Bath Half Juicy lowdown...

[ju-ju-]

Before I even start running:

A train journey

A long walk in the rain

CROWDS CROWDS NOISE

Queueing for loo's with a blue slimy flush and hand spray ( one woman found poo on the flush...yuck)

Then...

In Runners Village we found shelter from the rain under the Rugby club canopy which happened to be just outside the back entrance of the mens changing tent

I milked a pretend cow and a man came up and said what a great technique I had and winked!!! See pic! It's the only one as Petes phone failed!

So I was in the 'Orange' zone ( slowest) and I finally made my way down the orange path to the start...which must have been a mile long!!! At this point I was just in my running vest and freezing, so I put my buff over my nose like a bandit!

We all slowly edged to the start ...then over the line and yes finally...I was running... Lots of cheering and a huge screen to wave at. I took it slow and just warmed up my poor body..

People and crowds everywhere shouting, cheering, banging drums, music blaring. It was too much for a panther...

First 10k was fine, saw Pete and Leon halfway and waved.

I ran with a chicken, a duck, a man with a cardboard cow over him, ladies with strap on boobs...

Best bits:

Finally finishing

People were all lovely and kind

The man that gave me one of his jelly babies ( and offerred me another...so sweet)

Finally feeling like a proper runner...

Feeling my body get into its rythm and it being 'normal to run ( if that makes sense)?

The bath when I got home.....perfect

Worst bits

The crowds ( I have a real phobia and anxiety about crowds...thankyou Facebook friends for all your wonderful advice)

The noise of the supporters...I couldn't cope

Seeing all the injured and exhausted at the first aid startions at every 1k

17k....I got so so tired and just felt I couldn't do it...

Finally a woman said only one mile....so I plodded on mentally getting there...only to find it was about 1k after that...we were all so cross. That threw me as its all about the mind knowing how far...

I walked a bit, in fact I staggerred, then just went for it and finished...

I had clothes to put on over but I got very very cold and I couldn't stop shivering till I got home...

I'm not sure huge events are suitable for panthers...going to focus on much smaller ones from now...next one is on the 16th in Falmouth!!

Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes...I am happy with that

Huge well done to everyone else today who had runs too.....

Juicy ju

x

[Hidden]

Well done! An inspiring read for many, myself included

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou...and well done on your progress...doing great

[Hidden]

Wow, congratulations.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou!

[Beads Graduate]

2 hours 20 is 'one of the slowest'! Blimey!!!

I'm with you with the crowds, can't stand them myself, well done for going.

A BIG WELL DONE!

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Beads]

Thankyou..and yes crowds are scary!!!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Fantastic achievement JuicyJu. I thought about you today and how brilliantly you've done. I'm with you on the crowds as I think it would be very claustrophobic.

I think it's amazing that you can run for this distance. Well done. You should be very proud.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thankyou so much...and for all of your support...

[wilmacgh Graduate]

Lovely blog. Focus on the positive and how far you have come over such a short time. I still don't feel ready to commit to a HM.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to wilmacgh]

Thankyou...and there are no expectations, running is there for us to enjoy how we please....

[nomorejellybelly Graduate]

Well done Juicy, that's amazing. You are an inspiration to us all. I will think of you tomorrow when I am out running and thinking of whimping out after about 3k! Like the new running shoes by the way. Lovely colour! X

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to nomorejellybelly]

Thankyou...and they are a bit bright aren't they?!!! Hope you had a good run? X

[suzybenj Graduate]

Whoop whoop girl friend - so well done. (But has going me a bit of collywobbles for my own wee running event).

Bask in the glory of the finish line and the tale to tell

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to suzybenj]

Thankyou...and you know what I thought of you so much....I wanted to share some of my learning that may help....I hadn't anticipated the huge ammounts of walking in my training ( not sure what London is like for all that?)...I also could not get in my zone due to the crowds, noise, banging etc...worth mentally preparing for. Lastly ( and talking to a great chap at work today who trains people for marathons)..all the zigzagging of getting past slower people etc meant I was slow/ fast/ slow which meant I wasn't just moving along in my natural pace...I hope that helps?!!!

[suzybenj Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks I think it probably does help. Hadn't imagined the noise and that could be its own pressure. And the zig zagging thing I had not thought about in terms of pace. So something to think about. My current worry is the half marathon treadmill in front of colleagues tomorrow - in the fear and scared zone of making a prat of myself....

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to suzybenj]

I also wanted to say...the experience of doing the marathon in itself is just incredible and we will all be there with you....I so want to do it one day....

