.....and boy do my legs and feet really feel it!!! Excuse my ramblings below but brain not really in gear at the moment!!
What a glorious day for my first Half Marathon...sun was shining & no wind but this did cause pre race panic in the OMG what do I wear...haven’t run in the sun for since last year! Any way after much debate on the way down I went for my long sleeve top and club t-shirt...whilst I was warm at the end I certainly didn’t over heat.
I was really nervous this morning and just before the off but once its a GO I just did my own thing and zoned everyone out. The run is in a lovely part of Kent, nice country lanes to run down, lots of supporters in the villages so its definitely one I’d recommend to any one who is closer enough. It is also relatively flat...not flat as there was one hill and then some railway bridges to get over but got over them I did! The scenery is lovely but have to say I was just focusing on the road in front so didn’t take much of it in which was a shame.
I had initially set myself a goal of doing the run in 2.30 but as it got closer decided I’d just be happy with finishing and not being last (I do know someone has too but didn’t want it to be me!). Off we went and against everything I know I went to fast...I did the first 6 miles in the fastest time I’ve ever done that distance and yikes got another 7 to go! The middle part of the race was OK but the last 3 miles were tough and the last one the hardest even when psychologically you know you are going to finish soon. Cheering from my running club team mates and family ‘GO Aunty Ali GO’ helped with the last half mile and I crossed the line in approx 2 hr 32 (or just under) according to my garmin and there had been NO walking!! Now to wait for the official time.
I am really chuffed with my achievement (and my blisters!) and was gutted when I had to take my medal off to get in the shower At the moment have to say I’m not keen to repeat the distance but who knows how I’ll feel in a day or 2. Wonder what my next challenge will be!!
Off out for roast and wine shortly to celebrate the run.
Written by
AliB1
Graduate
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We never doubted you could do it Ali; fantastic!! Such a brilliant achievement and what a lovely day you had for it too. I'm so happy for you and am raising a glass in your honour right now, cheers!!
Congratulations, Ali. I was thinking about your run today when I was out for a walk. That's a great time for your first HM; no wonder you were pleased and reluctant to remove your medal!
Enjoy your celebratory food and drink - you deserve it!
Wow Ali well done girl. Thats not only a time that dreams are made of but the distance too. I simply cannot imagine what it would be like to run non-stop for all that time and distance. Wear that medal with pride, your family must be soooo very proud of you as you must be too.
Enjoy your dinner, I think I would be off to bed or sittinf with my feet in a bowl of cool water
Many congratulations.
By the way if you ever think to try the Paris marathon which was today too there was nearly 50,000 runners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a fantastic achievement! Many, many congratulations - especially on your time Take a day or so to rest and recover and really take in what you did. Marvellous
thats absolutely fantastic news Ali. sounds like you had a good run. brilliant time. you are gonna be grinning for days give it a couple of days & that never again will become a maybe
enjoy your well & truly earned roast & I will raise a glass for you later on!
Wow! Lovely blog, thank you for sharing it with us - it sounds wonderful. Enjoy your achievement, you have worked so hard for it & raised a huge amount of money for Alzheimer's Society along the way. You're a real winner!
Well done Ali! You've done brilliantly well and I for one am looking forward to hearing what you decide to do next. Enjoy that well-deserved roast and wine
Thanks everyone! Had some fizz at my sisters to celebrate and it's only just sinking in what I have achieved now for a hot drink and early night!!!!
What a fantastic achievement, it has been great reading your blogs as you built up and worried a little over whether you would be ready and now look at you
Enjoy those sneaky smiles as you reflect on the great achievement that is a start of 1 min runs to 13.1 miles non stop
Well b****r me! I didn't doubt you for a minute but it's still amazing to get the final conformation. Wowee Zowee - YO DEFINITELY DA (WO)MAN
Erm, on that last bit. My real 'b****r me' moment was when I read everyone calling you 'girl'. Oh dear - I don't know how to say this, but ... having never taken a closer look at your photo I thought you, ehm, were, well, a bloke. So do I keep quiet and not reveal my stupidity? Not say anything in case I'm thought to be insensitive? Nah - b****r me - if you can run a half marathon without stopping, you don't need to care about anything!
Well look at you! Never a doubt you could do it Ali!!!! Such a fantastic day for a HM and great time as well! I'm sure your family is so very proud of you! 4K last year to HM this year, what will next year bring? Congratulations!! Gayle
You can!! Just have to decide you want to do it and which training plan to go for. Then it's sheer bloody stubbornness that keeps you going...bit like doing the c25k plan.
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Such a brilliant achievement and what a lovely day you had for it too. I'm so happy for you and am raising a glass in your honour right now, cheers!! 
I did it! I graduated!
I did it! I finished!!
I did it, I actually did it. C25k complete. 
W5r3 🐌🐌🐌⛹🏻♀️⛹🏻♀️OMG I did it !!! 🎉🎉🎉
I decided to do it and I did 
