Half + Half = FULL 🏃🏼‍♀️❤️

[AliHC]

Don't quite know where to begin with this one?

When I woke up this morning it was my intention to run a Half Marathon distance. I had bought a couple of SIS Gels and wanted to try them out because I'd never had them before. So, 1 x pineapple gel in my running belt and off I went.

Any route I take from home in most directions is up hill, so I just headed for the hills. When I stopped for a moment to catch my breath, I looked at my phone to see how far I'd run.... mmmmm? 19.3k!

OK! So I've got a couple of options...

1. Turn around and go back the way I came? 🤣

2. Carry on a bit more up the hill and run a different route back? 🙄

I think you can guess that I took option 2!🤣

A few more kilometers later I stopped and had the gel 😋 It wasn't unpleasant, it was easy to swallow, but it took me nearly 10 minutes to down it! But it was a lovely 10 minutes to just stop and look around 🌼🌳🌸

Psychologically, I think the gel worked, as it gave me the confidence to carry on with the next half of the run. Also most of this part of the run was down hill! 😍

I was shattered at the end. In fact, quite delerious! 🥴 But I've eaten and have been sat in the bath for over an hour! 🛀☺️

I'M OVER THE MOON 🙃🌛🤸🏼‍♀️ This would not have happened if it wasn't for lockdown! 🌈

Hope everyone is well whether you're up and running or taking it easy on the couch. 🏃🏿🏃🏼‍♀️❤️

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations to you AliHC on running your first MARATHON, wow, excellent, do celebrate your run in style, of course tell the administrators what you have achieved then you will see the word Marathon next to your username, once again a big congratulations 🎊 😊 🏃🏾 🎓

[AliHC Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you so much AlMorr 😍

I could jump for joy! But the legs won't let me! 🥴 xxx

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

👍 🏃🏾

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

PS, I have just noticed on the Vitality World Running Cup Healthunlocked Team GB list that you are NUMBER ONE on it with 463.11K ran, but that marathon you ran is not part of the 463,11km, whenever that event restarts you will still be up there representing us in the UK 🇬🇧. 😊 🏃🏾

By the way I am at No. 72 out of about 124 runners taking part,

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Absolutely amazing. Haven’t you transformed adversity into triumph? Congratulations on such a massive achievement. Huge respect - and a shiny new badge too 👏👏👏 (if you prefer a straightforward marathon badge, just say. I gave you a virtual one in case you want to save the other for an organised event, but it’s easily changed ).

[AliHC Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Oh thank you so much linda9389 ❤️

I can't quite believe it! But I suppose there was no pressure on me to do anything? I'm chuffin' knackered now though 🥴

Can I keep the Virtual badge please. It will remind me that I did it in lockdown 🌈

Lots of love to you ❤️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Rest well and keep stretching! Hope you have some nice treats lined up this evening 😍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I'm just preparing a curry and stretching at the same time 😁 So glad no one can see me 🤣 xxx

[Buddy34 Half Marathon]

What an amazing run for you AliHC, well not just any old run, a marathon. I'm so pleased for you I really am it's just, well absolutely amazing. Hope you enjoyed your soak in the bath. 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you so much Buddy34 ❤️

I remember I used to think that 5k was a very long way! 😂 And my next 5k will probably feel like that too! My legs are quite tired and I spent so long in that bath that I'm shrivelled like a prune 🥴😁

How are you after your fall? ❤️

[Buddy34 Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

I'm fine just some grazed hands. Never mind me you just ran a MARATHON 🥳🥳🥳

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Buddy34]

Oh Buddy34 ❤️ Thank you sooooooo much 🤗 It's just about sinking in what I've done!

