Well... what a year!! I started running 12 months ago and today I completed the Bristol Half Marathon!!
When I started running I had no history of running or exercise (apart from dog walking) to speak about. C25K was the perfect tool I needed to get my *rse off the couch and get fitter. Thanks to this site and the support and advice from everyone I was very pleased the complete the program after 9 weeks. Rest assured… it wasn’t easy as I am no young athlete... 54 years old and suffering from all those bad habits that can easily take over in midlife! Special thanks to Slow_Rob, we both went through the program at the same time and his constant encouragement kept me going.
I am not a fast runner, but I’ve enjoyed my 3 or 4 runs per week slowly building up the miles and even adding new PB’s along the way. A few months ago when I heard about the Bristol Half I thought this would be a perfect event to celebrate my first 12months running and give me a goal to work towards over a few months (thanks to the ASICS training plan). Today’s event was great and very well organised. The weather was perfect with just one very light rain shower which went down well. As I have never run this distance before (previous best 17k) I really wasn’t interested in my time, but I was please to cross the line in 2:50 giving me an average pace of around 8min/k.. which incidentally was what I was planning for and ASICS had predicted.
So now I will take a couple of days to rest up and I’ll be back out there. I have recently started seeing a personal trainer in his home gym, so that should help with my “core” Just wish I started seeing him a few months ago! He’s a great coach as he’s a runners to does marathons and ultra’s so certainly knows his stuff.
So here’s to the start of my second year of running…
Happy running folks and well done to all you who complete the Great North Run.
Written by
AndyD
Graduate
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Hey, well done you! It must be a great feeling to finish the HM. My first one is in four weeks, and I'm feeling a little tired from the training - hoping the last few weeks will see me feel a bit stronger on the day.
Congrats on your runniversary and your maiden HM. May you enjoy many more.
Wow Andy - that is some serious progress in a year! Well done and congratulations on completing the Bristol HM. Great inspiration for those of us yet to graduate!
Congratulations - both on a year of running and the HM! Well done! Out of curiosity, was 17k the longest you did before the actual run? Just wondering as I am planning on doing a similar thing on my anniversary in Feb.
Yes, my longest training distance was 17k.. The Asics plan did have a couple, but on the last one I only did 15k. They say (and I agree) that the crowd drag you through the last few K so no need to train the full distance. In hindsight.. I would have done more longer runs and more core training beforehand... well that's my plan now! I hope you enjoy yours as much I did mine.
Wow fantastic. Very huge well done to you. What a way to celebrate one year of running. That's just excellent. I am in awe of you all on here today. It's amazing what that Laura can make us do!!!! Brilliant photo too! Happy year two!!! Xx
You've done VERY well to do that in a year from a standing start. Hats off to you !
Fantastic achievement. Very Well Done! getting your first bling for a big distance run is an amazing feeling. For all the support you may have had along the way, this was something you did entriely through your own dedication and hard work.
You may want to take more than a day or two before getting back out there though. The stairs will not be your friend on Tuesday.
I'm doing my first in October (Great Eastern Peterborough), I started January 7th this year. Like you my longest run is around 17K upto now, I'm hoping the crowd will push me the extra bit. Prob do it in about the same time too
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A bit gutted
So? What's changed after 12 months???
Half Marathon should I ... 
First Half Marathon!
