My quest was to finish a half marathon - quest complete - finished the Belfast Half Marathon yesterday in 2 hours 3 minutes! Ran the whole thing with my other half which was great because he has spent quite a while on the injury couch lately. It started at 9:00am which meant leaving at 7:30 - no time for faffidge as Poppy calls it!
Got to our parking location about 10 minutes away from the park shortly after 8 - took almost 20 minutes to get all the way across the park. When we were walking down the main road there were two or three people in running gear, but when we got in to the park we were suddenly joined by dozens of people coming from another gate until all you could see was runners all heading in a determined fashion across to the start line - made you want to check your watch to confirm that yes - it is only 8:20 on a Sunday morning - and yes - most sensible people are still in their beds - but we are not sensible people - we have gotten up at stupid o'clock on a Sunday morning to come and run 13.1 miles! The atmosphere was great though. 3000 people all with the same aim.
Our aim at the start was to stay and run with the other couple we had travelled with - then the aim was to finish before the panda! We lost our friends at the 6 mile mark but we still managed to beat the panda! Lots of lovely people out cheering and giving out drinks gels and sweets at several locations around the course, from Ormeau park (stopping to use the facilities on the way and then attempting to sprint to catch up with my companions), along to the Sydenham bypass, back through the Titanic Quarter, through the city centre (more sweets) and up into West Belfast before coming back down and heading back towards Ormeau Park and the finish line. Saw various sites along the way including an older gentleman with a 250 Parkrun tshirt on! The weather was not too bad - started to rain just as we finished the run but we didn't mind. Reached the finish line when it was 2:05 on the clock with a final chip time of 2:03. Delighted with that as it was my first one and now trying to decide what the next one is! Slightly sore but very happy people in our house last night as you can see in the photo. The medal is not very clear - it is in the shape of a running shoe
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mcgurranhouse
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Brilliant Photo and post. Look good in your running gear. Did you get that pesky Panda to take the photo ? I'm only running 6K at moment but the more people I see posting that they have done half marathons makes me jealous.
Few years since I've visited relatives in Belfast. I'll have to ask them to put me up and tell them I've come to run against the Panda, not to see them , they're all mad ! One day ill hope to do a run and beat the pesky Panda.
No Poppypug - it was some brave soul dressed as a panda! Running 13.1 miles dressed as a panda! Similar to the giraffe that was someone else's nemesis!
Massive congratulations to both you and hubby -that really is a cracking time. You should be very proud of yourselves. I've got to ask, what time did the panda do?
I watched our local HM yesterday as it went past my front door. Only spotted one person in costume (SuperMario, I think), but I really admire anyone who can run a HM. Whether running in costume or not, the effort put in by some of the runners I saw was truly humbling. Well done m'dear
Massive well done to you both, what a fantastic time. I'm doing my first 10 miler in a couple of weeks, then will (hopefully) go for the HM next year, I would dream of hitting a time like that, probably won't as I am slower pace wise, but you've inspired me to keep on track.
We did indeed - first time in a long time - added to the pleasure of the run as neither of us found ourselves having to wait for the other - it was great!
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Hello October! It's Week 3 of the Quest!!! 😊
Dartmoor Vale -10k- I completed my first 10k
Well well well, completed my first park run!