I'VE RUN A MARATHON! 🤩🏃🏼‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️

Take care and have a wonderful weekend xxxx

[Irish-John Marathon]

Many, many Congratulations Ali This is inspiring indeed

Well done 26.2 Runner, well done indeed!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you very much Irish-John ❤️

I'm so tired but in a huge high! 😴😁 Hope all is well with you xxx

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Still standing Ali, thank you

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

🤗 Sending you lots of virtual hugs 🤗

[Irish-John Marathon in reply to AliHC]

❤️😊

[C3PO Marathon]

That's fantastic! Sounds like a lovely experience.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thank you C3PO ❤️

It was a wonderful experience! It felt like I didn't have a care in the world at the time 😁 But now...I'm shattered 🥴

Hope all is well with you x

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Huge congratulations Ali, really amazing what you did here, I just saw your note for a hard-earned badge, but I see Linda has already beaten me to it! Hope you have a nice dinner and drinks to celebrate!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thank you very much Decker 😁

I'm shrivelled like a prune from my long bath and I'm now cooking a curry and stretching 😅 It's a bit of a sorry sight! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 X And there's an Erdinger (alcohol free) in the fridge 🍺 😁

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Alcohol free????? If I’d just run a marathon I’d be on my second bottle of gin by now 🤪🤪

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🤣 🤣🤣 I haven't had a proper drink for over 21 years 🤣🤣🤣 I don't like the effect 😜 I'd be on my back just sniffing the gin bottle 🤩

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

🤣🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That’s amazing! Many congratulations to you and very well done 🎉🎈🎊🍾 And all on one gel!!! How on earth did you do that?

That’s a fab time too, you should be super proud of that achievement, you super woman you 💪🏃‍♀️🙂

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you so much Irishprincess ❤️

I didn't really have any intention of running that far today, just fancied a little run to try the gel 🤣 I think it worked 🤔🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

I love your definition of “a little run” 🥵🏃‍♀️🙂

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🤣 My next little run (5k) is probably going to feel like hell! 🔥👹🔥

[SlowLoris]

Nicely done.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Thank you very much SlowLoris 😊

Pretty chuffed with that ☺️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Just amazing AliHC 👏👏👏👏👏and an incredible pace too. I must get some of that gel! You are an incredible runner!,

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you Beachcomber66 ❤️

I don't know anything about gels or which ones are good or bad, but I saw this type in Holland & Barret the other day and it said it was an isotonic gel. There were a few flavours and I chose a pineapple one and an apple one. I'm definitively going to get some more now! 🤣 That's if my legs will ever move again! 🥴 I'm really happy with the time too! ☺️

Hope all is good with you xxx

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Ready for 4K 3rd comeback run tomorrow. No gels needed 🙂

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Fingers crossed for you Beachcomber66 🤞 Hope your knee behaves itself and it's a good run for you ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

That’s an incredible feat Ali, run at a pace faster than even my 5ks! You’re some runner. 🏃‍♀️🏅👏😍👍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you cheekychipmunks ❤️

I think what happens with me is this... If I say I'm going to do something, then I put pressure on myself to do it and do it well. But if I just do something without thinking, then there is no pressure to do it or do it well! I was excited for my 1st HM in March, as it wasn't a race it was virtual and I wanted to enjoy the experience and remember it by taking photos along the way. The 2nd one was hell. The third one was just getting me head down and running off emotion and was ridiculously fast! I didn't have time to think and nothing to prove. This full marathon was pretty much accidental. I just went out for a run to try a gel 😊 I was relaxed and not thinking. I'm sure that's not a good strategy for every time I do a run, but it worked this time 😂

Hope all is well with you and your running? xxx

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

That’s simply amazing Ali. You’re clearly a natural. I’d be hours behind you! 😅

Yes all’s going well here too. I’m running every other day and doing my yoga too. 🏃‍♀️🧘‍♀️ Having the whole family under one roof makes life so much less stressful than for lots of people, so I feel so lucky. ❤️

Keep on being brilliant! ⭐️

[AliHC Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I'm loving having my son at home too! Keep on running🏃🏻‍♀️and yogaing 🧘🏻‍♀️and have a wonderful weekend. Lots of love to you xxx

[Katnap Marathon]

Amazing result of the lockdown! I bet you're still on that cloud 9?🌈 👏👏👏😎

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Thank you Katnap ❤️ I felt like I slept on cloud 9 but woke up on a concrete slab 🤣 My bum muscles are very stiff! 😯

