Quiet member, tortoise-like runner, but I completed the Royal Parks HM - thank you everyone

[AnnaKarenina]

Hello all, I have been a quiet but regular visitor. Cheering along with you all as you progress, thanking everyone for their support, humour and wisdom and quietly plodding on with my training for my first half marathon.

Today I ran the Royal Parks half along with 14999 others. It was slow, not pretty and harder than my same distance runs in training, but I did it and that is due in no small part to you all and this site. I ran for the Royal Marsden which is the hospital that continues to treat me as I have an ongoing kerfuffle with cancer. I couldn't be more thrilled to be able to do something for those people who got me to the finishing line and keep me going.

The race was a curate's egg of highs and lows. The organisation was pretty ropey at the start and we had to wade through mud swamps to get to our start funnels. It was 50 minutes after the official start time when I got on my way in a crowded field. There were some stretches that felt great: miles 2-7 were dandy and I was much buoyed by seeing the Marsden cheering station. Miles 8-10 were workman-like, slow and tough. I began to walk more and the running intervals were slower and harder. Miles 11-12 were painful. The last mile was a an act of utter will power and grit.

I sobbed as I crossed the line and then again when I saw my consultant waiting for me in the tent. He asked whether my haemoglobin was high enough to run. I told him the answer turned out to be 'yes, apparently'.

Now I am wondering how the heck I do that twice because.... I have a place in London. I'll be hanging around if that's okay?

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Congrats AK! Way to slog through it and get it done!

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

You did it! Fantastic achievement. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Turns out I did. I am thrilled. Thank you for your support and congratulations.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AnnaKarenina]

You’re very welcome. This forum helps me a lot and I love to support others! Congratulations again. 🎉🎉

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Massive well done you!!!! xxxx

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

I feel like I just got a Hollywood handshake (when not plodding the streets, I love a bit of Bake Off) - OldFloss you have been one of my most followed posters and someone whose wisdom always helps. Thank you.

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Great report, AnnaKarenina! What an epic achievement. Really hope you will indeed hang around and post more. This is very inspiring to someone training for a first HM.

Hope you are resting and recovering now.

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

I am loving the resting! Thank you.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

"Will power and grit" - brilliant! Well done on digging deep and completing your HM. ...and all the best for London too 👍🙂

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you. Twice the distance feels a bit overwhelming at the moment, but I will keep on keeping on.

[Ripcurlrana71 Half Marathon 10 Miles]

Brilliant - congrats!! Well deserved for the grit and determination that drove you over the finish line! My training runs were much better than race day too. Ah well! 13.1 miles is 13.1 miles! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😊

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Yes, that is the point and to be honest my hope was to finish. I would love to be faster and more elegant, but that isn't what matters most. I think for me the crowds, event and rain made it a bit tougher rather than easier which isn't what I expected, but it is good to experience it and remind ourselves that we did it. Go us!

[Ripcurlrana71 Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to AnnaKarenina]

Exactly! X

[Madge50 Marathon]

Wow, well done you, fantastic. .......a great achievement......👏🏃‍♀️🏅💪.......bask in that glory and and job well done.......and then......huge congratulations in getting a place in the VLM......oohh eerrr! How special is that, Well you’ve had the ‘grit and determination’ to get to this finish line, you’ve definitely got what it takes to get to the next one..........and anyway, what else would you be doing........😉😎👍🏃‍♀️

Mx

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thank you. I am in equal parts terrified and thrilled by the marathon place. I confess I am already waking in a hot sweat but that may also be my age....Really grateful for the congratulations and reminder that I have grit I am going to need....

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

So well done to you and many congratulations. That sounds tough but you sound tougher 💪💪

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you so much. I did keep thinking 'at least it's not chemotherapy'.

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

Amazing and emotional run and post. Well done you. 🏃‍♀️

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

Thank you!

[misswobble Marathon]

Well done AnnaK! Power and grit indeed!! Sorry about the delay at the start. A very long one! I hope you didn't get too cold and wet. It's not ideal at the start for sure. It will never happen again I bet!

I was doing a long run today with the Nike running coach voice-over. He was talking about slow and fast running, and said that we shouldn't talk about fast or slow, but rather "smart" or "stupid" I will defer to his expertise and so I ran "smart" today. His little talk did make me smile. Just what one needs on a long run.

I know it was tough for you today but I hope you enjoyed the sights and sounds that are part and parcel of race day. We take it all in hopefully and it lives with us long after the show has all been packed away

Rest easy, and dream about London!

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

This is quite the most wonderful post. I may frame it! Thank you so much for taking the time and for all your support and encouragement.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to AnnaKarenina]

You’re welcome. Running is a joyous thing and we should spread the love 😁🥰🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️👍

[backintime 10 Miles]

Yes...please do stick around - that was a great post and what an inspiration. I hope your kerfuffle (I love that word) doesn't get in the way of training. Well done !!

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to backintime]

Thank you. Here's to meeting kerfuffles with disdain and determination!

[Hidden]

Very well done!🤗🤗

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wonderful report. Wonderful achievement. Massive congratulations on putting so much of yourself into that wet and muddy race - and winning the day. Good luck with the marathon training ... but first rest and recover well 🙂

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you. I hope you're doing okay after your injury and amazingly long cycle rides. How is the return to running going?

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AnnaKarenina]

Ahh, thank you. Unfortunately I'm back on the IC - persistent niggle in my knee and pulled ligamemt/tendon in my foot I think. Guess everything is still tight/weak from all that inactivity. So now I'm waiting for those to heal! No fun!!!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Congratulations. I bet you are glad that the run wasn’t as muddy as the start area.

Good luck with marathon training.

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Oh yes! I'd have been on my bottom within moments otherwise.

[Gwenllian1]

That is awesome. You should be so proud of yourself. You ran a half marathon! Amazing!

[AnnaKarenina Metric Marathon]

Aw, you guys! Thank you so much for being such a terrific, warm and supportive bunch. I love this site and whatever the next few months hold in terms of marathon training, I know I will find a happy place here.

Some overnight reflections which might be of interest:

Physio at the first sign of a hip niggle turned out to be the best investment I could have made. Thanks to Lucy and her magic exercises and advice (this is sounding dangerously like the Oscars...)

I was worried about being last because I am so slow. I was no where near last and all I thought about the people behind me was that they were heroes and amazing - I shouldn't have been so daft.

I was also worried that by taking some walking intervals, I wouldn't feel the same sense of achievement. That was pretty daft too and loads of people take walking intervals.

I saw the absolute best of human nature. So many people running for terrific causes. So many people willing to stand in the rain to cheer. So many volunteers getting wet. It was one of the best parts by a long way.

Talking of being wet, you get really wet and cold really quickly when you stop. I wondered if I had taken too many layers. I hadn't and was shivering even as I piled them on.

I had many of you in my mind as I plodded round - never doubt the difference your words and stories can make when someone is digging deep.

Over and out.

[Hidden]

Well done! That’s amazing and inspirational xx

[Mimirossi]

What a fabulous run AnnaKarenina ! You are one amazing lady! Xx