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.
Written by
Whatsapp
Half Marathon
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Thank you, the medal shows a lot of sunshine to signify Eastbourne's record levels of sunlight of which it is rightly proud, but which sadly I didn't see on the day!
It’s tough in less than ideal conditions (what are they by the way 🙄🙂). It sounds very difficult! Especially having sight of the finish line but that not being the end of it. That’s torture! 😱.
You must be very tired after that so take time to recover. Eat well and healthily and get ready for your next challenge 👍😃
Huge well done to you and that is a fantastic time too.... you should be incredibly proud of yourself. It certainly sounds like a run of endurance, you are clearly made of strong stuff!!! Lovely medal too
Congratulations, WhatsApp - that is a corker of a time for a first HM with a dodgy ankle. You must have been going like the clappers if you got that time with run walking at the end. Awesome! So when's the next one?
Well done - and a great time in rotten conditions. I think it is very cruel to take you near the finish line and then away. I usually get overtaken by a rhino at events, the horn appears in your peripheral vision and you think - here we go again. Hope your legs are recovering well.
Congratulations! Lovely post and what a great time too, excellent! Love the medal! Might be one for me to try as i have relatives I could stay with round that way!😆
I would recommend, but I have no other frame of reference to compare it to in all honestly. However, others I have spoken to have said that it is quite small - around 1,100 competitors. Plenty of supports along the route though, even in the bad weather.
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1st Half Marathon tomorrow 
1st ever Half Marathon
1st ever half marathon 
Half marathon 1st November
1st Half-Marathon completed today!
