So two years ago I was a slightly doughy, couch based peronality like my lie-ins, pies and a pint or two and slightly sneeery about exercising types but something changed, somewhere, somewhen (Grrrrrrr C25K grrrrrrrrrr).
I now appear to be the person who gets up at 6:00a.m. on a Sunday morning drives to an unfamiliar town in order to queue up with 2500 people to run in a great big circle until they have either covers 13 miles or they can't move any more - whichever comes first.
When? How?
Even starting out on C25K I was adamant that I wanted to be able to run for 30 minutes, that would be 5k ish and fit nicely into my life without me having to make too many adjustments. Quite certain I wasn't that interested in any more but slowly it became 7K and I started ParkRuns, then 10K and I started some more races, then 10 miles so I could accompany a colleague on one of his club races. Shortly after I started doing 10mile races without a colleague and now have done a half-marathon.
It creeps up on you, if you want it to, slowly but surely, if you let it. It is a long term business this, no quick wins, but equally no rocket science just simply going out there and doing it until you can do it better; just mileage, that's all oh and a heap of looking after yourself. I think in the grand scheme of things I probably took longer to half-marathon distance than many but I am a slowly - steady kind of person but even so looking back that's probably my "take away" that it is a long term thing you don't go out there do a few weeks and become Mo! I have taken two years to take twice as long as him 
But no matter, I won't be elite, it's not defeatist I don't have the time or inclination (I know I said that before a couple of years ago) and am too old! But I have a whole heap of things to try out and PBs to better and longer distances to run and that will take up waaaay too much of my time in any case so I don't need to be really godd at running round a track 3367637 times!
No way would I have forseen this two years ago, not that I wouldn't be capable, but that at that time I did not want it, but expectations change over time and as I got more capable it opened up more doors - we joke on here from time-to-time that week 9 of the C25K routine is not the end just the start - but really it is true - it gives a base level of fitness from where you can have a crack at loads of other things. Try them all there are so many options and life is short - I am signing up for a ten mile cross country down the Ridgeway; which might very well kill me but I have never done that before and worst comes to the worst it's some great scenery ( I may have mentioned before that I really like cross country now - how about that for a school boy PE underachiever 
?)
Stick with it (assuming you enjoy it) the benefits are real and there will be some aches and pains along the way for sure - count on it - the benefits may come slowly but one day you look back and think - "huh? what happened?"
Anyways sorry I am wittering on.
Halfer today was hard work, got there really early so I got a good parking space and no queues for picking up my number or dropping my bag off. And so I could go to the toilet about half a dozen times - no moreon that topic. Surprised myself by actually having everything I wanted with me even charging up my Garmin 8).
Weather was kind, yesterday was really hot, a friend suffered on a 5 miler in the heat, dry but cloudy with a bit of a breeze - perfect.
2500 people there and the race was started by Sophie Christiansen the paralympic equestrian gold medalist - we ran right by her gold post box. Very cool.
Then running running blah blah more running blah more running gosh its a long way!
Through the local towns so loads of people out clapping and egging us on including groups of ultra-enthusiastic kids jumping up and down waving flags. You know what it really helped I can't imagine what it must have been like running round the Olympic stadium - though I have to say we were offered loads more jelly babies and wine gums by kids with impromptu refreshment stalls than they were 
Last 3K were really hard, prayed many times for someone to say it had all been called off but no I had to tough it out and finish properly like it or not.
Finishing time was 1:48 and change which was pretty decent I thought. I was after sub 2:00. So chuffed I have to say and now I have a bench mark for the next one. Yes the "NEXT" one - when did I become that person??????
Gory details here for anyone into that stuff
connect.garmin.com/activity...
I will not convey the pong from my shirt though for which you should all be thankful.
Is it wrong to be sad it is over? Its been on my horizon for so long it seems and now its finished?
Off to rest my poor tired hamstrings and air my trainers.
Oh and best of all I feel I can be on the same board as Carol finally our half marathon trail blazer even if my run wasn't as exciting as hers!!
See y'all soon.
My first runniversary - encouragement for new C25Kers
HELLO TO ALL NEW C25Kers!!
My winge for the day
Long Time.. No posts... but still loving the bling!!
