Michelle Nicklette and Fergal Doyle ran the Reading Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness for CRY in memory of Oliver Griffin. They raised around £2,500.

Michelle:

1 month before race

Training going really well, I’m definitely on schedule to beat my Windsor Half Marathon time of 1 hour, 50 minutes and 2 seconds.

4 days before race

I get a virus, I can’t even drag myself out of bed to take the kids to school. Ferg has to take the day off work – oh dear, feeling a bit of pressure now to get better before the race!

Day before the race

Not quite 100% but decide to run. We treated ourselves to a hotel so we are close to start.

Race day

We woke to a very wet day; black bag needed to keep dry feeling very nervous now. We joined the majority of the runners huddled in a marquee to escape the cold, wet conditions – although I’m not sure why as we will be spending 2 hours in it soon!

The run

I found myself just going through the motions trying to forget the horrible conditions we were running in, concentrating on my music and the incredible crowd of supporters as they carried me through to the end. The atmosphere was amazing. Sprinting into the Madejski Stadium to the finish line was a great finale to a physically and mentally exhausting race. Time of 1 hour 55 minutes – no PB but an amazing feeling to have participated and finished it. Now time to join queue of very tired, cold runners to get foil and goody bag – that Mars bar has never tasted so good. Now all I have to do is find my way back to the hotel which wasn’t easy as I was very confused and lost but eventually find it – hold on a minute, how come Ferg’s back before me?!

Fergal:

Very cold, very rainy, very grey. A lot of people – a lot. Everyone huddled in the tents to keep warm – the people giving us warm ups as we lined up.

The start – 6 minutes to cross line – OK click watch… wow… people are watching us… fair play to them… uh oh… need to get past this person – OK, hop on path…

Wait a second – is that a HILL? OK, eyes down, just get on with it – over the hill – now down the hill – that’s better – change the song … and again… don’t like that one…

Into the town centre – lot more people – turn off music to hear the cheers – now this is fantastic – time for a jelly baby. Out other end of town – A road – no more supporters – feeling it now – oh look there’s the stadium – almost there, almost there…

Waittttt a second we are going away from the stadium – not good – head down again. Legs like stone – around the bend – last bit – more jelly babies for no real reason.

Into the stadium 1:59.20 – oh dear – knees up sprint – – – – – – – -1:59.50 – delighted – brilliant – so happy – don’t get sick, don’t get sick.

Might go out for a gentle one this evening.