Events list

Race around the Vaud Canton in 6 steps from
10 August to 14 September 2011

The Help-for-Hope Team was present in 3 out of 6 races:

Mezières - 10 August : Pierre Fournier finished 1st in 29.40,7
La Sarraz - 24 August : Pierre finished 2nd in 28.30,3
St-Prex - 14 September : Alexandra Borgeaud finished in 48.26,8 and Roxane Jaquier-Grant in 53.50,0 accompagnied by Stephane Monti (who ran just to encourage me!)

My first race

I have long had a commitment to the Association and have been administrator of its internet site for around 6 months. Through having regular contact with the athletes, by providing them moral support through the "fan club", by reporting on their achievements and sharing their joy and enthusiasm, I finally ended up by catching the same virus! At 43 years of age, having never run in my life, I nevertheless decided to give it a go and started running in May of this year. My very first kilometre was the toughest. I was totally out of breath, developed a stitch and my legs could hardly hold me up. Nevertheless I decided to keep at it and being highly motivated, I managed to get to 3 then 5 kilometres, hoping that even longer distances were simply a question of training. By June, it hit me!. Just the act of putting on my running shoes and going out 3 or 4 times a week for a leisurely jog in the countryside provided me with the greatest of pleasure. I then decided that my goal would be to reach a distance of 10km before signing up for my first race. By August, I was ready for this great adventure! Accompanied by two friends I stood at my first starting line at St. Prex on the 14 September. What excitement just to be part of the mass of competitors each one eager to achieve a pre determined goal. Mine was a modest one, to cover the 8.6km distance in under 55mins. I was so paralysed with the thought of developing a stitch, that I started out very slowly to warm up. But then after 2km warming up, I encountered first one then two hills a fact I had not really foreseen and which had not been part of my training over totally flat roads. I truly suffered at this part of the race. However after reaching the second summit half way through the race the rest was sheer joy. I was able to catch up on my time and finally finished in 53 mins! What a fantastic feeling on passing the finishing line, totally exhausted, but so happy to have succeeded! A memorable experience!
Now that I have my breath back I have registered for the Lausanne 10Km race on 30 October. Who wants to join me!!