JuicyJu's Eden Project Half Marathon listy:
1.I was really nervous and woke up really early in the morning...my sister and I got there really early, and it was a bit bizarre as we had to then get a bus to the start line...the bus was packed with other runners decked out in all manner of outfits...the best were the hardcore runners ( ladies) with the knickers, knew high socks and hard core combat mesh vest loaded up with squirty gel things...
2. I had to use the portaloo before we started and couldn't help staring at the male portaloos which were very open urinals ( ahem!)...I could see everything!!!!
3. ...Eventually we set off and the annoying thing was that we were all in a clump ( not staggered according to ability) so all these fast types kept elbowing past me. I got really fed up and kept flinging my arms out just to keep them at bay....
4. Up to 5 miles it was all in the woods on a small very muddy and puddly uneven track...you couldn't take over ( people did but there wasn't really enough room), and what really got on my t*** was this woman in front of me that kept stopping at the big puddles in order to plan her ( splash free) route. That made me make a point of thrashing my feet through the puddles as I ran...it was a run after all and it was a given we would be covered in mud and soaked by the end..who cares!!!
5. Next was THE HILLS ( or should I say Cornish Mountains)...oh my goodness...there was at least 7 in total and they were ENORMOUS...BIG UPS and BIG DOWNS...all killers on my poor joints....At that point I was so glad of my hill training at Parkrun...2.5k all uphill ....130 metres.
6. Flash....lightning...then bang bang...thunder...then taps on...rain...It was actually really exhillarating, I felt so good, I was running with the big boys, Juicyju actually felt like she was one of them....the runners...thats me now.
7. Hard going at 18k....'You are strong, you are a panther' over and over in my little brain...I did some dancing and ignored the pain in my right hip ( all the hills). Oh and I made a friend...a lovely lady from Falmouth who did triathalons, she had a Garmin and was keeping to 10 minute miles, so I stuck with her ( she had rather nice pigtails too).
8. Drinks and snacky snacks...4 drinking stations...mostly water, but one with isotonic drinks and FUDGE!!! I even got a jelly baby from one of the wardens. I also had 3 Werthers originals stuffed in my pocket just in case, but didn't as Pete pointed out I would probably choke on it.
9. Last k...spiralling down towards the domes....Silky Steve had run out ( he can only go for 2 hours poor love) so I had my 5k playlist on and ended up listening to 'Harlem Shake' as I made it through the finish line...I spotted hubby with my two beauties as well as my two boistrous nephews...they all cheered, and the bloke on the tannoy said my name...that was fab.
10. I got my medal ( I didn't take it off till bed time), t shirt and pint n pasty tokens...I wouldn't recommend it. My sister arrived after me, scoffed her pasty and then went white and we had to go to first aid...her temp was 34 degrees ( it didn't help that we went straight into the ice rink after which was freezing)....they were amazing and got her temp up which helped the sickness...
11. Scores on the doors: 2 hours and 23 minutes..I am really pleased due to all the challenges, and I am about to sign up for the Bath Half...then Paris in 2015 for the Marathon....
Thankyou all so much for all your support for me and Hazel with all your runs...it meant so very much...I hope we have broken records.......
Juicyju
x
Gary's HM report.
