Finally completed my hm!: After what... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

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Finally completed my hm!

β€’64 Replies

After what seems like a rollercoaster 6 months of planning and training, I have finally done it!

This morning, myself, hubs and the three smalls headed off into town. I was feeling much calmer than recent days. We had a quick visit to the charity stand in the village followed by a customary loo stop. Troops gathered and we headed off to the monument to meet others when one of the smalls disappeared. Back tracking to the loos and another runner had seen boy small heading in other direction. Finally found lost child and felt quite sick to the stomach, not a great start! Met with a couple of ladies for a brief chat but missed aliboo πŸ˜” Had another quick loo stop before the start (no toilet roll but had brought my own πŸ˜‰). The start was very slow and I finally walked under the gantry at almost 6 minutes. There was a first section through the town, weaving this way and that down closed roads. At the point I saw another runner from our run club so we tagged along with each other for support. I was feeling a bit more warmed up by the time we reached the itchen bridge. Slow and steady, through the mister for the long incline. It was good and the down hill off the bridge fab. We took a trip through small streets down to woolston shores, it was very warm along here before turning back towards the dreaded itchen bridge. Water was consumed at each water station at the bridge as it was hot. Back over the bridge, slow and steady. Finally with that section done I met my family at 6.5 miles for a boost prior to heading through the football stadium. Out and over another bridge with an incline up to the bitterne area of town at which point I got a stitch that stayed for the rest of the run. This took us down another road filled with residence hosing us down, to the riverside park with a run along the river, low tide equals stinky air! We took a steeper incline up to the bridge over the river, a real bottle neck. It was about 10 miles done now and I was on training turf so ready for the portswood and highfield lane inclines, slow and steady but ready for water. From here we dropped down into the common reaching 12 miles. Not long to go but did that last mile seem so long! As we went down the avenue my breathing wobbled a bit as I realised how close to the finish I was. I concentrated on slowing my pace to regain focus, just London road into the finish. As I saw the finish my legs went for a sprint over the line! It was done. I had finally completed my half marathon in 2 hours 23 minutes. In warm weather I am very happy with that. Thank you to everyone who has helped and advised me on my hm journey and to those who believed in me!

64 Replies
β€’
AnnieW55 profile image
AnnieW55

Great report RFD. You did good πŸ˜„. Not easy in that heat, or with the added drama of lost child -well done πŸΎπŸŽ‰πŸ‘

β€’ in reply toAnnieW55

Thank you, I am feeling good now!

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperHalf Marathon

Fantastic report and fantastic run! You are even smiling at the end. Inclines, hot weather - all taken in your stride. A hearty WELL DONE from me.

β€’ in reply toLangley-Loper

Thank you, it was tough in places but I knew they were coming! In hindsight the training went well.

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerHalf Marathon

Well done. You look very relaxed there after what must have been a very hot run - great time too. Hope the legs aren't too sore.

β€’ in reply toancientrunner

Legs are not too bad currently, a little left knee niggle maybe. Tomorrow might be a different story as I did run the entire distance πŸ˜πŸƒ

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply to

You should feel very proud.

Nictwit profile image
Nictwit

You're amazing! Congratulations ☺ Massive respect for completing it in this weather πŸ‘

β€’ in reply toNictwit

Thank you. The heat was an eye opener when you see some have succumbed alone the way. The aim was to finish safely!!

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

Well done! Great job!!! Done and dusted!!! Great time by the way, on a very hot day!

From your report it sounds like you managed it with ease and even managed a sprint at the end! Your training paid off! It always does.

I hope you're feeling ok now. Take a few days off and eat healthily. I always find that helps me recover well. Bask in your half marathon success and plan your next adventure

β€’ in reply tomisswobble

Thank you! I won't be running until Thursday at the earliest. I shall be waving my medal around whilst I collect donations on the sponsor form, I shall enjoy it.

