much my knee would punish me, and perhaps how tolerant it was being.. Mile 8, surely the finish line was in site?? Not a chance, a lovely view and a little welcome breeze, the winding ribbon of road revealing runners ahead, all a good sign, but alas, no bustling crowd of flag wavers. Tiring more still, the way dips and winds, around and over the brow, a well wisher gives an encouraging ` i thought u said you could run?` ( i`d never seen him before!).The sun was beating down and in some sun trap areas where you could see that over the past year or so it had been strong enough to melt the tar underneath the asphalt. At last, the finish in sight, i attempted to increase the pace - like it makes a difference in some way! Here i come "1.32.30" Well done says the guys around the finish, as well as some of the guys running in the `back pack`, i congratulate those around as my pulse pumps raw pain through my knee "stop for a photo mate, SMILE!" i threw up a convincing grin, "how do you feel mate" " well, in a bit of pain, but good, glad i finished", "get yourself a goody bag and rest, well done for finishing"" I will and thanks i replied".

Jonathan Uttley is fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Jonathan Uttley is fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Hornsea Third Marathon

Well here it comes, My first competitive race - im injured sadly with torn ligaments in my knee, but ill get roun no doubt!!