A Fab Weekend of Running - Part 2 The Walney Family Fun Run

The morning after the Whinlatter 5, Andy and I woke to find that we could still use all our muscles which was a good thing because it was the day of the Walney Family Fun Run and we'd been looking forward to it for some time! I had already registered the boys for the 1 mile disability run and Andy was registered for the 10km run.

We'd managed to get down to the registration/finishing field quite early, stowed our things and Andy went and got his timing tag from the registration desk. We got the boys their running numbers too and pinned them on. Lots of friendly faces started pouring into the field and the boys were getting excited. We had our first meeting with Charlie Cheetah the WWC mascot who Sam seemed to take a real shine to (in that he didn't want to leave him afterwards!) and William enjoyed joining in with the warm up exercise routine.

Just before 11am we walked the boys out to the road where the 1 mile disability run would start the day's proceedings with the other families taking part. The 5km and 10km runners were also out there ready for their run and to see us start. After a loud 5 second countdown we were off to the immense sound of the crowd cheering! I'm sure I heard several shouts of 'Go Sam!' too. I'm glad I had my sunglasses on otherwise everyone might have seen me well up a little! William flew away down the road and Sam and I followed. Although Sam was a little distracted he still kept going, only pausing for a few seconds at a time. William waited for us just before the roundhouse as he needed a drink to keep going.

Once I'd handed him his water bottle off he flew again and that was the last we saw of him until the finishing field! I was told later though that he looked very proud as he passed the crowd the second time just before the finish. Sam kept his concentration up as well and kept running. We had a slight delay as the 10km and 5km runners set off but we soon reached the finishing field where William and friends were waiting for us.

After all the disability runners had finished they had their own lovely prize ceremony where all the children went up and received their finishers medals and goody bags from the mayor.

Once we'd stowed the boys goody bags we had a quick hotdog then joined the crowds lining the funnel to wait for Andy to finish the 10k. Sam loves watching people running so he was very happily positioned there. Andy came in at a brilliant 57.33 which was nearly a minute faster than his practice time and also a new 10km PB! Considering he wasn't expecting to do under the hour due to the trail run the night before, he really smashed it!

After the run we all spread our picnic blankets out and had another massive group picnic! There was a raffle too where Andy was the lucky winner of a Star Wars colouring book. The children were all running round, hula hooping and playing games including throwing wet sponges at the poor people silly enough to get into the stocks! All in all a brilliant, fun, family day. Can't wait for next year!