So. Yesterday was the big day. The Brighton Half Marathon. It was cold, drizzly and windy, possibly my worst combo of weather conditions (I know many of you are hardcore types who enjoy running in a blizzard, uphill wearing lead underpants, but I'm a fair weather plodder). Anyway, II was undeterred and shivered on the start line. Well, I say start line. I was in the "must try harder" category which meant I was so far back from the start, it took a full 10 mins to cross it once the race had started. No matter. I ran the first 5 miles with not too much effort - that despite a hill (incline for most, hill to me) but the wind and drizzle took their toll. I confess I did walk about 3 miles of the 13 (on and off) but, in the end, my time was only 10 mins slower than had I run it all. This tells us two things. One, I must have run the first 5 miles at a rapid pace and, two, I can walk almost as fast as j run.
MM had assured me that there were lots of kind folk along the route who gave away sweets, orange segments and other delicious sugary treats to keep you going. Dear reader, I have to tell you that in 13 miles I had the sum total of two Haribo sweets. Two. Now I'm assuming this was because all the gazelles in the advanced running group had snaffled them all, leaving nothing for the many alsorans. So, in short, I did the race on 2 tiny sweets and half a bottle of rancid energy drink (why are they SO strong? They make me twice as thirsty and my teeth itch).
Anyway, it's done and I'm chuffed. My daughter (18 and nonplussed by anything I so or say) picked up the medal and said "can I have this when you're dead? Finally something you can hand down to me". If that's not an incentive to do a half marathon, I don't know what is....
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Janey1012
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OMG my response just went down the pan! Grrr, gnash! π My internet is Kerapp!
Well done! Congratulations π Not an easy run by the sound of it. Wet, cold windy weather is far from ideal so hats off to you for your staying power. Walking when you need to is fine, and it means you get round.
I hate sticky drinks and sweets! They gum up your teeth, mouth and hands π
I bet your daughter is impressed and secretly thinks her mum is cool π
Have a few days off now. A week is fine if you need it. Eat healthily! You will probably want to eat everything in sight
Oh Janey, that's fantastic, well done you! Doesn't matter about speed, you did it, and in not overly nice conditions. I had that thing about sweets in a 10 miler I did, some one called out 'jelly babies!' And I lifted my head in joy and anticipation, where there any? No....the locusts had already swept through at speed and scoffed the lot!
As for daughter, well, if you said to her 'you could get your own' she'd probably scowl at you at walk off in a huff, because we know nothing, are totally uncool and are just a nuisance.....teenagers are great aren't they π
Unfortunately Kevin and Perry were all the rage when ours were teenagers, so we always used to end up laughing at their moody antics, and couldn't take them seriously........which never went down very well..........we all made it through unscathed though...
βΊ thanks. I am slightly in smug mode today, even if I can't bend over π think I'm going to go back to 5 and 10k runs from now on. Though, having just written that, I'm chuckling as 8 months ago 1k was unimaginable! Xx
What a brilliant race and a terrific post! Well done, I am in awe of people who do 10m and upwards, can't see me ever doing that!
I saw in my Women's Running mag an advert for High5 electrolyte tabs for drinks so tried them. The berry one is not bad at all. Apparently cyclists use them a lot so Halfords sell them. But if you order on line before you collect they are half the price at Β£3.50 for twenty. Actually I ordered them on my phone whilst I was in the store and just took the order number and the tabs to the till, result!
No carbs in these though so you need your snacks, I'm using dates at the mo but I'm a complete novice! I just take advice on here and read as much as I can πππΌββοΈ
Ha ha! Loved your daughters comment! But huge well done to you - that is brilliant, and especially in bad weather! ππππ₯Bet you are still buzzing and will be for a while. π
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First half marathon almost here - wish me luck!
Half Marathon here I come! ππΌββοΈβ€οΈπ Long post alert! π
Oxford Half Marathon
Conwy Half Marathon
Couch to Dublin
