No doubt you are reading this at your local cafe over a pile of bacon and eggs and a steaming hot coffee or perhaps you are sitting at your kitchen table with a leisurely lunch ahead of you and a long sleep in behind you. Usually that would be me on a Sunday morning but not today. Today is the day. I will get up early, eat my banana, drink a small coffee – hold the milk – and make my way to the heart of Sydney for the start of The Sun-Herald City2Surf presented by Westpac.
Edwina Bartholomew will run in this year’s City2Surf.
It's not a big deal for regular runners or that bloke in the smurf suit at the Back of the Pack. They are used to this and have probably competed in the race before. Hell, 80,000 people do it every year. However, this is a real challenge for me. If you're just catching up, I only started running again five weeks ago. After an ill-fated experience losing a toenail in a half marathon, I had given up my dreams of long-distance running and short-distance running and even just running to get the green light. So, you can imagine my surprise when I was asked to be a City2Surf Ambassador or ''Shambassador'' as I've been calling myself.
I was even more shocked when I actually started to enjoy it. I loved the training, not that there has been a whole lot of it. I bought these weird Japanese socks that have individual toes and new bouncy shoes, and suddenly felt the part. I wouldn't say I ever reached that meditative state I had heard so much about but running through Barangaroo and up Martin Place, I finally found my stride. Now, after running a couple of times a week, I can make it six kilometres non-stop. I know what you are thinking. Has anyone told her it's a 14-kilometre race? Yes, I am fully aware of the distance ahead. I'm just going to take my time. Run four kilometres, walk one, run another four, walk another and then race to the finish. Now that's in print, I won't be so embarrassed if you see me struggling along the way.
I've decided to focus on the "fun" part of the "fun run". I have a girl squad to run with me. We are an eclectic bunch of strugglers, part-time runners and professionals – Sophie, Jules and Emilie. We have T-shirts. We have music. We have raised some money for charity. We plan to finish, and we plan to keep on running. Not today. Fourteen kilometres is enough but probably this week and next. You've made a runner out of me after all, City2Surf. So, thanks for that and see you in Bondi.
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