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnMarathon

MANY CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

β€’ in reply toIrish-John

Thank you irish-john.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Half Marathon

Well done! Great photo and run report and so pleased for you! Super time too, especially in the heat. Rest up well now and enjoy the bling!😊x

β€’ in reply toSandraj39

I am resting today well a part from some shopping and dog walking. My left knee is twingy and my left hip is stiff this morning but otherwise I am great!

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatHalf Marathon

Yes!!!! You did it! Great job, great report and what a great time! WhoohooπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

β€’ in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thank you!!!

benwill profile image
benwillMarathon

Well done it was very hot out there yesterday but sounds like you were sensible and took lots of water too. , you should be proud.

and looks like a nice big bit of bling too.

β€’ in reply tobenwill

Yes I took advise on hydration, sips at each station and the rest down my back! I am very happy!

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphHalf Marathon

Very well done! A great time, especially in the heat, and a fab run report :) Your training really paid off. Many congrats - great bling!

β€’ in reply toAnniemurph

I am loving the bling. T shirt is ok, last year's was better.

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsHalf Marathon

So impressive, well done! Sounds like you handled it beautifully. πŸ‘πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ˜€

β€’ in reply toSadie-runs

It was nice having a running buddy for support, I wonder how it would have been running on my own? It was good!

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappHalf Marathon

Well done. a triumph in theheat of Sunday. Just missing that badge now then!

β€’ in reply toWhatsapp

Oh yes, the shiny badge! I had forgotten that. Gosh, who new when I stepped into this forum that I might have a hm badge 🀸

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon

Ha, told you ;)

Massive congratulations, you superstar!!!!

β€’ in reply toroseabi

Haha, you believed in me when I didn't believe in myself! Thank you, you were so right 😁. But you are amazing, two marathons in two weeks makes you an inspiration. Well done roseabi!

agedsnailspace profile image
agedsnailspaceMarathon

We'll done, sounds like you had a great run, despite some worries before the start ( wandering children are never good for the nerves! ). Great time, too! Excellent result all round.

β€’ in reply toagedsnailspace

Thank you! Wandering children was not part of my script for the day lol. I am very pleased with my time and support from the smalls half way round is like gold.

mandm65 profile image
mandm65Marathon

congrats and well done, good to see you smiling at the end :-).

Sounds like it was your first HM, always special one!

β€’ in reply tomandm65

A very special first half marathon for a short legged person who hated running with a passion at school!

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyHalf Marathon

Hurrah and we’ll done! A good time too!

β€’ in reply toJaySeeSkinny

Thank you, many months of faffage and I have finally got there!

Eatcakeandrun profile image
EatcakeandrunMarathon

Well done! It's so hard running in the heat, but you nailed it! Loved reading your report, thank you!

β€’ in reply toEatcakeandrun

Thank you, I was worried about the heat!!

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Marathon

Wow rfd, that’s absolutely cracking! What a fantastic time, nice bling too......like! Oh what a great feeling! See, told you so! Have fun waving that medal under people’s noses to collect your sponsor money, I know I would! πŸ˜„

Well done you πŸ‘πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ…πŸ€—

Mx

β€’ in reply toMadge50

Tomorrow I will be proudly parading my medal!! It was a good run, very pleased with it 😁

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Half Marathon

Wow! How fantastic, very well done to you πŸ‘πŸ˜€ you must feel so happy and proud after all your hard work and training. Great report and love the photo.

β€’ in reply toskysue16

Thank you!

