It's time to taper before my HM.: Hi everyone... - Bridge to 10K

Bridge to 10K

16,515 members26,546 posts

It's time to taper before my HM.

5 Replies

Hi everyone,

Ive had a great penultimate week training for my first HM on the 19th.

On Tuesday I ran a 5 miler and knocked just under 2 minuets of my previous best time.

This was followed on Thursday with another 5 miler where I knocked of another 2 minuets.

I understand that the HM is not about speed but I just wanted to build my strength up a little more.

My final run for the week was yesterday when I went out for my long run. 11 miles.

I was up at 6am and tucking into my porridge. Around 7 I looked out and through the darkness I could see that the floor was dry. Looking at the parked cars there was no frost but there were flurries of sleet everywhere. Under armour leggings and top were the flavour of the day, beneath my shorts and t shirt. Gloves and a hat were placed on the relevant body parts and then my garmin and ipod.

I was off, the 5 minuet warm up walk, took 4 minuets as it was freezing.

I started my run and as always, the first mile was horrible, my knees ached, my back ached I kept flopping my arms around like a rag doll, to take any tenseness out of my shoulders.

Then it happened, PING!

The nasty mile was done and I just relaxed into my long run, along a grey and bitterly cold causeway leaving the island. Sleet was flying past me from every direction and the breeze was cutting. I kept on having to wipe the tears away, as my eyes kept on leaking. After around 20 minuets, the tears stopped as I got used to the cold. I joined the Rodwell trail and was surprised to be the only one on it. I kept looking at the watch to keep my pace and jogged along at 160 bpm to the lovely music supplied by Audio Fuel.

A lot of the birds seemed to be pairing off, there were magpies flying around and they looked like they were playing tag. Pied wagtails scurrying along in front of me. Blackbirds who looked like someone had inserted a tyre pump into them as they were so puffed up. The squirrels didn't seem to be at all bothered by the cold, then again they have lovely fur to keep theirselves warm. I reached the end of the trail and ran under the underpass. I then headed anticlockwise around the inner harbour, as I moved along I tried to guess where the Cormorant's would surface as they dived under the water for fish. I trotted over the town bridge into Weymouth and looped around so I was running along past the fish market and the trawlers. I passed an interesting tall sail boat, that looked like it had been around since Nelsons days.

Passing the Pavilion I joined the promenade and headed around the beach towards the east. By now there were more people around on the sand, throwing balls and things for their dogs. Reaching the clock I headed down past the railway station and bus terminus. It was 9 am by now and the carparks were eerily empty, I wouldn't have been surprised if a zombie sauntered around a corner as I headed towards the pedestrian bridge that spans the inner harbour.

I re-joined the Rodwell trail and started the gradual ascent out of Weymouth, there were a few dog walkers and cyclists now. The sleet flurries had stopped, I reached Sandsfoot castle and had a few drinks of water with a couple of gels, as I descended to the causeway and my return to Portland. The tide was out as I crossed the Fleet and there were hundreds of wading birds feeding on the waters edge and across the mud flats.

On reaching the 10 mile point my legs were starting to feel heavy and I got a couple of stabbing pains from behind my right knee. I slowed down a little and continued to the end of my run.

I had run the 11 miles 10 minuet's faster than the week before, so I had a huge smile plastered across my face, as I limped up the hill to home and a hot shower.

My wife opened the door and laughed at my hat as it had frost all over it.

I've only got a 4 & 2 mile run this coming week and then on Friday we drive up north.

Next Sunday I will have hopefully completed the Blackpool HM.

I hope that you have all had a good weekend and some great runs.

All the best.

5 Replies

I just read my post and realised that I've been telling you about lots of slow stately ballroom dances. Minuets

Sorry, I meant minutes. lol

McFitty profile image
McFitty in reply to

I thought it was a very musical run! I am SO jealous that you live on Portland. Such an amazing place to run (and Weymouth).

Good luck with your HM. If you keep knocking the minutes off the way you are, you'll be finishing before you start! 😊

in reply toMcFitty

Hi McFitty,

Portland is a great place to live, thanks for your message and the wishes.

All the best.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Graduate10

Lovely post and descriptions!well done on 11miles,look forward to reading all about the HM next week!😆

in reply toaliboo70

Thanks for your message, I'm glad you liked my post.

I'm certainly getting excited.

I will keep you up to date next weekend.

All the best.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Week 7 of my HM training out of the way with an 8 mile run this morning. Roll on Feb 19th.

Hi everybody, I've not been in touch recently as like the rest of you, its been nose back to the...

My very first HM 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

So from the title yes you guessed, I did it. I ran a Half Marathon. Slept okay last night then...
Buddy34 profile image
Graduate10

How not to run a 10k race but still to have the most wonderful time!

She believed she could...so she did Sorry to be late posting my run report of Sunday's Monsal Trail...
Bluebirdrunner profile image
Graduate10

A Tough 12k And A Different Kind of Trail Runner !

Haven’t run this week due to a combination of things, recovering from last Saturdays first HM,...
Couchphoenix profile image
Graduate10

My taper plan

This post isn't much about running -- but more about my taper plan for my HM on Sunday. I thought...
Bazza1234 profile image
Graduate10

Moderation team

See all
Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministrator
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.