12 Months Running and celebrated with a Half Marathon.

[AndyD]

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.

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate]

Go you!

[c4ts Graduate]

Well done oncoming such a long way in 12 months, great result and looking super great in the photo. Just give yourself a little rest now

[aliboo70]

Great photo Andy youve done amazingly well to get to hm distance in a year! Hope you are very proud of yourself😊

[davelinks Graduate]

well done! you nailed it!

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

Brilliant. Well done ☺☺☺☺

[Pigivi]

Well done Andy, it's a fantastic achievement!!!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Fab photo! Well done Andy. That's a huge achievement at any stage but especially so after 12 months of running!

[Steve_L Graduate]

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.

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Well done. You must be feeling very proud and rightly so.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

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!

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

Happy runniversary, Andy, and we'll done on the Bristol HM! Sounds like a great race you had, and what a cool medal too. Well done!

[AnnieW55]

Congratulations. Great way to crown your year.

[dagshar 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.

[AndyD Graduate in reply to dagshar]

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.

[Noaky12 Graduate]

Congratulations Andy & what a fab photo too! X

[jaynekate]

You are fab💥💥, well done, it's a fantastic achievement😀.

[poppypug Graduate]

Brilliant ! Well done Andy, Double Brucie Bonus

Many Congratulations on a fantastic achievement and a very Happy Runniversary to you xxx

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Happy anniversary. What a great way to celebrate. What a difference a year makes.

[Kdollfraser Graduate]

Well done u! Hope I'm doing as well when I get to my first year marker! Great photo!xx

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Great stuff MarkyD, well done.

This 54yo is due for his HM baptism in three weeks.

[Toonlou24 Graduate]

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

[Hidden]

You've done VERY well to do that in a year from a standing start. Hats off to you !

[Rignold]

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.

[AndyD Graduate]

Thank you for all the lovely comments, I really do appreciate it. I'll be blaming Laura for the fact I haven't stopped eating since getting home.

[TurboTortoise Graduate]

Congratulations Andy, really impressive stuff for 12 months of running - and the photo is fab.

[Vixchile Graduate]

FAB!!! Well done and CONGRATULATIONS 👏🏽. That is fab!!! Its truly amazing this forum and this program!!!

I have my fist HM in a few weeks and i am glad to see just doing the 17km meant the race was manageable?!

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

What a great way to celebrate your runniversary, you've done so well, fantastic job xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Woo hooo well done and great achievement. What a first year. Here's to many more.

[pinkangel16 Graduate]

Brilliant, well done Andy xx

And don't you and your medal look gooood. 😉

[millwalki8 Graduate]

Nice one, Well done.

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

[Grubby1985 Graduate]

Amazing, congratulations to you! My cousin is trying to talk me into the Bristol half for 2016, not sure about it. I find your story very encouraging!

[ActonHighStreet]

Well done fella - a HM is a great achievement at any point.