Three weeks before the race, Mark Smith (this year’s JCI Sheffield Deputy President) requested volunteers to help Safe@Last at the race. Being the impulsive person that I am, I said: Why don’t I run it for you instead?

Not only am I not a runner, I actually find that activity really boring! I guess you could say that I like a challenge (but I wouldn’t blame you if you thought I was mad)!

So after about 5 training sessions (never further than 12km) the big day arrived and I hope you could understand my terror! I could barely do 11k without a million breaks let alone 21!!

The atmosphere at Don Valley Bowl was amazing but everyone looked like an Olympic runner and there I was with my banana desperately hoping for that extra boost.

To start off a race, competitors choose where they stand based on the time they think it will take to complete the race. Being conservatively stood near the back at the 2.5 hour mark, I had no idea the chaos that was ensuing at the start line. After waiting for about 40 minutes, there were rumours flying around that the race had been cancelled. Before we had time to process this, everyone in front had started running forward. I just assumed that the race had begun.

It was only when we got to the first official drinking station that I realised that there was no water and that there would be no water for the rest of the race. At this point, I seriously questioned whether I should continue running. I did, and I couldn’t have made a better decision.

The city of Sheffield really stepped up. The first water we were treated to was from Costa, they came out with paper cups when they didn’t need to. As we got closer to the city, it became increasingly clear that water would not be an issue throughout the race.

From the packs and packs of bottles that were purchased by the public, to residents offering water in milk bottles, it was really a sight to behold. I couldn’t have been prouder of my adopted city!! Sheffield really turned a potential catastrophe into such a heart-warming event.

The icing on the cake was that I finished the race with a time of 2 hours and 13 minutes! Considering I wasn’t expecting to even finish it, I was really happy!