So, I can now run a half marathon!

[Crawlhome]

Yesterday I ran my first half marathon in beautiful East Devon and another first of running two and a half hours on trails.

Breakfast was tried and tested coffee porridge, made the night before and stress about how much water to drink.

The first half of the route was lovely scenery with varying terrain, then it got increasingly tough with never ending hills. Three of us did the half and I was ahead with my friend and we ran into beautiful Sidmouth together with the reward of a cream tea, goody bag with gin and chocolate and impressive medal. My third friend was a bit behind, she hit the wall and had to be rescued by a woman with lots of jelly babies. 🤣🤣

Although I'd put in lots of training, including hill work, I wasn't prepared for how challenging trail running is and I was still in pain afterwards and still resting the legs today.

It's a wonderful event though and I'm hoping to be back next year.

I'm glad I have a few months until my second HM in October.😁

Picture of a few of us en route, I'm in the orange top!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

A goody bag with gin and chocolate? Oh helloooo! 😍😍😍😍

Amazing CH, that’s a fantastic time - but you’ve always been a gazelle haven’t you? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👏👏

I love trail running, but I’m a lot slower on them. I can’t imagine running a HM on them, but I do find the distance appealing I must say. 😀

Well done to you all - I hope your other friend was able to complete the course. 🤞

Take care of your legs and bask in your glory for a few days. 😀🏃‍♀️👍💪👏👊

[Crawlhome Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

You would live this one and it's not that far from you, next year maybe?

Yes we all completed and talking about the Edinburgh marathon next year!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

You have come so far crawlhome! A half marathon is hard for most people but to throw in trails and hills of east Devon, absolutely amazing.

Love the contents of the goody bag, but not sure I could do the cream tea after a run, as much as I love them.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👏🏻👏🏻🍾🥂🏅🏅🏅

[Crawlhome Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy and you're so right, the cream tea sounded like a good idea beforehand! I managed to eat it all slowly though 😁😁

We've all come a long, long way, but I'm not sure I would have registered for this so soon if I'd known how intense it was. 😬🤣

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

Brilliant! Well done! Lovely looking trail. Enjoy your goodies and well deserved rest! 👍🏅😁

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done CH - fantastic achievement!😀

[Crawlhome Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks Jonathan 😊

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Wowsers!! Fantastic. Well done u.

Excellent achievement. Enjoy your celebrations 👍👌🎉😊 sounds like great rewards at the end too 😊

[Wimborne]

That’s just brilliant CH 👏👏👏. What an amazing achievement 👍.

[Lavender1962 Graduate10]

Well done! A half marathon trail run is impressive. Your time is amazing. You deserve the gin and chocolate in the goodie bag after all that hard work. 🎉🏃‍♀️

[ktsok]

What an effort! You can run a half marathon and then some - those hills must be worth another few miles on the flat. Well done you 👍