❤️ HALF MARATHON RACE REPORT ❤️IT'S A LONG ONE 😂

[AliHC]

I decided to run my virtual half marathon today instead of Sunday for a couple of reasons... I had a feeling that our movements might be restricted even further and I didn't want to risk not being able to go out for my virtual half marathon run after all the training I'd been doing. And also I'm putting on a concert in my back garden on Sunday for the neighbours and didn't want to be knackered for that 😊🎶

It was a glorious day and the sun was shining when I woke up at 8am🌞 I am always happy and in a good mood when I wake up, but this morning I woke up happy and nervous! 🤨 How strange? It wasn't a race I was going to and there was no pressure of arriving on time to register or finding a parking space or toilet 🚽😂

I didn't do my usual faffing around. I just had a bowl of cereal 🥣 and coffee ☕ and got dressed 👕👖🧤🧦👟👒

I'd already charged my phone and wireless earphones, downloaded the podcast to last the duration and I was ready to go! 😎

Got in the car with my husband, who was under strict instruction to drive the route I was going to run 😂 OK... 13 and a bit miles away from home and with a kiss and a Worthers Original sweet in my mouth we said goodbye 😘

My podcast of choice for this run was ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS 😂❤️ Well, I thought that it would be very fitting as I would be running through the countryside and seeing bunny rabbits and mad march hares and cats 🐇🐱😂

Anyway! The scenery is beautiful where I live and I thought what a great opportunity to take some photos and videos of my journey! In fact what if I took a photo every mile and then make a collage when I got back! 13 photos for 13 miles 📸

I must admit the first half of the 13 miles was up hill! I'd not planned that bit very well at all 😅 but ALICE was having such a great time and the scenery was so spectacular that I was, in a weird way, enjoying the hills!

The Strines Reservoir and the Follie on the hill was like looking at a painting! Everything was feeling a bit surreal 😳 Not sure if that was down to ALICE or that I hadn't seen a single car, cyclist or walker for miles!

I was breathing really well, but my legs were feeling bizarrely heavy! Never really experienced that before? Oh well, push on, I thought, there's photos to be taken in a moment 📸 By now I'd just about reached the last bit of up hill running and I was looking forward to seeing the old milestone at the side of the road saying SHEFFIELD 8 MILES 😁 I took a photo and jogged on 😊

I wasn't happy with my legs! But I wasn't in pain and ALICE was about to drink from a bottle that said DRINK ME on it! I was now on very familiar territory, a road I have run many, many times! And for the first time it felt reassuring that I would be able to run the distance!

At this part of the run I encountered my first human! And low and behold it was someone I knew! I have them a wide birth but we managed to exchange a warm hello and I shouted whilst running backwards that I couldn't stop because I was doing my half marathon 😂 That put a spring in my step!

Before I knew it I was 4 miles from home and saw another friend running on the opposite direction to me! What are the odds on that 🙄

Counting downs the miles now on this very flat bit of my route and I was feeling elated! A land rover was coming towards me, the first vehicle I'd seen and the driver steered well clear, gave me a wave and a toot ❤️

Oh I'm romping home now! ALICE is well and truly having it large down the rabbit hole, stuffing her face with biscuits that make her bigger, playing croquet on the queen's lawn and the Catapillar is off his head! 🐛

1 mile from home and a cyclist is coming towards me waving and shouting "HIYA" What is going on? I know him as well! 😂 I meet 3 people in 12 miles and I know all the of them! 😯

Less than a mile from home and I phone my husband to tell him where I am and to get the kettle on 😂

I told my neighbour yesterday that I was running my half marathon and to expect my back at around 1pm! Without me knowing, she had organised the whole road to look out for me coming back! I arrived on my road to shouts of WELL DONE! and applause from everyone! I ran down the middle of our road and ran the entire length like a lap of honour and I BURST INTO TEARS! 😭 It was just like last night at 8pm! 👏👏👏👏👏

I've had coffee and lunch made by my son. A bath 🛀 A lay down 🛌🏻 and my husband is now making a fire 🔥 and my son is making dinner 🍝 and I AM HAPPY 😁

I never got to the end of ALICE but my story was as exciting and as surreal as hers was 😂

Lots of love to you all and thank you in advance for reading and being on my journey with me!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ CAN I HAVE MY HALF MARATHON BADGE NOW PLEASE 🤣 xxxxx

[Hidden]

Yooz young lady should be mightily proud and chuffed with yourself 👍 I did mine on secret 😎 only to be scolded then applauded by Mrs Wife who thinks that running that far is totally unnecessary 🙄.

Pin that badge on lady and enjoy the back garden concert 💪

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Hidden]

🤣 SRS Secret Running Society 🤣

Thank you Hidden ❤️

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations on your half marathon today AliHC, running 13 miles, 21 Kilometres is a long run, how nice it was running that last part with all those people cheering you, just like as if it was a real event run, only thing missing was the big arch with the digital clock showing.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you AlMorr ❤️

That was such an amazing ending! I thought I'd won the Olympics! 🤣 xxx

[Big_maz]

Well done Ali love the story good job you didn’t pop down a rabbit hole 😉

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Big_maz]

🐇🤣 Thank you Big_maz ❤️

[lexi6 10 Miles]

What a lovely post Ali congratulations on your half marathon and aaah! I just love your neighbours ❤️ 😊

[AliHC Marathon in reply to lexi6]

Thank you lexi6 ❤️

My neighbours are awesome 🤗

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Huge congratulations to you, Ali in Wonderland!

