This was my third half marathon (my third in just eight weeks in fact), I have a hankering for a sub - 2h15m half but have put that down as an autumn goal, thinking it too much of a stretch for today. But all the same I wanted a PB 😊
To set the scene, this is a low key event for up to 1500 people (only 611 ran it), with very poor reviews but a really nice route and nice bling.
I ran the same route for my first HM distance training run back in February, but it was pretty disastrous (went off too fast, got tired, ended up run/walking with an almighty migraine – not my finest hour). So today I had plenty to improve on.
Hubbie and I went to Windsor yesterday for a walk – and to pick up my race bib and to stake out the loos (smart move as found a large toilet block with hot running water and a lot more space than a portaloo!).
Slept reasonably well last night after my now ritual salmon, pasta and salad pre-race meal, got up and ate porridge with my single cup of tea early this morning and set off to my pre-booked car park space. So organised, planned to the last detail 🙈 Arrived with perfect time for three visits to said loo block!
Strange warm up session, followed by a 5 minute walk over the bridge to the start en masse. They set off three waves, and I then took a front position of the final ‘also ran’ wave (anyone who couldn’t make sub 2h5m!). And we were off. I didn’t experience any congestion on the narrow path which was great, Now I had my pace band. I had my plan. 6m45s for a few k, 6m30s for the bulk of the run and 6m15s if I could manage it for the last couple of k. It didn’t go to plan. Bearing in mind that the main reason my training run had been so difficult was the fact that I ran the first 10k too fast, it kind of surprises me that I didn’t reign it in sooner. But everyone else was passing me! I let people pass, but was still running faster than plan. So I had a little chat with myself – I could keep going and see if I could hold the pace, knowing that had been a mistake once before yet also knowing that I really hadn’t been exhausted after my first two halfs. Also, my HM time is currently significantly slower than my 5k and 10k times predict; I run scared of being too tired to finish. So, it was decision time and for once I decided to be brave and keep up the pace at around 6m15s/6m20s.
Weather was perfect – no wind, no sun, mild, a few heavenly sprinkles en route to spritz tiring limbs. I stuck to my plan of walking through the water stations, and really took advantage of that for the last two of four! And my official time is 2h15m18s. I’m chuffed to bits. I wasn’t overly tired, I didn’t feel sick or dizzy, so maybe I will get sub 2h15m in autumn. Oh, and I was fastest female in my 55-59 age category (there were only 7 of us, but still …. I haven’t been first in anything running related before 😂). I also beat my GSR 10 mile time by about 6 minutes!
All wonderful. Sadly though, I can now barely walk. No blisters, no blood blisters, no more black toes – I think I might have cracked all that. BUT. I have horrible pains in my left foot (from the toes all the way through my foot) whenever I put weight on it. Think it’s linked to the niggles I’ve had over the last 4 weeks where pain has moved from foot to alternate sides of my ankle/calf. But today has really upset it. Hobbled all the way to the pub for my roast beef lunch and large glass of rose, and all the way back (have to do something with that 1600 calorie credit). But have spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch. No more running commitments in the diary for now, so will really try to rest it (apart from the inevitable dog walks and gardening work of course!).
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linda9389
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Thank you 🙂 I do confess to another glass this evening. I had to drive later though so had to limit myself. Just as well - a sore head to go with the sore foot would be too much 😂
Not at all! Am going to be brave - take the day off work (self employed), convince the dog she doesn't need a walk and skip pilates tonight. It really is v sore. Ice and rest today. It will heal though 🙂
Thank you. I was only fastest because the usual 50-59 split had been broken into two by this timing company. 1st of just seven 55-59 year old females, but I'm taking that as a result all the same 😂😂😂
Thank you. I hope so too. It was OK while running, but within five minutes of stopping it was - and still is - super painful. Hey ho. Doesn't matter now. Time to take it easy 🙂
Great run and time! We need to learn to rein it in at the start (I still run too fast over the first 15k then die a bit) but it looks like you cracked-on and it worked!
I have fallen for going too fast at the start in every event I've done to date! Wonder if I'll ever learn! Or maybe I just need to be a bit braver with my race plan. Most likely a bit of both 😂
Wow well done Linda, fabulous time, I’d be nowhere near that! Go you! Hope your foot/leg/calf improves, rest up now, take good care of yourself, you’ve done a huge amount in a short space of time......🤗
Thank you. I'm definitely moving into a more restful phase for the summer. I signed up for a 1000km challenge for 2019 so have been trying to get 100km most months - I'm nearly there for May but will make June is a quiet month!
Wow! Great job Linda!!! Sorry to hear your foot is causing some grief. I find when i’m working too much, I don’t drink or eat enough, my feet and calves tend to cramp up. Maybe some rehydration, rest and salty snacks may help (or a good massage or trip to Physio if that doesn’t help). A little break after your back to back to back HM is probably in order. Rest up, you’ve more than earned it, you fastest lady you!!! Whoohoo!!!
Thank you. Definitely time for a rest for the summer, low mileage and NO events 😀. I had a massage last Monday and he found .... well, he found whatever it is they find ... and cleared the offending calf. It had seemed so much better during the week, so I hope it will get better quick. If not I may book a physio because although I can stop running, literally resting really isn't an option!
Congratulations and great run. Your body and those niggles will appreciate a little time out before some shorter gentle recover runs. 3 HMs is 8 weeks is fantastic. Great time you ran... 2:15 is gonna come for sure.