[Katnap Marathon in reply to AliHC]

🤣 I hope you have some good bum stretch exercises!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Katnap]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Don't know how to respond to that! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Katnap Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Lunges work for me. But look up glute stretches to avoid any confusion! 😃😅😂🤣

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Katnap]

Ah! That's where you were going with that one! 🤣😂😆 Thank you Katnap ❤️ Lunges it is then 😅

[Katnap Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Probably best I don't ask where you were going then! 😃😅😂🤣

[Granspeed]

Oh wow! What a huge achievement. 🎉👏🏼🎉🎶🎵🎶🎉🎉👏🏼🍷🥂🍺 You have done that brilliantly. You should be so proud. 😊 And here’s a (virtual) packet of Epsom Salts for those well-deserved soaks in the bath over the next few days. Fantastic congratulations to you. 😄🎉💕

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Thank you very much Granspeed ❤️ In my head I'm floating around with the fairies 🧚‍♂️ but my body feel like it had to dragged out of bed this morning 😅

Virtual epson salts gratefully received with eternal gratitude 💐

How are you? xxx

[Granspeed in reply to AliHC]

Hanging in, but really missing running. It would be ideal for head-clearing just now, but making do with gardening & S&F. OH is better -😊- but can’t be left. So thrilled with your run! 🎉👍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Keep on hanging in there Granspeed 🤗 Hopefully it won't be too long before you get out there again! I honestly don't know how I would be coping now with this lockdown if it wasn't for running? It's been a great healer when it comes to the menopause, closing the business and death of a loved one ❤️

I hope your gardening and S&F is healing for you too.

Great news that your OH is better too, that must be a huge relief?

Sending you some virtual hugs and thinking about you 🤗 xxxx

[Granspeed in reply to AliHC]

Awww, thanks. VRBs turn out to be such supports! I’ve had a hard month, with OH in very dodgy condition and us losing 2 of his oldest & dearest work colleagues/friends to C-19. Can’t bring them back, but OH is soldiering on again and that is indeed a great relief. Hoping for a better few weeks ahead. Nothing quite soothes like running, but fresh air & gardening help. Thanks for your thoughts! 💕👍

[misswobble Marathon]

Well done 😃👍🏅🏆

Soak in the bath, curry! Perfect 👌

I did yoga to get me through the post marathon stage. It worked. I was fine. Keep moving, that’s the thing. Gently of course. Take your legs for a little shake out jog or walk as soon as

😃👍.

[AliHC Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you so much misswobble ❤️ Really appreciate the advice too! I've done a bit of stretching this morning. I'm dreading the next run 😭 Is it normal for my bum muscles to ache/feel tight? 😅

Hope all is well with you? xxx

[misswobble Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Well yeah. A marathon is a long way. I was 60 when I did my first one and was warned to book a sports massage as I would feel in a few days as if "I'd been hit by a truck" I couldn't afford such a thing so I bought a beginners yoga dvd for £5 from the supermarket Best fiver I ever spent! My husband bought me the intermediate version after that

I did the yoga, and kept moving. I was fine I was relieved as I expected "afters" being an older runner

I've done two more marathons since and I've been fine. i do go for a gentle short jog around the block the following day. An Epsom Salts bath is lovely too

[AliHC Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Again, thank you misswobble ❤️

for your words of wisdom 🤗

I'm agog that you're of a certain age! I honestly thought you were younger than me (54) 😊 xxxx

As for the recent photo you posted of your new shorts... I could have placed you in your 30's

I am in awe! 👏👏👏👏👏

[misswobble Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Why thankee kindly 😁☺️

[Run46 Half Marathon]

That is absolutely amazing...I especially liked that you looked at your watch while catching your breath and seemed surprised you'd already done 19.3k up hill! Those hills that surround you are obviously turning you into a warrior!

