Great South Run... Great Day

[LittleNell83]

Loved this run. Tears beforehand as I was nervous and it seemed like a big challenge. We got there in plenty of time so waited around a bit but once we warmed up it was all go. I kept going and except for a loo break didn't stop 9r walk. It was slow but this time last year wasn't even upto 5km.

I loved the Scottish band, the military band, drummers, skiffle duo and the guy djing from his house. Sunny and warm. I was overtaken by a dinosaur and a house. But, I kept going. I talked to others, got a hug from one runner and enjoyed the atmosphere.

The first 5 miles flew by. 7 to 8 were hard but kept going. Had my Sis gels. I enjoyed it and kept going.

At one point the road was covered in SiS confetti and before that the ground of a jellybaby massacre. And I automatically tried to dodge their bodies scattered across the road.

All in all a fab day x

Oh and under 2 hours 30 minutes so over 15 minutes off my PB

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Sounds like you had a very emotional and wonderful day! Congrats on coming so far in such a short period of time. You should be super proud!

[LittleNell83 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you x I think, because I was running for a small charity I was so focused on finishing. There were tears after I finished too. But just relief at doing it, and having so little left to give if that makes sense. I was drained but crisps sorted me out. Also, my parents coming down to support me had a big impact as don't want to let them down x but I did it, and kept going xx from couch to 10 miles in 15 months lol

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to LittleNell83]

👏👏👏That is so awesome👏👏👏

[LittleNell83 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Congratulations! sounds like you had a fabulous day once you overcame those nerves. Huge well done. Hope you are now resting and recovering.

The jelly babies, the gel packets and - worst of all - the plastic water bottle debris really shocked me. I'm not sure what the solution is, but given our supposed awareness these days it seems to me we should be looking for a different approach. I did feel really bad as I contributed along with almost everyone else. Maybe time I looked at a jacket/vest thing.

[LittleNell83 in reply to linda9389]

I have a hydration jacket but took the water. I was looking for a bin though. The windsor 10km had bins with targets which I thought was cool. This time just had to drop rubbish on the side of the road. Hated doing it x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to LittleNell83]

It was the volume of single use plastic that was being used that upset me. Does a hydration jacket not hold enough water then? my little flipbelt bottle definitely didn't hold enough for me today

[AnnieW55 in reply to linda9389]

Hydration jackets would hold enough. I have 2 bladders 1.5 and 2litres and use mainly for long distance training. Not a lot of runners use them in road events, one reason being, I expect, that the extra weight of the water potentially adds a few minutes to final time.I use a running belt and I take 1 bottle to start and tuck it into my belt and finish it before getting another.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AnnieW55]

Interesting. Having not done anything like this before I hadn't really thought it through. Even using a vest to save a couple of bottles would help I'm sure. I had several bottles after I finished too (it was warm!) - would have been nice to be able to refill and just use one bottle, but I guess the queues would be unmanageable then

[AnnieW55 in reply to linda9389]

Hi Linda and LittleNell83 . I think you have to do an event to get the idea of what will work for you. Advice is good but experience is what counts. So first/early events are fact finders (she says just realising this after several years of doing them 😊 - one of those things I “knew ” but didnt actually “get”).

I ummed and ahhed over whether to use my hydration jacket with lots of pockets or my belt for the York marathon (was it only last week🙂) and came down on the side of the belt due to the weather conditions. I just took a bottle from the stations as needed and tucked it into my belt until it was used up. All the previous week the weather predictions got steadily worse (storm Callum) and the day itself was foul - cold and very, very wet. Better weather may well have seen me plump for the jacket.

Ice in the jacket bladder to cool the water would work. A bottle of frozen water for the end too, just take out a bit of water to allow for expansion, freeze and give to whoever is meeting you at the end. That one is probably for next year now unless the weather stays warm. I gave my husband a recovery drink powder and a bottle of water to mix it with ready for when I saw him at the end. They’re back in the cupboard ready for next time now.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AnnieW55]

I will try tucking a bottle under my flipbelt cos having it slosh about in my hand was horrid. And a hydration vest is going on my Christmas list - I saw a link on here to one the other day. Off to hunt that post down

Too, too sad thinking of your recovery powder in the cupboard

[LittleNell83 in reply to AnnieW55]

Hydration packs have another advantage in you have both hands free... So if you fall you can stop yourself easier. Mum always told me not to run with things in my hands. Next time I should put ice on my pack so cold then the cold water bottles won't tempt me x

[misswobble Marathon in reply to LittleNell83]

I once fell and landed on my water bottle It saved me 😁

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I have to agree on the water bottles. Even after tipping some on the back of my head and neck because I was hot, I was still throwing lots away. Good idea about the camel back / hydration vest thingies.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Sorry for the jelly babies lying (and dying) all over the road, pity about the dinosaur overtaking you, thought they were extinct 65 million years ago but no, they still take part in runs now as was proved today. Well done on completing that 10 miles today, lovely photo of your well deserved medal, you and the other runners, once again congratulations. 😊

[LittleNell83]

Well, they could run fast apparently

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Wonderful! Brilliant! Congratulations! 🍾🥂🏅👏🏻😊🎉🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ And you enjoyed it so much too! Great!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done LittleNell! That was a huge chunk to knock off your PB! 🙂👏 I also found mile 7 the toughest, although having run this a couple of years ago, I was sort of ready for it this time!🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Well done LittleNell! You did brilliantly today. Couch to 10 miles is no small feat! 👏👍🏼🏆🏆🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Oooh well done Nell! It was a great day but soooo warm! Love your description of the jelly babies! 😊x

[Hidden]

wonderful description, made me chuckle, and what a gorgeous medal. well done!!! xx

[misswobble Marathon]

Well done Nell Sounds like you had a fab time. Glad it went off all right. The weather was lovely wasn’t it 😃

I hope you feel ok this morning 😃💪🏅

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

This sounds like a lot of fun, and well done!!!

[Mimirossi]

Well done! It sounds really good fun! I would love to do that one day.

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

Overtaken by a dinosaur and a house, brilliant! 🤣 Glad you enjoyed it so much, and the weather looks 👌And that's a massive chunk offf your PB!! Crikey.

What's next? 😁

[LittleNell83 in reply to Sqkr]

Half marathon in March. Resting for a few days first though