Run for the 96 5K

Michael on 2017-05-14

Michael from the future here: Since running this race there has sadly been a 97th victim of the Hillsbrough disaster, and I wanted that to be known as all the victims deserve to be remembered for what happened. Andrew Devine; You’ll Never Walk Alone - #jft97.

The original post appears below.

This morning I ran in the “Run for The 96 5K” race in Stanley Park in Liverpool.

The race is in its third year and is run to remember the 96 who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. It is also run to raise funds for Everton in the Community and the LFC Foundation.

I ran with my sister, Ali, as part of a promise to run a 10K with her this year. As we are both Liverpool fans it was a good race to choose to gauge my progress on my journey back to being a runner.

About 5 minutes before the start You’ll Never Walk Alone started to play over the PA. It was quite emotional to be standing there with so many reds and blues, hearing Liverpool’s famous and poignant anthem, and knowing why we were all there.

It took longer to get through the start than it did at the London Marathon back in 2004, but that was because Rafa Benitez was at the start shaking hands and posing for selfies with every racer that wanted to. I love Rafa :-)

The race itself was a mainly flat course through Stanley Park, with a short section round the outside of the park to take in Anfield and Goodison. We arrived at the finish much sooner than expected, and on crossing the line our happiness with our time was tempered by the fact that the course was clearly short of the advertised 5K!

I really feel like I’m starting to get some running fitness back now. I’m still running no more than twice a week while my body adjusts, but already the bug is biting again…

Of course, none of that matters, what matters was running in memory of the 96. Never forgotten - You’ll Never Walk Alone.