Oxford Half - My second HM ๐Ÿ˜Š: 12mths after... - Bridge to 10K

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Oxford Half - My second HM ๐Ÿ˜Š

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10
โ€ข27 Replies

12mths after embarking on the C25K programme, Iโ€™ve just completed the Oxford Half, a month after doing the Great North Run!

Yesterday (Sunday) was perfect running conditions....cool and sunny. I arrived at University Park, the race village, with my partner Judy, my brother Del and his partner, in plenty of time to take in the atmosphere.

Nine to ten thousand runners were taking part so it was heaving by 8.30. We had a coffee and a banana and after that I was starting to feel quite nervous.... butterflies and all that goes with it! Toilet queues were really long so my โ€˜Urgency Cardโ€™ came in handy ๐Ÿค—

Warm up started at 8.45, the usual prancing around ๐Ÿ˜‚ before being asked to make our way to the starting pens, a 15min walk away.

The race started at 9.30 for the elite runners, it was 15mins later before we got away.

Taking in the sites of Oxford is fantastic, especially if youโ€™re a tourist which many of the runners were. I had only gone a couple of Kms before nature called and I was breaking my neck. We got to the first block of portaloos where I had to stop leaving my brother to carry on. I carried on at my own pace and only saw my brother the once when we did a u turn coming back on ourselves at about 4 miles.

I got into a rhythm running at around 11min/mls, passing several uniโ€™s and the Oxford Spires whilst counting down the miles. I was enjoying it, none of the walkers really getting in the way. However, once I passed the 7mile mark I felt my right glute begin to tighten up again just like the GNR! I thought โ€˜On no, not again!โ€™

As soon as it started to get really uncomfortable, I resigned myself to the fact I wasnโ€™t going to be able to run it all. I stopped twice to do some stretches before carrying on and starting jeffing at about 9mls....a lot more running than walking I might add!

Upon reaching the 10ml watering station, I was pleased to see it manned by a few of my club members who really egged me on shouting encouragement, that really gave me a boost as I was close to calling it a day because of the discomfort ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

I though โ€˜No, Iโ€™m going to do this!โ€™ and I did, crossing the finishing line in 2โ€™29โ€, only 12 mins behind my brother who ran it all!

We collected our T Shirts and goodie bags but alas, no medals as the shipment was delayed due to Storm Ali.... took the edge off it a bit but Virgin Sport have assured us that they will be mailed to us ASAP..... thatโ€™s going to cost โ€˜em a few bob!

For me itโ€™s still unfinished business as I havenโ€™t yet run the complete HM distance so. as my brother is from Burgess Hill, itโ€™s the Brighton Half in February next! ๐Ÿ˜€

Once again, if it wasnโ€™t for my good friends support and encouragement on this forum, I wouldnโ€™t be where I am now.... not bad for a Septuagenarian.... well I will be in 3mths ๐Ÿ˜ณ

This morning I went for another sports massage, the second in a week, good grief that hurt!!! ๐Ÿ˜ซ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

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TedG profile image
TedG
Graduate10
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27 Replies
โ€ข

Super awesome Ted, and a splendid time for all you had to stop. Iโ€™m decinitely going to do this one next year. Well done with knobs on xxx

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply to

Thanks Flick, youโ€™ll be OK next year ๐Ÿค—

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Amazing determination! Well done on your second half marathon! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ… Now, you have earned a decent rest to let all those niggles settle down!!๐Ÿ™‚

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toSandraj39

Thanks Sandra. I must resist the temptation to slip my running shoes on ๐Ÿ˜Š

Clairecandothis profile image
ClairecandothisGraduate10

Well done! Great time with stopping too. Ha I love you keep finding halves to do lol. Brighton should be lovely. I'd be gutted about my medal though! Rest now x

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toClairecandothis

Thanks Claire. It was a toss up between Reading and Brighton but seeing as my brother made the effort to come up to Oxford, I thought Iโ€™d return the favour plus I have a daughter in Brighton ๐Ÿ˜Š

Definitely resting up now, got some niggles to deal with ๐Ÿ™„x

Clairecandothis profile image
ClairecandothisGraduate10โ€ข in reply toTedG

Yep sounds fair, and your daughter can cheer you on! I'd be drawn by the sea too! Yes best to rest, maybe get niggles checked too. February isn't all that far away either.... x

Lorijay profile image
LorijayGraduate10

Congratulations Ted, huge well done!! :) :)

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toLorijay

Thank you Lorijay ๐Ÿ˜Š

Dizzysmum17 profile image
Dizzysmum17Graduate10

Fantastic Ted - what a great post and another great achievement! Amazing ๐Ÿ˜‰

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toDizzysmum17

Thank you, appreciated ๐Ÿ˜Š

ChrisAllen1 profile image
ChrisAllen1Graduate10

Well done mate, brilliant effort again.

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toChrisAllen1

Thanks Chris, still unfinished business though ๐Ÿ˜Š

Flyingred profile image
FlyingredGraduate10

Well done. Inspirational story. I'm going to look at the HM training plan next!

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toFlyingred

Thank for the kind words, so pleased Iโ€™m an inspiration to you ๐Ÿ˜Š

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Well Done for sticking with it TedG, you definitely deserve that medal whenever it comes.

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toDexy5

Thanks Dexy ๐Ÿ˜Š

over61andstilltrying profile image
over61andstilltryingGraduate10

Wow! Amazing! Congratulations! A great example to many. Thank you! ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰Enjoy the ๐Ÿ…when it comes.

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toover61andstilltrying

Thank you, appreciated ๐Ÿ˜Š

Agelesslass profile image
AgelesslassGraduate10

That is a really inspiring post TedG. I started this C25k in April and running 10k races now and would aspire to do a half next year. When I read your post I thought to myself I must enter a half definitely. So well done to you.

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toAgelesslass

Thank you for the kind words Agelesslass , if I can help you to achieve youโ€™re goal Iโ€™ll be one happy chappy ๐Ÿค—

MikeJones68 profile image
MikeJones68Graduate10

Fantastic work Ted. I believe you are well and truly a real runner :)

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toMikeJones68

Thanks Mike but not til Iโ€™ve run a HM without walking, albeit forced on me due to an injury! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperGraduate10

Well done, you need the third to make a hat trick of HMs!

Interested about the "Urgency Card" - I am a Crohns sufferer (fortunately mild and doesn't impact daily life too much at the moment) and spend my life constantly looking for toilets. I take loperamide before races/parkruns/long traning runs. Not ideal. I couldn't contemplate entering a massive event with the associated faffage. How can I get one of these cards and are they generally well accepted by fellow toilet queuers?

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toLangley-Loper

Sorry for the late reply Anne. Thank you.

I got my โ€˜Toilet Emergencyโ€™ card through the hospital, I had Prostate Cancer a few years ago. My other half has one too which she got at the Pelvic Floor clinic after a Bowel Cancer op.

Itโ€™s received quite well when you show the card at the front of the queue.....also handy if you get caught short when youโ€™re out ๐Ÿ˜Š

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate10

Ted, you are an absolute star and an inspiration to me! Doing these HM's is no easy thing, I think you are awesome. Hope you get some help for your glute issue. I have been doing a yoga stretch called the pidgeon pose for that area after advice from forum members.

Well done...don't belittle your acheivements. ๐Ÿ˜Šxx

TedG profile image
TedGGraduate10โ€ข in reply toBluebirdrunner

Sorry for the late reply Jan. Thanks for the kind words. And yes, I must stop beating myself up, Iโ€™m so competitive with myself!

I must remind myself that I ainโ€™t a spring chicken anymore ๐Ÿ˜ณ

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