Yesterday I ran the furthest I have ever run. And boy it was tough. The conditions were cold and wet. I had been nervous about this for the last few days, and Sunday morning I felt like I was going for a job interview. It's just a run I kept trying to tell myself. My nerves, clearly don't pander to common sense.
I started the run with my brother-in-law, a veteran of a fair few marathons and triathlons, but as his nickname is 'slow-coach' and he have been nursing an ear infection for the last few weeks, we were both happy to spend the first couple of miles jogging along in conversation. In fact at one point I went into a short bout of hysterics, when 'big bird' overtook us.
Halfway up the beachy head climb (it goes about halfway up) around miles 2-3 my brother-in-law dropped off and feeling good I kept going. Once round the bend it was all downhill to the seafront and to be honest I was flying along. The rain had stopped and I felt really good.
This reverie continued for the next several miles, until around mile 10. I had had a very fractious time of it in training and bad weather and a sprained ankle had meant that I had only just got up to 10 miles once - the week before the run. At this point my lack of training started to take its toll.
The latter stages of the Eastbourne H/M take you around the sovereign harbour to the east of the town. I have been here many times, but today with turn following turn it seemed so much bigger. On the way out of the harbour back to the promenade takes you past all of the restaurants that the harbour has on offer. The smell of food had never felt so cruel.
The last two miles saw me dropping down to walk/ run intervals as I willed myself to get to the finish line. The weather had closed in and the rain was by now falling quite heavily. The last part was a real test of stamina; the winding pathway taking you tantalisingly near to the finish line a couple of times only to be led past and come back on yourself.
By the end I was done. The sight of my family at the finish line stirred me to the end. The chip time was 2:21:00. I felt completed drained both physically and mentally as I collected my medal, banana and water. 'The physically hardest thing I've ever done', I kept repeating to anyone who asked how I felt.
It was tougher than I thought. I learnt al lot in that couple of hours running. And I know I will be back next year and this time I will be stronger.
My 1st half marathon race
First half marathon completed
1st virtual half marathon
Half Marathon Newbie
Wilmslow Half Marathon done!!
