Saturday, July 23, 2016

London Anniversary Games - a day of deja vu













It was quite an emotional day to go back to the Olympic Park. We left the Paralympic closing ceremony thinking it was all over, and we wouldn't be back. But we have, for the anniversary games. It was a day of deja vu. We wore the same clothes we wore to the Olympic four years ago, we boarded the javelin train, ad we did four years ago and did the walk between Stratford International through the shopping centre, as we did four years ago.

We noticed lots of differences though. There wasn't the big number of flags adorning shoulders and everything else at the park has changed apart from orbit, the stadium and the pool. We walked through to our seats and gosh it was like going back in time but this time we were in a sauna. What a boiling day. It wasn't quite the 35 degrees that we experienced at Wimbledon last year and feeling like we were in an oven...but almost. No cloud, just sun beating down on us.

We started with lunch which was very poor and the only option was pies and pie alone, nothing with it. A hot pie is not what you need when you are sat in a huge sauna. The para games started first. We saw David Weir, as well as club throwing and lots of running, including a race with a guide. A short break and then the anniversary games started. Mo drove around the stadium in a pick up truck and we cheered loudly.

We had a great view of pole vault and saw some big names such as Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Then Mo and gosh the sound around the stadium was phenomenal. As he looped, the roar moved around the stadium and then with a couple of laps to go, he started lapping other athletes and we all jumped to our feet to cheer him on as he won the race.

We loved being back and thinking back to four years ago and being part of history. When we got home, I looked back at photos from 2012 and realised I took many in the same places so played spot the difference.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Colchester Race for Life 2016









It has been quite a few years since the last time I did the Race for Life. Ali, Penny and I donned our pink clothing and headed to Colchester to complete our 5k, raising over £500 for Cancer Research UK. The day started with some heart wrenching stories, then a warm up and we were off. Half way, a resident put out their sprinkler on the track and set up chairs to watch the race. Rather thoughtful on a hot day but also rather surreal to watch a lot of pink ladies walking twice around the park. Reading the backs of the fellow racers always brings a tear, but what a great atmosphere with great company.