Clare Teal: The 'Mad Dash' turns out to be a triumph in the rain

I don't remember who suggested we all take part in the "Mad Dash", a 10km run to raise the last bit of money for the new NICU unit at the local hospital (I do really – it was Muddy), but I do remember that everyone thought it would be a brilliant thing to do, a real achievement... but then two bottles of wine can have that effect on most people.

It's six miles in old money, twice as far as we'd ever previously run. A couple of months before the event we started our training, running a bit further every time till we hit the golden six miles. We were both so shocked. Immediate thoughts of marathons and the 2012 Olympics fleetingly entered my mind. I came to my senses when, on the short drive home, my legs seized up and I couldn't get out of the car.

As the event drew nearer, the burning question of "what are we going to wear?" needed to be answered. Muddy being proportionately svelte bought some trendy lycra running leggings/tights things in which I have to say she looked fabulous. I, being a more traditionally-built lady looked like a black pudding. In order to retain some modicum of dignity, a somewhat looser running trouser was needed and eventually procured. I like them a lot but the material is strangely noisy so when I run I sound like a tent zip opening and closing very fast.

Unlike last year's Race For Life 5km, we ate healthily and abstained from alcohol for a whole week before the event. Muddy likes to eat at least two hours before a run, which meant setting the alarm for seven o'clock on a Sunday morning (a first) in order to make "lucky porridge" with soya milk, blueberries, a banana, various seeds and a yoghurt. It was very nice, but the bacon sandwiches from the burger van next to the starting post didn't half smell good.

Being novices we were a bit surprised to find that half the course was ever so slightly (a lot) up hill. It was also tipping down with rain but we triumphantly ran our six miles in one hour and five minutes. The boy who won (clearly bionic), ran his in 35!