Half Marathon 3 - Rain, sun, pain!

[lardofale]

Lou Reed's little ditty about a perfect day was into verse two in my head as I trotted off to the starting area for the 2019 City of Norwich half marathon, my third HM in the 22 months since I began C25K. Three winter months of 5am starts, Saturday Parkruns on the coast and Sunday long distance tests were in the bag and I was ready for a PB. The East Anglian Air Ambulance charity stood to profit from my efforts with a swag bag of over £400, my family were ready with a picnic, dollies, a football and cameras, several running buddies had made it to the line too, the mood amongst the 2,000 or so entrants was good, all were excited and smiling...........

Reads like the start of a tale of doom and gloom doesn't it?! Don't fret friends, this was a magnificent event, my time of 2:16:18 knocked 2 minutes off my PB and over 15 minutes off my time from last year's event. So why the foreboding tone at the start? Well, I'm just being naughty! The weather forecast was for a low teen temperature, overcast with some sun later in the race and absolutely NO chance of rain. At 10:15 as we arrived at the starting pen the drizzle began, at 10:20 the deluge began, at 10:30 (gun time) it was torrential and I couldn't see a thing as the sunglasses attachment on my sports specs was covered in water droplets and my glasses had steamed up! The first 5 miles turned into a mass game of puddle triple jump and hopscotch but the mood amongst the lycra clad throng was almost euphoric, I had trained in some heavy rain a number of times recently, it's only water!

By the half way point my pace was holding up well (the winner was finishing at around this time!) and I felt strong. At 10 miles I passed a chap with a C25K August 2018 tee shirt and had a brief chat with him, I graduated in August 2017, about what a blast the whole thing is and look where we are because of it! At that stage last year I had really started to struggle which wasn't helped by the very steep hill will looms large just after 11 miles for 1/2 a mile. This time I was ready for it and feeling good. At the top of it I wasn't feeling so good and did struggle for the last mile and half with a sore hip and calf, the photo below/above (depending on your device!!) was taken with about 1/2 a mile to go and shows the pained but determined grimace!

Although I've done it a couple of times before It's difficult to describe the feeling of elation as the finishing line comes into view and you spot family and friends cheering you on. Whatever the feeling is, I bloody well like it!

A nice medal (Pic to follow) and goody bag grabbed then, after chatting to fellow runners who I'd shared the experience with and after a brief never again moment, start thinking about the next one!

As Lou Reed said "It's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you...."

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Superb effort and report! Very well done.

Pic looks only determined, not at all pained! 👍💪😁🏅

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you 👍 The photographer got my good side 😁

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Well done, and what a brilliant race report! It almost makes me want to run beyond 10k, but not really! I’m only a lurker, getting my long distance running by osmosis from you brave souls!

Great action photo. I’m impressed with how composed you look! Fantastic stuff! 🏃👊🏅

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you, lurking is a fine art to perfect 😉👍

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Great report, and fabulous run - well done!!!! Nice weather for ducks, as Sqkr said 😊

Love the song too, I suppose we do reap what we sow when it comes to running races!

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thank you, more like weather for speedboats but I know what you mean 😁

[Bluebirdrunner]

Terrific report and result Lardofale! 🙆

I have seen all the work you have put in on Strava, including those, oh so early starts! 😊

Congratulations on a cracking PB, especially in the rain. The guy in the c25k shirt will have been grateful for your encouragement too.

Running definately suits you...what a smashing photo, you look determined and strong. Another well earned HM medal for your collection.

😊xxx

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you Bluebirdrunner 😉 You're always so lovely to me 😊 The cold starts are worth it after all. The chap certainly looked enthused to see a fellow graduate. Back on it soon for the next challenge, see you soon on Strava 👍xx

[Bluebirdrunner in reply to lardofale]

👍😊

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Lovely report and yes, crossing the finish line is a buzz! I have only done one HM but am hoping to do another later in the year. Big well done on your PB too....off to admire your bling photo now...👏👏👏🏅👏👏

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you! I always say that my aim is to cross the line on my feet rather than in a yellow van with blue flashing lights!

Once you manage one then the bug sets in 👍

[misswobble Marathon]

Yay, well done 💪👍😃. Pity about the torrential rain but when you’ve trained in it, you can’t let it get you down. You sympathise more with the stewards and your waiting families don’t you 🙂

Congratulations on your time 👍👍

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you! I did say to more than one steward/volunteer that that were the real nutters in those conditions! They just nodded and cheered louder! The family all crammed into the buildings at the start/finish 👍

[Irish-John Marathon]

Well done LoF And also with that training schedule !

Congratulations

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks mate. It was certainly nowhere near as stressful as yours! The training worked a treat though the steam left me at 12 miles 👍

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to lardofale]

It's a different game of soldiers when it goes over the ten Mile mark, that's for sure

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

What a great pic and an equally great report. You look in the zone, about to conquer this HM....quite bad@$$, in my opinion 💪

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you! 😁 Bald, goatee, tattoos, piercings, heavy metal fan would give that image🤘 I'm a pussycat really 😁😉

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Fab report, great fun to read. Well done on smashing your PB - fantastic result. You definitely look the part in that photo - on a mission, strong and focused 😀

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you! Glad you liked it, I try to entertain though my daughter would roll her eyes at the idea! the other photos I have show a rather soggier version! 😉

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to lardofale]

Haha. My daughter would roll her eyes too - at best! My kids are all pretty brutal 😂

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Great photo and run report! 😊 Congrats on the PB!

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Thank you! Pleased you enjoyed it, hope there's some inspiration there too 👍

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to lardofale]

Yes, inspiring for sure.

[Hidden]

Great race LoF and great report too. Yo have come such a long way!

Of course Lou Reid was thinking about heroin rather I than exercise....

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, it's been quite a journey so far hasn't it?!

Damn, that's my "Golden Brown" gag for next time stuffed then 😀🤘

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Fantastic report and a really great race. I love running in the rain if its not too cold. Congratulations on your PB too. You’ve made amazing progress!

[lardofale Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks mate, it was great fun once I realised that it was impossible to get any wetter! I know there's a much quicker time in me somewhere too 👍