Gabby08 profile image
Gabby08Half Marathon

Amazing! So, so pleased for you! All that hard work really paid off. Particularly huge congratulations for managing to pull it off in that heat. I hope you’re still wearing that bling! xxx

β€’ in reply toGabby08

Thank you Gabby, I was the queen of faffage on Friday and Saturday but amazingly calm on Sunday morning, who would have thought! I am so pleased to have run the whole way, time was great for such a hot day. So pleased, thank you for all your faffage advice 😁

Gabby08 profile image
Gabby08Half Marathonβ€’ in reply to

Long rule the fellow Queens of Faff! Well done for keeping the faffage in check on Sunday morning - I need to take a leaf out of your book next time, I think! I’m so impressed at your time in that heat; I only managed eight miles on Sunday before my flabby thighs chafed so badly in my shorts that I had to give up! Won’t be wearing those again...πŸ˜‚

β€’ in reply toGabby08

Oh no not thigh chaffing 🀣 I stuck to my capris on race day purely due to pocket size and no chaffing guarunteed!! Hope it heals soon, that sounds worse than my stiff hips lol.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

So happy for you RFD! What a great run. Sounds like almost everything went as you hoped. And you were totally prepared for it. WELL DONE!!! Now you can relax :)

β€’ in reply toDecker

Thanks Decker!! I am so much more relaxed than last week. It was hot but I accepted that and made the best strategy as I could. It was a good day, the last km was hard work but my legs sprinted a finish for me. One happy runner here 😁

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Totally deserved after all the work you put in! You had a smart plan too. Time to put your feet up. :)

β€’ in reply toDecker

Resting this week, maybe a short shuffle on Thursday!! Hope your hm training is going well, not long to go now is it?

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Yes my long runs are done. May do one last one. My right foot was very painful along the outer edge at the end, but it feels better now. Just trying to process a terror attack that happened down the street this afternoon. Right in the same place the race will be starting in 2 weeks time. 9 people killed many others injured by a maniac in a van. I just missed it as I went downtown for a client meet. What a crazy world. Thankful my kids and my wife were all safe.

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply toDecker

I was thinking of you when I saw the news. I thought that was in your neighbourhood. I'm so glad you and your family are well.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toSaskAlliecat

Thanks Sask. I just missed this by half an hour or so myself. I walk with my kids here. Just too close to home.

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply toDecker

Too scary and so senseless

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toSaskAlliecat

Yes, very much so.

β€’ in reply toDecker

Oh my goodness Decker this is awful news and way to close to home. So glad to hear you and your family are fine but so sad for those who have died or were injured. Such a senseless act.

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Thanks RFD. I can’t even imagine what those poor families are going through today.

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

Well done Helen!! that's when i saw you looking for your Kiddie, i said to my friend " I think that's Helen there!" and she said you looked stressed so thought not the best time & i'd catch you at the monument but it wasn't to be :( It was such a hot hard run, you did fab, knew you would! congratulations!! we'll meet another time i'm sure :)

β€’ in reply toaliboo70

Thanks Ali! It was a hottie which I had not experienced at that distance so it felt tough, glad I wasn't doing lap 2! So sorry to miss you but as you say we are bound to cross paths again. You also did a fab run so congratulations to you too!

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

ps remember to claim your HM badge here!! :)

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-J

Brilliant run H! all the training and faffage paid off! We never had any doubt it would.

A brilliant time too. You are a great role model for your little ones.

β€’ in reply toMillsie-J

Ahh thank you Millsie-j! I hoped I would deliver after the training I had done but doubt always creeps in when you are doing it all solo. Advice on here has kept me on track. I hope the smalls have running ambitions but we will see.

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-Jβ€’ in reply to

Doesnt matter what ambitions they have, mumma is showing them if you work for something, you can do it. Brilliant example xx

lardofale profile image
lardofaleHalf Marathon

Fabulous report and a brilliant time! Big respect for doing it in that heat too, it makes all those months of hard work seem like a nasty dream! Big congrats!

β€’ in reply tolardofale

Thank you, I am glad I stuck to the training plan and put the miles in as I think this made me feel stronger in the heat.

C3PO profile image
C3POMarathon

Congratulations on doin so well! I hope you’ve recovered.

β€’ in reply toC3PO

Monday I had to walk lots and yesterday I was on a 13hr shift on my feet in theatres. I guess this is good for the legs as they feel really good this morning, yippee!!

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