Ulverston Pudding Run!

It was a very nippy morning on Sunday when we arrived at Glaxo Sports Club for the Ulverston Pudding Run, organised and hosted by the Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers. The Pudding Run last year had been my 10k debut so this year it was Andy's turn to have a go. Last year I also hadn't realised there was a 1 mile fun run that went on as well, so we had the boys with us for a bit of a run too! The fun run had been arranged to start a full half an hour before the 10k started which was fabulous and well thought out. It meant both Andy and I could help the boys round the 1 mile course (children under 8 needed to be accompanied as part of the run was on the road) plus there would be lots of spectators to cheer them in at the finish.

So there we were, we arrived 45 minutes before the fun run so we could get the boys registered and Andy collected his number. 10 minutes before the start of the fun run we were instructed to make our way to the start. Sam, up until this point had been quite happy but that changed just before we set off. He hadn't been having a particularly good weekend anyway. The mixture of his autism plus all the festive changes that come with the holiday season weren't helping and neither was the cold weather! Nevertheless Andy still set off with him to see if he'd manage and I went with William when the time came.

We dashed around the car park and up the road leading toward the Bay Horse Pub. A group of runners who had travelled down from St Bees gave us a good shout as we rounded the corner of the car park which was fab. A lot of the 10k runners were lined up along the first part of the course to cheer us past as well. William didn't stop running the entire way and as we looped around the little roundabout by the pub to head back to the finish I could see Andy with Sam. I got William to the finishing straight and let him carry on by himself whilst I went back to Andy and Sam. Took hold of Sam's other hand and both of us got him to the finish where he allowed his medal on and didn't take it off till we got home later!

William knocked a minute off his result from September, finishing in 12.08 and Sam was slower by a minute finishing in 15.19, although considering he was not a happy runner I was very pleased he'd made it round.

After the boys finished, Andy headed off to the start of the 10k. The boys and I found a safe spot to watch the runners come past as they set off and I managed to get a photo of Andy.

The boys played for a bit till the first of the runners started coming back (after 33 minutes!). Whilst William stayed on the playground, I took Sam down to the finishing funnel to watch the runners coming back in. Any unhappiness from earlier melted away as he loves watching people running! Andy arrived back with a time of 56.10 which was pretty good considering how cold it was. No medal for him though, they don't call it a Pudding Run for nothing! He was rewarded with a Christmas pudding of course!

A great run, and a fab turnout of runners from Furness and beyond, including 47 fun runners! Thanks to the Hoad Hill Harriers for a fantastic day.