Couch to Half Marathon in 5 months

[Sallyal]

I started c25k in October and on Sunday completed the Cambridge Half Marathon. I'm a slow plodder and took over 3 hours to complete it with a bit of speed walking around miles 8-10 but it's done! I carry a lot of extra weight and it was a hot day I'm proud and wanted to share with you all that anything is possible as long as you believe and in my case keep to a training plan !

[Beek Graduate]

WELL DONE YOU, SALLYAL! Such a lovely smile! Bet you are really pleased with yourself after all that hard work! Bet you enjoyed that tipple! I'm really pleased for you and it has given me the nudge to get on with doing something too! Inspirational!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Beek]

Glad I could be of help! As it happens I couldn't drink it and ended up throwing it away!

Thank you

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done! I think we can all appreciate just how hard it is, and what it takes to achieve such a feat. You should feel justifiably proud. Good lass!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you, I do feel proud and wore my medal everywhere for 24 hours!

[Tinyrun Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

Well done indeedy. You should wear it to bed. Fantastic achievement.

[ChrisL Graduate]

Well done Sallyal. I bet that beer tasted good afterwards!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to ChrisL]

Thank you, it was a freebie, isotonic non alcoholic drink, loved the thought of it but my stomach wasn't interested after having been jiggled around for such a long time!

[ChrisL Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

They are making isotonic no alcoholic drinks that look like beer????? How can that be legal?

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

Did it taste like beer?

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

3 Hours!!! - would be very proud of that . A half marathon is 21 Klms so that is an average of less than 9 minutes per klm over that long distance!!!!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Aaaah Bazza you missed the "more than" in front of the 3 hours!! My aim was always to be in before the cut off of 3 hours 30 minutes and there were always a couple of people behind me, but I wasn't racing them just or ing it to myself!

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

Don't confuse me with the facts - I've already made up my mind!!! GREAT effort!!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Thank you... 3:17 and proud!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Have you read, courage to start, by john (the penguin) Bingham Highly recommended

[swanscot Graduate]

Congratulations on your first Half Marathon, Sallyal.

It looks like you're enjoying that pint, after running on a hot day.

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to swanscot]

You ran too I think? You made me chuckle with the word "first" in your sentence...like I might fancy doing it again!

[Hennith Graduate]

Wow, that is seriously impressive! Very well done Sallyal!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Hennith]

Thank you

[no-excuse Graduate]

Wow that's fantastic-how inspiring! So you should be proud x

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to no-excuse]

Thank you, you can look up my graduation post to read why I started to run if you're interested in my story!

[Hidden]

Congratulations, what a fantastic achievement you must be so pleased and proud

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I am, but the blisters are painful today!

[Shed79 Graduate]

Well Done, That is really impressive!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Shed79]

Thank you, it was a lovely feeling to have people shouting my name and cheering me on!

[Lovefood1984 Graduate]

You've given me hope I still have time to do plenty training for the GNR in September, just need to stick to my training plan well done!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Lovefood1984]

That's loads of time! I started on January 1st upping my distance every week, had only run 10 miles twice and 11.5 once, would have felt more confident having done that distance more times and got used to running with duels and taking water on board while running. Good luck!

[Lovefood1984 Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

I have a water bottle but on short runs you don't need one so I'm sure there will be much practicing as my distances increase with that and fuel types. I'm more worried about the fuel as I increase, I climbed Ben Nevis a couple of years ago and an hour in the fiancé pointed out I was struggling and needed fuel which I denied and didn't fancy so he made me eat half a snickers and boy did I need it! 10mins later and I felt great!

[Windswept1 Graduate]

Brilliant. Well done. given me inspiration!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Windswept1]

Thank you, my graduation post tells you a bit more about what got me startd!

[Rockette]

That's brilliant ! Well done , & so you should be proud ! What a achievement . !

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Rockette]

Thank you. It's been a whirlwind journey, and yes feels amazing to know I did it.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

woop woop...what an amazing achievement...well done and in such a short time, thats fabulous!!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you. I have just finished listening to, "running like a girl" on audible books. Highly recommended.

[Windswept1 Graduate in reply to Sallyal]

Just bought the paperback copy of the book following recommendation of someone else on the forum.

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Windswept1]

I hope you enjoy it! I have listened to parts of it a number of times, and could hear her voice in my head as I was running on Sunday!

[Hidden]

A very well deserved achievement. Best wishes.

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, have realised so much of this is is about the battle between you're head telling you to stop and knowing your body can carry on!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Wow that's amazing Sally that must be one of the quickest Couch to 1/2M I've seen on here, very well done.

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

It wasn't my plan! I was gifted the place in the HM on the 1st January and my aim was to finish within the time limit! I had publicly committed to bringing a medal to work on Monday and couldn't bear to give my children the message that it was Ok to give up when things get tough(and boy was it tough!!) .

Thank you

[runningnotwalking Graduate]

Congratulations and enjoy that beer - well deserved

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to runningnotwalking]

Thank you!

[aliboo70]

Well done! Hope you enjoyed that well deserved beer! CONGRATULATIONS on a fantastic achievement Gives me something to aim for!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

My advice would include..choose a flat race, and I'm not a fan of courses with loops (this was 2 loops) as I saw loads of people finishing when I had to do it all again!! Thank you

[Chris14 Graduate]

Well done, what a fantastic achievement !!

[Sallyal Graduate in reply to Chris14]

Thanks Chris - you're almost there!!

[carole01 Graduate]

Respect! Big time! So wish I could to do that too one day but still unsure of the correct journey. A big whoop whoop to you!

[moger Graduate]

had a great day doing it myself well done

[Hidden]

I am Sooooooo impressed. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!