Swansea half Marathon done

[Dave58]

Well I completed the half Marathon so I'm pleased but it didn't go exactly as I had hoped. I made the basic error of going too fast at the start but it felt so comfortable that I thought I would be ok but by the 8 mile marker post I was really struggling. Actually walked a bit but once I got to mile post 9 I took a gel and a bottle of water and then managed to run the rest of the way. Even managed to find a burst of speed to finish. Was hoping for a faster time but overall I'm happy with 2.19.40

[Madge50 Marathon]

Woohoo! Well done, me and OH too! (Report to follow later)...,.was rather toasty at the start wasn’t it? Then when you turned at the mumbles, sea breeze and wind on your back.....hurrah! But then, along the coast in your face! 😂

OH got about 2:15, me about 2:40 (basically struggled after 10 miles....) but hey, a great achievement, well done you and Dave’s buddy...👏💪👍🏃‍♂️🏅

Nice bling!

Mx

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Yeah I struggled from mile 8 to mile 9 and from mile 11 the head wind really hit me. Never mind it's all a learning curve

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Congratulations! so, so easy to go out too fast in a race atmosphere - every single time 😂. Each one is learning for the next. Sounds like a great time to me, you should feel very pleased with yourself 🙂

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

At the moment in a little disappointed that I messed up the pace but I think once it sinks in that I've completed a half Marathon I will be happy

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dave58]

I was dreadfully disappointed after my 10 mile GSR. Could've been various factors but I think the main one was that having started way too fast I had to walk in parts in the last third of the race. Sound familiar? At the end of the day tho it was my first big race and there was lots to be pleased about - just took a while for that to sink in.

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yeah it's a basic error starting too fast. Guess I learned the hard way.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dave58]

If you learned, you're a better man than I 😂

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Time will tell

[Madge50 Marathon in reply to Dave58]

Excuse me, half marathon is no easy feat, you have just completed a run of 13.1 miles, in what the elites have called ‘very tough conditions’ you’re still standing, you’re smiling, be very proud of yourself I nipped into Tesco for some munchies afterwards, and the girlie on the checkout asked me my time, she said, ‘don’t put it down, I’d still be out there....’

Plus there were some people collapsed, maybe poor prep, maybe not.....you’ve worked hard to get in the physical shape needed, be proud....

Lecture over......😉

Mx

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

I appreciate what you're saying and agree completely. Just wish I had started a little slower

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Many congratulations! 🍾🥂🏅🏃🏻🤸🏻‍♂️🏃🏻🤸🏻‍♂️🏃🏻🤸🏻‍♂️👏🏻👍🌟 💥⚡️🎉😊You did it and learnt things too! 😊

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks I did indeed learn the hard way

[Irish-John Marathon]

Good Run though Dave Well done

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks John appreciate it. At least it stayed dry for my race. Its pouring down now

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to Dave58]

Trying to run today between thunderstorms here Dave

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your Half Dave - a great achievement, which hopefully you will appreciate fully in a couple of days!! So, so easy to go off too quick but

now you have a (very decent) PB and a goal for next time! Rest up well and enjoy your bling! 👍🏅🏃🏻

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Great comments and good advice. Thank you

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on you Swansea hm! Seems to me that a lot of us suffer the same error in race conditions, don't be too hard on yourself ! X

[CandyCool Marathon]

Many many congratulations. I’ve just started my training for the Cardiff HM and any advice is so welcome. I’d be so proud with that time. I cannot believe that a couple of years ago I couldn’t run. Now it’s not always easy but I can. That’s the thing I’m most proud of. Enjoy the bling and the pleasure of knowing you have a HM in the bag xx

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to CandyCool]

You're so right. I only started back running last Oct after not running for 35 years and never thought I'd be able to run 13 miles. My advice is to steadily build up your mileage and stick to your race plan on the day. Don't aim too high be realistic regarding the pace you run it at

[CandyCool Marathon in reply to Dave58]

Sound advice thank you. But like you, when I did my 10K, I went off too fast!! Makes you very cross as it really impacts on your planned run!🙄🏅

[Becky6426 Half Marathon]

Brilliant time! Congratulations!

