First run at HM distance!

[SkiMonday]

I made it! What’s more, my knees held up (they seem kind of important for things like running). Also, I shaved ten minutes of my HM power walking time!

So, two weeks ago, I did a (hilly) 19k and then took a week’s break from running. I then tried for the HM distance but only managed 16k due to my knees playing up. I’ve been doing the NHS knee exercises for runners, did a 5k on Tuesday and a 10k on Thursday, picked a reasonably flat route for today (mostly on a dirt track), took it slowly and it all came together! I love it when a plan works!

I’m following Jason Fitzgerald’s long run ideas on Strength Running so I’m aiming to extend my runs to around 30k. Mind you, adding distance at a nice gentle 1k a week means I probably won’t reach 30k by my HM at the end of September. However, I will have built up a fair amount of endurance by then. That, combined with a short and medium run each week should mean that, come September, I’ll be comfortably ahead of my power walking time.

[O505k Half Marathon]

Well done congratulations, great feeling.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Brilliant work and a solid plan too. The legs seem to really appreciate the softer dirt impact vs the hard pavement and concrete. You’ll be well set for September 👍🏼👊

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Decker]

Cheers Decker! So far, so good.

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Well done! I’m going to look at these knee exercises!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Tasha99]

I think the exercises help.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Congratulations! Great milestone. Do listen carefully to your knees if you're planning an increasing long run once every week.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks and will do! Since there's no rush to increase my mileage, think I might do a hilly run one week and add the extra k to my flat run every other week.

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on your first running half marathon! Well done.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Cheers Lavender!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Great achievement - well done! 🙂

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Brilliant achievement SkiMonday, well done! 👏👏👏

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky. I'll make it to the Ashton Court PR one of these days but it clashes with my long run at the moment.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Good work, and to get beyond 21k in preparation for you HM will mean that it wont feel like such a long way bu the time you come to race day!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Good point!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Brilliant! Well done 👍🏻😁

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks JoJo.