Your rock 👏👍

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Run46]

Thank you Run46 😊

No matter where I've lived, all my life I've always lived at the top of a hill! 🤣 I'm always surprised by how far I've run 😂 Especially when I think I've run further than I actually have 🤣 This time round it was a nice surprise 🏃🏼‍♀️

Hope all is good with you? x

[Run46 Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Yeah, I generally think I've run slightly further than I have...I'm starting to think my watch is broken 😂, wishful thinking I know, my watch is only 5 months old! 😉

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Run46]

🤣 Take it easy Run46 😊 Can you imagine running without a watch! 😮😥🥺 Have a great weekend x

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Wow, wow, wow, that is just amazing 👏🏻🥳💥 You set off to do a half and just happen to complete a full marathon. I am just in awe! I could hardly walk for days even after my half, so cannot imagine what a state I’d be in after doubling it. Brilliant, mahoosive congratulations 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

🤣Thank you so much Sandie1961 ❤️ That's the way it seems to be going in my world at the moment... Don't do things by half 🤣

I am a bit of a lost cause today though 😆

Hope all is good with you? xxx

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

All good, thank you 😊 Just my virtual Inverness parkrun this morning to make up for having our Scottish trip cancelled, but the prospect of a virtual Vitality London 10000 with our HU entrants on 25 May 😃

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Ah! So sorry to hear your trip was cancelled! But it sounds like you've got some good things lined up to compensate xxxx

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Oh my word!! What an inspiration! 😍 Congratulations on your first, unplanned marathon - and fantastic pace too! 👏👏👏🏅💪💪🎉🎉🎉 All this on a gel and I guess, water? You were obviously born for endurance! Just amazing! Rest up well and hope you are not too sore now? 🙂

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandraj39 ❤️

To think long distance running was the thing I hated as a teenager is now the thing I love is quite bizarre ☺️ I felt a bit tight yesterday, but absolutely fine today (so far).

Hope all is well with you? xxx

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to AliHC]

All good apart from not running for 3 weeks due to vertigo (inner ear thingy!)😣 On the mend though so I hope to be back out running this week...🤞x

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Oh, sorry to hear that you've not been able to run Sandraj39 🤗 Hope everything goes well for you this week! 🤞 Take care xx

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Congratulations AliHC it’s great to see something positive coming out of lockdown! Your first marathon too! Woo-hoo 🙂👏👏👏👏

[AliHC Marathon in reply to David_G]

Thank you David_G 😁

Lockdown is very strange! But I'm trying to stay positive. Hope all is well with you? x

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Hi AliHC, yes all is OK with me. I’ve been doing a Run Streak - running at least a mile every day - since this all started. Today is day 62!

I did Roseabi’s Speed Challenge and improved my 1K time from 5:53 to 4:50.

The next challenge I’ve set myself is to run my 1st solo HM as part of my Run Streak. I ran 17.5 K on Saturday so nearly there. It’s certainly different running longer distances without crowds cheering to encourage you on!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to David_G]

Wow David_G 😯 that's great! More than a minute off your time! At the end of April I did 2 half marathons within two days of each other, the second one was almost an hour faster! I had a completely different mindset for both of them.

Well done with your running streak! When I first read it I thought you meant something completely different! 😳

Really hope you enjoy your half marathon! I was quite excited when I did my first one (which was also solo) Good luck 🍀

[David_G Metric Marathon in reply to AliHC]

Thanks AliHC it sounds a punishing schedule to do 2 half marathons that close together!😳 Brilliant that the second was an hour faster though!

I’ll post on here to let out running buddies how my solo HM goes! 🙂🤞

[Hidden]

I feel shameful for not acknowledging your superhuman achievement earlier life, work, teenagers feeble excuses 🥺

Wow Ali a truly brilliant run fuelled by a pineapple gel!!!

In awe one day perhaps maybe I'll try 🙄

👍🏆🥇

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Hidden]

🤣 Thank you Hidden ❤️

I'm feeling pretty good today. Legs are fine and I've been stretching at every oppertunity!

The gel was weird 🤔 For something so small it took a while to get it down. I can't imagine having it and running at the same time!

Hope life is good with you? X

[Iestynp Half Marathon]

WOW!

[AliHC Marathon in reply to Iestynp]

Thank you Iestynp 😊

Hope all is well with you?