Having done three, I now feel more deserving of the HM muncher title - I (not so) secretly love it! 'Munch, munch, munch' was a fabulous mantra to run with today. Genuinely, thank you for the inspiration 😍
Fantastic Linda! Brilliant! 🍾🥂🏅🏃♀️🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♂️👏🏻👍🌟 💥⚡️🎉😊 So pleased for you. I do hope your foot is soon back to normal, it sounds very uncomfortable!
Thank you. It's extremely uncomfortable! Well out of proportion to the niggle that preceded today. I'm sure it will heal and hopefully it won't take very long!
Congratulations Linda, loved reading the first part of your report! The planning, the weather, the toilet block, the timing, coming first in your age category! Just brilliant. You finished in a super time, your pacing worked out well. 😊
Then, so sorry to hear you have foot pain and can only hobble now though... I hope resting/ice will be enough for it to recover.
You ran a fantastic HM, getting better every time.😊xxx
Thank you. Apart from seeing two lone magpies on the way to Windsor this morning, all was going so well til I stopped running. Now I know why the lone magpies were pestering me!
Thank you. I'm going to take the day off wirk today - self employed so not a decision I take lightly. It's far more painful than previous running niggles so rest it is, for today at least. Just need to persuade the dog she doesn't need a walk!
Wow Linda, what a great time! You inspire me. I remember your write up about your first half, and look at you now! I hope I get the HM bug after my first in Sept.
Hope that the foot feels much better soon though. Resting up, of course, is good, but seeing a physio if you are concerned is also a good plan.
Well done on a great achievement- you should be proud! 👏👏👏
Thanks Sadie. Dare I say, I even enjoyed the run itself yesterday. Confidence is growing with each one - essential for a nstural worry-wort like me 😂. There's lots of time to be well prepared for yours - I hope you love it too.
Getting closer to your target time on a trail run suggests you must be doing a lot of things right in training and that you are on the right trajectory to to smash it next attempt. 😁
Thanks. As trail runs go it was very easy - virtually flat for a start. But I do really enjoy towpaths and odd sections of field. I love being surrounded by greenery and water - and there's some great properties along the Thames for distraction and day dreams 😀
Linda, I'd get that foot checked if I were you xxx
But anyway... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Well done, you superstar!!!!! WINNER!!!!!!!!!!! 😊😊😊💥💗 I so love how you've taken to half marathoning, you are brilliant. All the best for your recuperation, and your sub-2:15 in Oxford xxxxxxx
Thanks Abi. I really enjoyed this one, confidence is growing. Thought I'd give it 24 hours to see if my foot feels easier tomorrow. GP won't be interested until another 6 weeks of rest! I'll maybe make a physio appt tomorrow though if no improvement, but for the sake of my dwindling bank balance I'll try to stay optimistic for another 24 hours 😀
I couldn't have dreamt of running a HM at ANY speed this time last year! I'm slowly learning never to say never, and discovering a competitive streak that's been well hidden for 58 years 😀. Except marathon ... that's definitely a never for me 😂😂😂
Despite the bad reviews, I thought it was fine. Yes, the sound system could've been better and pre-race communication didn't exist. But other complaints from bad reviews in previous years had been addressed. It was low key and friendly. I would definitely do it again 🙂
Thanks Claire. It's not the time itself, more that its a PB and so close to my goal that I'm so happy about 🙂. Am resting today as much as I can and hopefully by tomorrow it will be back to just a niggle.
Thanks. Sitting here on the sofa it feels like nothing's wrong. Sure know about it when I go to make a cup of tea though 😀 Can't quite imagine ever running again when I'm hobbling about 😂😂😂
Wow Linda! You have really been putting the miles in! Huge congratulations on your THIRD 😮 half marathon in eight weeks! That is very impressive, as is your fab time! 👍😀 Sorry that you are suffering today but I am sure a little rest will help things settle down...and let's face it, you definately deserve it! 🙂👏🏅
Thank you I must say, I've enjoyed a day of peace and quiet. the hardest thing I've done all day is make myself stay awake! It will make the rest of this week and next horrible workwise though as I've already had to juggle and squeeze clients in because of the Bank Holiday But on balance, I agree it was worth it and at least I'm not panicking because it's interfering with training because I've nothing to train for just now
Haha. Not quite fastest lady, but happy to be getting faster 😂. Not out of bed uet, but even so I can tell I should take today off work too. Ughh. It all gets so complicated 😡
Thanks. You're right there; it's as if all the things I learned in training - lots of tips and suggestions from this forum - came together just as planned and practised. But more than that, the confidence to act on the suspicion I wasn't really trying as hard as I should (partly based on the fact that I've never felt particularly tired the week after a 21k, whereas you very recently seemed to need at least a week to get going again from your strava posts!). Yet again, this fab forum has proved to be instrumental in a happy run.
In that case I'm glad I didn't point that out before. However, it was all you and your determination that got you though. I have no doubt you will go sub 2:15 in the Aurumn and look forward to seeing your progress.
Thank you. I still smile widely when I remember. I'm easily pleased really 🤣 Have had two full days resting but I really must get back to work tomorrow .
Haha. No - it really wasn't that special (it was only female, and only half a normal age category). But when I screenshot the results, it actually has '1st' next to my name in the category column, that's all I need for a big smile 🤣 - it wasn't that big of an achievement, but it made me very happy 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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But on balance, I agree it was worth it and at least I'm not panicking because it's interfering with training because I've nothing to train for just now 
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Windsor Autumn Half Marathon
Race report - Runaway Train Trail race - DNF 😞