This is an entertaining and inspiring read. Felt I was there with you.

Well done on a big achievement and I hope you are now comfortable and recovering.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thank you Stephen_UK ❤️

Recovering very well now I've had my dinner 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon]

A fantastic report Ali! You’ve obviously got a lot of love on your street. What a lovely moment that mist have been. Congratulations!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thank you Decker ❤️ I do enjoy writing 😂

They are incredible neighbours! x

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to AliHC]

And I realized you needed a virtual HM badge for your amazing efforts, so here you are!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Decker]

Woop Woop! 😁 THANK YOU 🏅

[Granspeed]

That was a really exciting read about an excellent run. Well done you. 🎉👏🏼🤣🎶🎵🤸🏾‍♀️🎶🏃🏼‍♀️🎶🎵 You will certainly never forget this one! How lovely of your neighbour to organise a street of spectators to cheer you in. Fabulous event with one runner. What a star. ⭐️ Enjoy the glow for days to come. I hope someone managed to get a celebrity photo. 😄👏🏼

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Thank you Granspeed ❤️

Glad you enjoyed reading it 😊 Almost as long as ALICE! 😂

When we're all allowed out again If like to throw a street party 🎉

Don't think there were any photos? But if there were I'd be crying 🤣

Hope you're well xxxx

[Granspeed in reply to AliHC]

Street party is a great idea. 🎉 I’m doing much better thanks - Mr GS has been quite poorly and he’s starting to pick up, so 👏🏼💕🎉 around here!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Sending virtual hugs to you both. X

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's fabulous! The thing that's really missing in a virtual run is the encouragement and the cheering in those final steps - but not missing for you, what lovely, lovely people! What a great achievement! Hope you're still grinning like the Cheshire cat 😍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you linda9389 ❤️

They certainly gave me the extra energy to finish!

And thank you for your training tips and expertise leading up to today!

Legs have stopped aching now but my face has gone into spasm from grinning 🐱 xxx

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

It may not have been your planned event but what a great HM experience. And your neighbour! How great that you were able to be recognized for such a great achievement. Congrats on a great solo HM event.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you SaskAlliecat ❤️ It was a wonderful experience!

My neighbour is a very keen cyclist, she knows the score 😊

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Brilliant in every way Ali! It’s not easy running a solo HM (I know, I’ve done it!), and kudos to you for having a long first uphill section. That takes some grit. 💪

How fabulous to have a welcome party from your neighbours on your return. 👏🎉🏃‍♀️😍💕

Btw, I’m so happy about your use of many emojis. 😅 I’m a sucker for them and use them way too much. Even more than my kids actually! 🤦‍♀️😅👍 Up the Emjoi! 👍👍👍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you cheekychipmunks ❤️

As much as I love running on my own, the first half was quite strange! A little encouragement would have been reassuring. But then again my imagination may not have allowed me the freedom of listening to ALICE with such intensity 😁🐇🐱🐛

Emojis rock 🤘 🌟 ❤️

Have a fab weekend xxx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Congratulations Ali👏💥🏃‍♀️ A fantastic run and what wonderful neighbours. You have every right to still be grinning 😃😃

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Thank you Sandie1961 ❤️

🐱 Have a lovely weekend xxx

[Redcello41 Half Marathon]

A very big well done and brilliant post! You must be very proud of yourself, it's a great achievment! 😀😃😀

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

Thank you Redcello41 ❤️

I'm still buzzing! Or is that just my aching legs? 😂 xxx

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Hahahaha I know the feeling well! 😀

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

What a fab post and run! I love that you took a photo every mile and that you had a lap of honour! How brilliant is that? No wonder you burst into tears, I’d have done the same.

This will definitely be a run to remember. Very well done and many congratulations to you 🎈🎉🎊🏃‍♀️🙂

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you so much Irishprincess ❤️

I'm going to make a little book of my photos to remember it by 😊 and hopefully I'll still get my medal and t-shirt from NiceWork 😊

Hope all is well with you? xxx

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

That’s a lovely idea 🙂 x

[Tjcp Half Marathon]

Congratulations! Couldn't believe it when I saw your map of the run as my Mum was born in Oughtibridge!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Tjcp]

Thank you Tjcp ❤️

Oughtibridge is still quite a lovely place to live! X

[Jazzyrunner]

Thought I’d hop over and see what you’re up to and found I’d missed this! What a brilliant post, well done on your run, that’s amazing, and I loved the whole story. Your neighbours being there ❤️ How did the concert go?xxx

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Jazzyrunner]

Thank you Jazzyrunner ❤️

It was certainly an experience 😂 and now on reflexion I feel that I could do it again in the future!

The neighbours were just unbelievable! The garden concert is on hold until the weather is little brighter! It was a bit overcast and drizzly last Sunday. Fingers crossed for this weekend 🤞🎶

I went out for a post Half Marathon run on Monday and managed 3k😂 My legs were still quite heavy! But yesterday I somehow managed 15k!😲 I now feel like I'm back to normal 🤡 whatever that is 😂

xxx

[Jazzyrunner in reply to AliHC]

You’re amazing, honestly. I think the forecast is better for this weekend 👍🏻🎶

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Jazzyrunner]

So are you 😊 xxx

[Jazzyrunner in reply to AliHC]

😘xxx