A loo stop... Doing a half marathon, who'd have thought!

[mair99]

Today was my d-day, my red letter day. I ran my first half marathon and have lived to tell the tale!

Yesterday we drove into Sydney to stay overnight in a hotel so the traveling would be easier for the early start. We didn't figure on Islamic extremists rioting in Sydney outside our hotel precisely at the time we arrived. It was a little scary, a messy and aggressive crowd and my kids ended up crying and quite distressed. As we ran the gauntlet of riot police we were captured by a news camera and made in onto the news story on channel seven last night. Gave my friends and family a shock! But I digress...

I caught the train over the Harbour bridge at stupid o'clock and, after a comfort stop, was all set to race. The race started at 6.20 and all went well until about 8ks in when I spied a portaloo and felt the need. I've never heard of taking a break mid race but was greatful for the convenience. After that I made sure I drank water and energy drink at each drink station to stop dehydration. We ran around the city a bit, which was deliciously cool in the shade of the tall buildings, then out to darling Harbour and looped back towards the bridge.

It was on the last 6ks that things started getting difficult. I am lucky the course was so flat or I may have run into trouble. I dug deep, dredged up some energy from somewhere and kept going. I knew my family were watching somewhere close to the finish line so I had to run... Be damned if they were going to see me walking. I found them 100mtres from the finish and gave kisses to all before bounding (I'm sure it looked more like a messy stumble) across the finish line.

2 hours 17 minutes... Including a pit stop. I was chuffed as my goal was to beat 2h20m.

I made it to the anz recovery tent (thank you sister for working for a big company) and met all the family there. My sister completed the 4k bridge walk with her 2 little ones and my brother in law did a 9k bridge run too. We packed up and walked most of the way back to the hotel (got a taxi for part of the journey) for a well deserved shower, then back home again...

I'm tired and a little achey this afternoon but glad its all done!

[suki_007 Graduate]

What a wonderful run, congratulations - and vividly told. What a lovely city to do a half marathon in. How long ago did you start C25K and how long have you been training for this run?

[mair99 Graduate in reply to suki_007]

thank you suki. I started c5k in january this year and could hardly run a minute! After graduating in march i had some health issues but ran my first 5k race in april. Then a 12k in June, 14k in August and now the 21k. I gradually built up my running stamina and have been training consistently for the half marathon for 8-10weeks.

[suki_007 Graduate in reply to mair99]

That is so inspiring! What a change in such a relatively short time, makes me wonder if I should up my distances a bit now I'm getting fitter....

[Greg_M Graduate]

Fantastic, well done and definitely sounds like a great venue. I am just on the start line for my half in less glamorous Maidenhead

What's the worst that can happen right!

[AliB1 Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

You'll be nearly finished by now. Hope it went well!!!!

[TJFlute in reply to AliB1]

Can't wait to hear all about it

[mair99 Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

So how did it go Greg?

[Greg_M Graduate in reply to mair99]

not at all bad thanks, endless witterings elsewhere for the gory details. Definitely not as pretty as your run for sure.

[mair99 Graduate in reply to Greg_M]

Good to hear you made it in one piece

[Deryn61 Graduate]

Woo hoo that is wonderful, well done you!

[AliB1 Graduate]

Well done you! A fab time!!!! Iam trying to get some inspiration back as struggling at the mo and stories like these help!!!!!

[mair99 Graduate in reply to AliB1]

Ali I think we all struggle with motivation at times, I often fluctuate between loving and hating running. It does help to have a goal to aim for but its such personal thing. I think im going to have a break from long runs and do some running for fun and perhaps work on speed over shorter distances. Its coming up to summer here so short late evening runs might be the best bet.

[AliB1 Graduate in reply to mair99]

i am going to do my 10k in October (i know not as far as a half marathon) then go back to 5k and find the fun!

[TJFlute]

A brilliant time! Huge congratulations!

[notbad Graduate]

What an inspiring blog - well done you and a time to be very proud of! Thank goodness for portaloos eh?

[mair99 Graduate in reply to notbad]

Lol... Yes they come in handy on occasion. Thanks!

[mair99 Graduate]

Thanks for everyone's kind words, they mean a great deal.

[Nickyrunning Graduate]

What an amazing half marathan, from stories to be told, to personal bests and a loo stop! Well done you x

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Oh well done Mair99 thats amazing and what lovely scenery to have been able to run in too. We have stayed twice at the ANA Hotel once we had a room over looking the bridge and Opera House then second time over looking Darling Harbour, I love that harbour and the Imax Theatre. I have turned green with envy on reading your blog. But seriously well done, many congratulations on a very good time. Convenient to have a convenience too

[mair99 Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

The ANA is lovely. I had cocktails there once, eons ago! I think you are a closet aussie??? Perhaps you could run Sydney one day...