My first Half Marathon - Race Report

[kwell39]

All of the months of training led me to today. It almost feels bitter sweet that it’s over!

But here I am, after some chocolate milk and stretching, sitting here over the moon - writing this post. A huge shout out to each and every one of my virtual friends that have encouraged me on. I completed my first half marathon!! Woo hoo!! And... with a better time than I hoped. I really pushed myself the last half and had negative splits over the final few miles. I couldn’t be more elated. It was a beautiful spring morning with a start time of 7am. Two thousand people waiting with anticipation. So fantastic! I can’t wait to do it again.

It just so happens, I am signed up for another one in two weeks. It may be a little ambitious but I do hope it is just as enjoyable. Thank you friends and happy running!!!

[Bluebirdrunner]

Fantastic kwell! Huge well done, and it sounds like you enjoyed it😀 that's a very good time!

Recover well, that two weeks will soon be up!😊xxx

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Bluebird!

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

A huge congratulations to you kwell39 on completing your first Half marathon this morning, early start, well done, all that hard training worth the effort, good time for you as well, go celebrate and tell all your friends about what you have achieved. 😊 🏃

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al. Celebrations commencing. 🤗

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to kwell39]

PS kwell39, as you have now ran a half marathon, you can now get the word /badge 'half marathon' next to your username.

To get your graduation badge for half marathon go to the May graduate (Half Marathon) post in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked C25K home page and tell the administrators that you have ran a half marathon. 😊 🏃 🎓

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Will do! I do like the bling. 😉

[Katnap Marathon]

Woo hoo! from me too!

And finishing strong with negative splits... no wonder you're ready for more! 😁

😸 Katnap 😸

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thanks Kat!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow, sounds a fantastic race - congratulations! I ran my second HM three weeks after my first, with no ill effects at all so hopefully you will also enjoy your second as much as your first. But for now, rest, be nice to yourself and just keep on smiling! Well done

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda!

[Madge50 Marathon]

Wow, well done you! What a great time too. Huge congratulations, good innit! 👍🏃‍♀️💪👏🏅

Mx

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thanks Madge!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Brilliant race Kwell! Huge congratulations to you! Time to relax and enjoy the achievement now 👍🏼👏👏🏆

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks Decker!

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congratulations! Well done. It sounds like it went well. It’s encouraging to read these reports for those of us training for our first one. Relax and enjoy the feeling! 🎉😊

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Thanks Lavender! All the hard work was worth it. When is your first half?

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to kwell39]

August 18th.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Yeehaw! That is so awesome kwell! Enjoy a little break, then on to the next one 👏👏😊

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask! 🤗

[O505k Half Marathon]

Huge congratulations, fantastic achievement. As others have said relax and take it easy. 🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to O505k]

Thank you!

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Brilliant well done. Negative splits too. Sounds like you might have found your distance.

I like the idea of a 7am start too. I'm a morning runner so that suits me down to the ground. Not sure I would get much support from the family at that time of day though 😴

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks WhatsApp! I wasn’t sure how I would like the early start, as I mostly run in the evening or afternoon. I loved it though! My family was still sleeping but it was exciting all the same.

[CandyCool Marathon]

Wow. That’s amazing. I’ve got my first HM in October and a slow build towards it with a couple of 10K. But that time is brilliant. Well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎉

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to CandyCool]

Thanks Candy! Congratulations on training for your first one. It will be awesome!!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Superb! Well done, great result! Enjoy that feeling! 👍😎

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks GoGo!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done and big congratulations on your first Half marathon! Sounds like you paced yourself well and it looks as though you ran a 'long' HM (13.86 miles instead of 13.1), so another reason to be chuffed with that time! Rest up welll!🙂👏👍🏅

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra! I found the distance interesting as well. I started Map My Run right before I crossed the start line and ended it right after I crossed the finish but the ‘official’ race distance was 13.01 miles. I’m happy with the results either way. 🤗

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon]

Congratulations on your first and in a mighty fine time... couple of weeks and you go again? That’s awesome. Ambitious maybe... but doable for sure... enjoy the next.

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks Unfit! It was a perfect race to cap off the last few months of training.

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon in reply to kwell39]

I’m just about to embark on this very journey... looking forward to celebrating the months of work.

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That is super exciting! I can't wait to hear about your journey. I am contemplating whether I want to try for the full marathon the end of October. I am leaning towards yes, but it is an even larger time commitment. I would like to complete at least one marathon in my life time.

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon in reply to kwell39]

I’m looking at that particular one for autumn next year... someone once told me that I didn’t have it in me, so he needs proving wrong. When I think how we’ve proven the voices in our heads wrong so many times since we arrived at the start time for C25K W1R1 then I know we can achieve anything. I say go for it. Yes, the long runs get very long, but the others aren’t too different until race day approaches. Not sure how this fits with your schedule, but I was reading that it can be beneficial to run 2 10 mile runs in a day sometimes instead of a 20 miler... as this means getting up, hitting 10 miles, living your day and then hitting up that second 10 miles even more tired than in a straight run... running tired is going to happen on the day, so simulating the extra tiredness in those 6 miles we don’t train for seems logical to me.

I started my journey all about the 5k, with a marathon to come and no interest at all in 10k or HM. The plan was always to hit that 26.2 and then get back to 5k events and 10 mile long runs... now I’m looking at coming back down to HM and following a 9 week cycle... run HM, week of virtually no running and then 8 week plan to the next... don’t know if I’m going insane, but I’m loving the challenges and that would keep me at a level where it wouldn’t be a huge task to switch to a marathon again if one called me. I’m strange in that I have no intention of ever running a major, and probably never a city marathon

[Hidden]

Well done on an awesome victory lap after all the training. Sounds like you had a great run and enjoyed it! Enjoy that euphoria, there is nothing like it!

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Doyle! It was a spectacular feeling for sure!

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

So lovely to read of your joy! Many congratulations! 🍾🥂🏅🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️🏃‍♀️🤸‍♂️👏🏻👍🌟 💥⚡️🎉😊 Just brilliant! Enjoy every moment of the after glow!

[kwell39 Half Marathon]

Thank you Over61! I still feel on cloud 9!

[Jay66UK Half Marathon]

Great job! 👏👏👏

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you Jay!

[Happyrunningfeet]

Wow. Congrats and good luck with ur next one hope it goes aswell as this one and just as much fun

[kwell39 Half Marathon in reply to Happyrunningfeet]

Thank you Miss Angel.