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. 🏃🏿🏃🏼♀️❤️
Written by
AliHC
Marathon
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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 🎊 😊 🏃🏾 🎓
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,
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 ).
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. 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
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 🥴😁
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!
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 🍺 😁
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! ☺️
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 😂
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. ❤️
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. 😄🎉💕
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 💐
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! 🎉👍
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
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! 💕👍
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
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? 😅
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
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!
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 🏃🏼♀️
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! 😉
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 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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 😃
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? 🙂
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).
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!
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 🍀
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This is inspiring indeed 
Big Half Marathon complete!
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Blenheim Half Marathon Done! 
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