Beat the Baton
SOME folk run with iPods, MP3s or even one of those "non skipping" CD players - but how about racing with a full orchestra belting out a few classics?
Beat the Baton is a 5km run staged in Battersea Park in London in aid of the charity, Sue Ryder Care. Liz Hall and Dave King joined 800 rain-sodden runners on Whitsun Bank Holiday for two laps of the park while the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played a host of famous classical pieces.
"It was very different," said Dave. "The shame was the weather which was just miserable; wet and cold. Had the sun shone, as it did the following day, it would have been a wonderful event with a run around the park and then a picnic to the strains of the Royal Philharmonic. As it was, we had to seek sanctuary in the car with our picnic."
For this race, Dave was joined by his nine-year-old son Ross, who is severely autistic, as they road-tested for the first time a special running buggy. "It was very light and easy to run with," added Dave, as he ran with Liz around the park clocking 25min 30sec for the 5km. "Everyone was cheering us on. It was good."
Dave had flown down the previous night from Scotland having competed in the Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon. The race was based in Campbeltown, and the course featured a one mile stretch along a beach overlooking the isles of Jura and Islay. Dave finished 21st in a time of 1hr 35min 29sec in his 34th race of the year.