Report by Angela Parker

Claire Jones, Elaine Ellender and Angela Parker together with a friend travelled to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the National Lottery Anniversary Run.  This was an event celebrating the second anniversary of the Olympic Games being held in London.

 We left a wet Dover and arrived at a very warm and dry Stratford.  The sun was desperately trying to break through the clouds and when it did, the warmth was very pleasant.

 We made our way through the Westfield Shopping Centre and across the park where we found the baggage drop off point and handed in our bags.  Then we assembled on the grass for the mass warm up.  Soon it was time for us to go to our allotted waves.  The waves set off 9 minutes apart.  There were thousand of runners taking part, it was wonderful to see.

 Sir Chris Hoy was firing the gun for the start and we began the 5 mile run around the park at 10.09 and 10.18 hours.  Many runners were able to high five Chris Hoy, including Elaine!

 As we ran round there were many spectators cheering us on and bands were playing to keep us going.  Children were holding their hands out for high fives, which we duly obliged.  Between the third and fourth mile was a shower which we ran through and this was very refreshing, but the heat soon dried us out.  Then we saw the fourth mile marker and we were on our way to the finish.  The speakers were playing the commentary of Team GB’s greatest moments of the 2012 Olympics as we approached the 300 metre mark and soon we were at the 100 metre mark.  The crowds were lining the approach to the finish and the cheering was fantastic.  We made a left turn and the finish line was in sight, we put our foot down and it was smiles all round as we crossed the line.

 Claire finished first with a superb run and bagging a PB of 45:46.  Angela finished in 46:39 and Elaine finished 53:20.

 Today was such a fabulous day.  After the run we had lunch in The Cow public house and then went shopping in Westfield before catching the train back home.  Roll on next year to do it all over again!