Run4mum team adds a celebrity to their ranks!

How excited were we when we were told GETHIN JONES was firing the start gun at our latest end of season race in Dulwich Village last Saturday!  Forget my motivational team talk  –  the thought of getting up close and personal with snake hips himself got our mums on their toes!

It was a beautiful day in Dulwich Park, we had trained for 6 weeks to run our end of season 5 & 10K in aid of the CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST.  Temperatures reached the high twenties, it was the perfect family fun day with face painting for the kids, massages for the runners and a whole host of people out to get active.

Our Run 4 Mum runners arrived one by one with their own team of little supporters in tow, picnics at the ready and husbands on hand to babysit.  Nerves showing on their faces, we ‘numbered up’ and got ready to run, “I’m so nervous” panicked Alli soon to be pulled away by little Carl who helped his mum with her warm up as she chased him around.

“OK girls, warm up time!” I yelled

“I just need one more trip to the loo, hang on” panicked Keri,  “and me” yells Elle as she darts off in the same direction

Race starts at 10.30am & we get warmed up, our kids join in as we side skip, hop and twist across the grass – it’s a real family atmosphere.
“Official warm up starts in 20 minutes” yells the woman on the megaphone….a late start, maybe GETHIN hasn’t arrived yet?

11.45am warm up over, team talk done, time for big hugs for the babies & dads take over while mums run off to the start line…

As we elbowed our way through to the front, (not just because we wanted a fast get away – a tall, dark, handsome celebrity to see, remember…) the sun was blinding, it was hot & hard to see in the glare,

“Where is he, I can’t see” I asked Kerry at the front…”Over there” she pointed.  As I looked over everyone’s heads to spot GETHIN, I saw a man in a suit, slightly shorter than I had imagined, slightly rounder than I thought… “GO” shouted the man on the loud speaker – & as we passed the start line we finally saw him….

PAUL POTTS!!!!!!!!! – Yes the original winner of BGT, remember him? He has had his teeth done since then, but I’m afraid girls, he’s no GETHIN JONES!
We laughed our way round that first lap, everyone put in fabulous sprint finishes, achieved unbelievable times despite the heat & as always, clapped & cheered each other across the line.

Well done girls…”Run 4 Mum : Strictly Britain’s Most Talented Running Mums….”

A special thanks to Ben Scott for taking some fantastic photos for us, you can view them here

Thanks to all of our “Run4Mum” team who, together raised approx. £400 for CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST – An extra special thanks to Elle Shaw & her generous friends who raised over £125.00 for us.