Running a half marathon...as told by emojis!

[Sandraj39]

Found this today. Gulp! So much to look forward to! 😬

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

Oh so true!

[Dunder2004 Graduate10]

Not a bad representation. I did feel 'invincible' around mile 4 and got some phantom twinges around mile 11.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10]

Let me tell you about my mile 12+.

I had in the previous year run my first HM in 2hours 37mins - and at the end I felt like I could not have gone a step further. BUT - that HM was a small local one with about 300 runners and I was very suspicious about the accuracy of the distance so I really didn't have confidence in my finishing time regardless of what the results said. My second and latest HM however was a much bigger event with about 5000 runners - I could at least trust that it would be 21.1KLms In the back of my mind I thought it would be great to get in under that 2 hour 30 mins mark -- but that would mean running 30 seconds per klm faster for the entire distance -- IMPOSSIBLE!! BUT - I discovered at the 10Klm point that my average pace (as indicated on my wonderful Garmin watch) would get me in in just under that 2:30 time IF I could keep it up!!! I did notice that as I reached the 10klm mark on the road that my Garmin was telling me that I had run 10.16KLM . Didn't think much about it at the time - close enough is good enough -- right??? By the time that I got to the around the 17 klm mark, my Garmin was telling me that I had run 17.25 klm . I now woke up to the fact that my average pace was not quite what Garmin was telling me and if I did not improve it then I would fail to reach that 2:30 time by only some seconds ( I am a man and can do mental mathematics and run at the same time !! ) By the time I got to 12 miles, my arithmetic told me that I had to run at just about my 5k parkrun PB pace to get in under that time that I had firstly thought was IMPOSSIBLE - but which now was so close !! How I managed to run that last 5K in parkrun PB time after running 16.1 klms, I really don't know!!!! All I know now is - do I really want to run in another HM, unless I deliberately choose to attempt to run second last????

[Madge50 Graduate10]

Oh dear....what have I let myself in for.......😬......I'm a bit concerned about mile 11! 😱........😂....

oh and they missed including an image for the next day........🛌 !

Mx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

Hilarious isn't it?! Love your next day emoji! Pity next day is a work day (it is for me anyway!) Hope your training's going well. 🙂

[Madge50 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra, well 6 weeks to go.....(la...la...la sticks fingers in ears....) distances start cranking up next week, which, to be honest, I'm looking forward to, like the target is in sight.....the last few weeks have been, dare I say it , a bit boring, but I know it's key maintenance.

I'm looking forward to starting the fuelling strategy etc.

Hope you're ok too, I think you're already on longer distances? Was it an 8-10 miler the other day?

I'm already feeling emotional about it, goodness knows what I'll be like on the day....😂

Mx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Madge50]

Did an 8 miler last week Madge. Hoping for a 9 or 10 miler tomorrow. Haven't got a training plan on paper so to speak, although it is there in my head and I have given it quite a lot of thought, based on what has worked for me up until now. Gosh, 6 weeks! 7 for me! How excited are we gonna be!!🙂x

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to Madge50]

You will rock it! Your image next day will be a huge smiling face! x

[Madge50 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes, hope so, but I'll have a walk like the rusty tin man......🤖 😂

Mx

[misswobble Graduate10]

I often wish my maths was good when running. I am hopeless and it really frustrates me 🙂

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

Yep I think that's quite accurate!!

But once you get to 10 miles it's just a parkrun to go,which perked me up on the flat gosport,but not so much on the hilly IOW ones!😊

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to aliboo70]

'Just a Parkrun to go' - I will remember those words Ali!🙂

[Madge50 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Ha ha, yeah, right!......😬

Mx

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Haha Sandra. I've got to mile 11 and can vouch for those sentiments!

[Anniemurph Graduate10]

You are so brave! I think I need the pre-race and Mile 11 emojis just thinking about it! You will be fine though, you are training well and you will be well prepared on the day

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Anniemurph]

Am finally beginning to believe I can do it! Thank you🙂

[Tomas Graduate10]

Hahaha love it. Absolutely love it.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Wowsers ! That is great! x