I was there for my first timed half too and managed 2.35.29😊 I'm over the moon I finished, there was alot that didn't sadly. Super close and humid, Cardiff next 😬

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Becky6426]

Yeah that humidity definitely affected me as did the head wind at the finish. Congratulations to you too. I heard last night that somebody died yesterday at the race. So so sad. Good luck in Cardiff

[Becky6426 Half Marathon in reply to Dave58]

I heard too, it's so sad! I was shocked by how many people there where along the route being assisted by the ambulances, scary really.

I started running 6 months ago so I'm super happy I made it home in one piece and am still walking 😁

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Becky6426]

My hips and my right foot are hurting this morning. Which is strange. Never had hip pain b4.

[Becky6426 Half Marathon in reply to Dave58]

Rest up, your hips are telling you to take it easy for a few days. Hope you recover super quick 👍

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Becky6426]

I will rest now lol. Hope you recover quick too

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Dave58]

I just read that in the paper. Young guy apparently. Very, very sad news indeed

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

Congratulations! As has been said a Half is nothing small! But I understand that frustration at setting out too fast, I did it on my 2nd one and was stumped by mile 8 too. But it is soooo easy to do lol. Next time though you will know and your time is still good.

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

I am happy to have finished to be honest. At one point (8/9 miles) I thought it was in doubt. For the 1st 4 miles I felt really comfortable so I was surprised how dramatically quickly I started to struggle. Lesson learned

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Dave58]

I was exactly the same on mine, I decided to try and run a 2hour 15 so ran with a pacer! My previous run had been 2hour30 and I hadn't really trained for this one as such. So I'm really not sure why I thought I could set out so quick! 🙈😂 Like you I was good up until about 10/12k. I then just lost all effort and had a walk, lost my mental approach too and seriously considered stopping! It wasn't my best run lols but I learnt loads from it and saw how we can push past our running demons when needed! You will know for next time! I'm now using heartrate zones for a marathon training plan and it is so apparent how fast I used to set out, putting a lot of effort in but not able to maintain that for long distance. I'm sticking with slow and steady from now on! 😊

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

The annoying thing was I felt so comfortable for the 1st 4 miles. All I can do is put it down to experience

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Brilliant work, well done!!

[Crawlhome Half Marathon]

Huge well done on your first HM, especially in such tough conditions. There's no need to be hard on yourself, there's no way to know what to expect on the day and it's a challenging race that most people will never run! Plus you've learned so much that you can put into practice next time.

I'm still pinching myself three weeks later after my first one, all I could say at the time was "that was so hard!"

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Crawlhome]

Everything you say is spot on. Thanks for the encouraging words

[misswobble Marathon]

Things rarely go to plan but never mind cos you did it! Well done. Now eat well, hydrate and rest up. A few runs wouldn't hurt though. Just steady ones

[Couchpotato2 Marathon]

Well done! What a great achievement and my criteria: a great medal! Hope you celebrate appropriately!

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thanks. Yeah nice bling and really nice t shirt. Celebrated by eating pancakes!

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Dave58]

Wow tshirt and a medal, nice Pancakes after that run, would have just hit the spot I reckon!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Many congratulations Dave! Well done 👍🏼

[Pippa49 Half Marathon]

Congratulations. I completed Swansea Half yesterday too I was one but last to finish. Was a bit disappointed that I didn't get under 4hrs but I knocked 6mins off last year's time so happy.

[Dave58 Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Thanks and well done Pippa. It was my 1st HM so didn't know how I would respond. The conditions were quite tough I thought so looking back now I'm ok with my performance. Hopefully I've learned something for the future

[Pippa49 Half Marathon]

You're welcome. It was my second Swansea Half but my fifth half in total. My best time was in February. I was just glad to finish yesterday. You did great under the tough conditions.