Morning all ... well, what I'm about to write is probably going to have half of you holding your heads in your hands and muttering something about 'stupid woman' or less polite versions but I thought I'd confess my sins before Sunday and it's inevitable fall out!
After graduating from C25K in Feb 2016 I steadily progressed through a 10k then my first HM which was the Perkins Great Eastern last September. I followed a beginners training programme religiously, getting up at 5am to run before work and felt I'd really given it my best shot. On the day itself, I can't say I ran the whole distance as at 16k my right hip decided that it would tell me that it was 46 years old and was having no more of this nonsense when it had never bothered me before, so unceremoniously I ran/walked the last 6k and felt extremely defeated. I was never going to do it again ...
Until I found myself entering again for this year with a sense of unfinished business. Training plan to hand it started fabulously until my elderly mum got really sick just as I was kicking off in July, and since then, all structure and opportunity to train purposefully has gone out of the window as weekends and days off are spent on the motorway travelling the 3 hours it takes to get to her, then 3 hours back again. I was really down about it and decided to bin this years attempt ...
But, over the last 4 or 5 weeks as she's improved I've knocked out a few 10 and 11k runs and am now thinking that I should run anyway on Sunday. Chances of me completing the distance just running are slim to none, but I know I can cross the finish line somehow and who knows what the adrenalin on the day will bring? I have a workmate in a similar position so we've decided to spur each other on, not try to throw ourselves from a handy bridge if we happen to need to walk for a bit, and plan next year's come back as we are dying on our feet!
I suppose the moral of the story is that whilst I don't want to incur an injury or push myself to stupidity and be scooped up by St John's along the way, I perhaps need to do this anyway to show myself that it's the taking part, giving it your best shot in the face of poor odds but most of all to overcome the mental challenge of saying 'it's over' and bailing before I begin. Heck, I can remember my first ever C25K run and thinking I'd never be able to attempt the rest of the first week but here I, and so many others, am. I wish everyone else undertaking a challenge this weekend all the luck they need and if I survive, I'll post back after the event
Written by
wez70
Half Marathon
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If you're feeling up to it go for it. If you can "knock back" 11k you can probably get to 15k and if necessary walk the rest (like last year). Just don't overdo it and give yourself an injury - listen to your body. I think 21k is just about the limit of "winging it" as it's just about walkable. Totally different matter with a marathon!
Thanks. Not a chance I'd even attempt a marathon with so little prep ... just feels a shame not to even give this a go so will heed the advice and see how it goes
Have you considered doing run/walk, and injecting some walking early on, rather than wait until you're knackered? Chances are it will make you feel less tired (and quite possibly also get you around in shorter time overall)
Its the old mindgame of wanting to run the whole thing, failing that, run as far as I can I do intend to be sensible though that said, and if I can keep my pace as slow as I intend to then I should hopefully manage what I did last year before my hip gave out and anything else is a bonus and a stepping stone to the next one where my training should hopefully be a more tried and tested plan!
go on just do it, you only live once, if you don't do it your regret it and think I could have done. Just run and listen to your body and legs and you will be fine* your might even beat last years time
*I am not a doctor, so have no medical evidence that you will actually fine.
Hi Wez, I'm doing the Wimpole HM on Sunday, some of my mates from parkrun are doing the Perkins.....my prep hasn't been too good, I managed a tough 10 miles two weeks ago, started a new job last week so missed my last 'long' run......Wimpole has got several gerrrt big hills in it, all off road etc., etc., I do wonder why I signed up for it 😳 I'm really worried about the 3 hour cut off time.....(I did cambridge half this year as my first HM fully prepared and did 2hrs 35 - and that was flat....)
Anyway, did my last 'taper' run today, and decided I'm going to aim for each water station, one at a time, and I'm going to walk when I need too, especially at the hills.....
Oh Madge, music to my ears (although I'm impressed at your 10 miler!) ... time is not an issue for me at all, I did it in 2:30 last year with a bit of walking but for me, it's just getting as far as I can on the day and crossing the line in one piece! Hills ... I hope they're kind to you so yep, lets do this and will be thinking of you as I chug along, hoping we both have a positive post whatever the outcome at the end of it! x
Go for it! If you don't try, you'll never know... Just listen to your body. Noaky12 whacked out a brilliant run-walk HM recently - maybe you could try intervals as an option to give yourself time to recover?
Hi there, well done on your progress so far... I am 47 and also have an iffy hip so I understand...I wonder if chunking it up would help? ie run for 5k then a walk break and so forth till the end. Take it slowly and steadily and aim to start at the back so you wont have to start too fast as that will drain you....Good luck
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