[Juski]

Wow fantastic achievement well done I'm still struggling with the thought of running 5 k

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Juski]

Thankyou!

[OldNed Graduate]

Well done our Panther. Kindly Uncle OldNed suggests you should try one in a warmer season !! But it's a great achievement and we're all very proud of you. You continue to set the bar high for us; long may it continue.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to OldNed]

awww thanks.....yes good idea You are the best....

[swanscot Graduate]

Very well done, Julia. I don't suffer with a crowd phobia, but I really dislike big crowds and would hate being in a such a big crowd, (just checked and my next HM had about 1,500 runners last year - enough for me), but you coped. How nice of the other runner to share his jelly babies.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to swanscot]

I know....that was a lovely moment...and yes the smaller the better...I will stick with Eden and similar....

[ChrisL Graduate]

Bloody well done JuicyJu. Fantastic effort. Huge respect.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to ChrisL]

Thankyou so much....means alot....

[mason73 Graduate]

Wow great time in awful weather and love your running shoes cool colour x

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to mason73]

Thankyou! Bit bright aren't they?!!!

[caj62 Graduate]

Respect Juicy. Well done to you. x

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to caj62]

Thankyou...

[Legion Graduate]

Well done Ju. Sounds like a real challenge. I would imagine it's quite a hilly route, in Bath? Very curious about the cow. Was there a reason for it? Chocolate milk for all the runners perhaps?

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Legion]

Ha Ha no it was a very flat route...boring in fact!!! The cow was for the charity 'Send a Cow'...I have always wanted to milk one!!!

[squaremum Graduate]

Well done, Juicyju! Sounds like the running community embraced you.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to squaremum]

Thankyou!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Congratulations, Julia. A great achievement. You have helped me confirm that I do not want to do a HM. I will stick to my antisocial solo running.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

good decision.....I am going to stick with small ones as I do enjoy running with others...but not like that!!!!

[notbad Graduate]

Well done, thanks for sharing, sounds like a great experience. Can I ask what the advice you got on crowds was and did it help? I get like that myself and would like to know, thanks.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to notbad]

It did help...I tried to zone out, and at no point was I absolutely hemmed in which is what I was so scared about....

[Carolecal]

Well done Mrs Panther ! What an achievement ...especially in what sounds like a bit of a war zone too !

Noise,crowds, injured....... poo as well, good grief !

I think I'm with Tim and would prefer to stick to my antisocial ways and lone running ...but....a MASSIVE high five to you madam,you should be hugely proud of yourself and the amazing progress you've made in such a short time

Hope you aren't feeling too rough today x

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Carolecal]

Very sensible!! Bizarrely I am sooo stiff....I have run a HM distance a number of times now but it was all the extras I think!!!!

[danzargo Graduate]

You bloody heroine you. What a complete star you are to be sure. I hate crowds too, but you gritted your teeth and did it and for that you should get a huge slap on the back.

I'm just gonna chant for a bit. Excuse me ; "JuicyJu....JuicyJu....JuicyJu......"

(The toilets sound so repulsive. I mean.....like......SO disgusting!)

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to danzargo]

Thankyou....and lovin the chants

big events= poo

[Rockette]

Well done juicyju you should be really proud !

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Rockette]

Thank you so much

[aliboo70]

Congratulations on a fantastic achievement! Sounds like it was hard going but you made it through!!! and in an impressive time!

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Well done, you have worked so hard and it must be a fantastic feeling to see it pay off. The time is fantastic and the inner panther saw you through your hardest times. You always have had a fantastic ability to draw from Deep down and finish as you say push that body punish that body. It works for you, feel proud and enjoy your great achievement.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you and yes... I am a very determined person, not sure why?!!!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Remind me never to enter for a big race, Panther Girl you are so brave, all that crowds of people and noise would have had me bolting off and a big false start to my name!!!! Well done you, it sounded terrible but you gritted your teeth and won through. Brave girl that you are with loads of courage and determination.

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Thank you... And yes I felt like running off!!!

[Jennyh543]

Well done JJ, you're an inspiration!

Now just take it easy the next 2 weeks... you need to be fresh for HM#2

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Jennyh543]

Thank you!

[Jenwrenarm Graduate]

Ju, that's amazing. I can't imagine running that sort of distance. Congratulations! You must be well chuffed with that! Fantastic time. No doubt you're a 'proper' runner!

[Sallyal Graduate]

Well done! I hadn't realised you had done it too...and so fast! What a difference a week makes in the weather!!