I’ve been following the NRC HM plan since June and I’ve finally hit the last week of increasing distance before tapering (they are calling it sharpening!). I was both relieved and a bit nervous to be doing this run. The longer runs have been tough. At the moment, I’m naturally happiest around 10k so the thought of pushing on to 21km today wasn’t one that filled me with joy. Still, I was pleased to het a chance to run the distance before the Bath HM in three ish weeks. I’ve done ok with the training and I felt ready for it so it was time to think about where to go.
Usually, I’d just run from home but today I wanted a flatter route which would be more similar to race day. There’s a lovely walk I’ve done before along disused railway line a short drive away which seemed suitable. I assembled my kit-oatcakes, a couple of energy gels, water and a celebratory vimto rip roller (a long tradition from c25k) and headed off.
It didn’t start well. I couldn’t get the guided run to play on the app and started off with just distance check ins. Decided that wasn’t going to work for me to spent ages faffing around trying to find another version of the same run. Eventually I got the dulcet tones of Coach B to play and off I went.
I’d forgotten that flat paths are often a bit dull. The first 5k was not exciting! There were a few sheep in fields but that was about all the interest. The main distraction came from cyclists zipping past. I’d forgotten this path is a nightmare for that. I came to a cider factory and almost lost the path. There was long enough for me to worry I was lost but not long enough to get the phone out to check where I was! Very relieved to spot the sign. The next 5k was also a bit…dull! Luckily the music on the podcast picked up the tempo a bit and I had a nice time partying in my head. 10k came up in an hour and ten minutes which is slow for me. I’d deliberately tried to take it easy but was surprised at how tired I was and began to worry I might not make it back. That’s when I remembered the energy gels and decided it might be a good plan to actually use them!
I don’t know whether it was the gel or just knowing that I was now running back to the start but I got a real lift and felt like I was flying along for the next 7k. 7k! When 17km came up, that was when I started to struggle. My previous longest run has been 16km and I began to feel like I was in uncharted territory. My legs felt heavy and I just felt tired. A group of dog walkers sitting on a bench yelled out “you can do it, love” which was nice and I gave them a cheery wave. I was determined to make it to the end. Maybe I’d been distracted but I suddenly noticed the ground was sloping upwards gently. Realising that was contributing to the sudden tiredness was really helpful. The podcast ended at two hours and I quickly found something upbeat to get me to the line. Coach B threw in some surprise pace pick ups near the end. I was cursing him in my mind but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could manage it. And then it was done! 21.1km. 2hrs21 minutes! Thrilled with that.
It was by no means a perfect run but it has given me a lot of confidence that on race day I can make it over the line. Couch to half marathon. Who’d have thought it?
I forgot to take pics so this is a throwback from c25k run 1.
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Bournemouth Supersonic 10k
Gosport Half Marathon
Laura and the stepping stones
