This was so different from my first HM. For my first I was running for a charity, I planned and prepared impeccably and I was fitter than I'd ever been. The weather was beautiful and there was no traffic on the road because everyone was in lockdown. We also had our eldest as support rider.
This time, I really winged it! I'd prepared and trained but without a plan but I thought I'd sorted it as I'd steadily increased my mileage and got a 10 miler out of the way which felt fine. Then life hit, as did the first cold of the season. Well I was ***** if that was going to set me back any further than was necessary, so I decided to do it anyway. Three weeks after than 10 miler...
So today, with a barely recovered and mileage lacking Katnap , we set out to nail this. I thought the best thing to do was to use two of our 10k training routes and add anything else on if needed at the end. I loaded my hydration vest up with gels, apricots and a bit of SiS infused water and off we went on a beautiful, crisp autumn morning.
The first route went fine, apart from a small, shallow lake that had formed along a footpath (we wondered why there were so few dog walkers!). I thought of linda9389 and her soaking wet VLM shoes and socks as we splashed through! We managed to restrain ourselves from running the last section of it at speed as we usually try to do, and then we turned right instead of left at the top of the hill to take in the next route (I could hear my body shouting 'what do you think you're doing, you're not supposed to go that way!').
I'd been fantasising about reaching a certain point in the run at the village of Alveston where I knew it was the point of no return. By the time we got there it didn't feel like a celebration, it was beginning to feel like a slog but there was still mileage in our legs. We only had 6k to go by then, so we dug deep and started to up the pace along the long, flat section which runs parallel to the river.
By the time we got to the outskirts of town my legs were starting to shout at me but not quite enough to slow down or stop. Katnap said to me 'are you feeling like me and just want this done?' He must have read my mind!
The last 3k were a mix of speed, pain and swearing! Maybe we should have taken those last few k a bit slower but if we had it in us then why not? Maybe I shouldn't have chosen the route with the roadworks on the pavement, so I had try to cross a busy road whilst running on the lumpy, bumpy grass verge? (Katnap had had the sense to cross earlier!) But then, if we hadn't gone that way we may not have had the most perfect finishing line - right at the pavilion in the park where our parkrun is based!
Ok, it wasn't the perfect run but it's our run and we'll learn from it. I'm as sore as I was last time but I also have the same warm glow of a job done. We both knew it was going to be tough but we both knew we could do it, and we did. I tell you what though, I know we wouldn't have done it without the knowledge of you lot behind us and a community doing it together - thank you! 😍🤗👍👍👍
Written by
TailChaser
Marathon
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Good Half Marathon run for you today TailChaser, congratulations, you say it wasn't a perfect run but I hope it was at least nearly perfect, at that pace of 11.17 a mile is very nearly perfect, sub two and a half hours✅😊👍well done 🏃🏾
Thank you Al😊 , it's not too bad. If we'd done it when we were totally fit and healthy I'd like to think we could do it under 11/mile (I know Katnap could!) but we can do that another time 😊
That's brilliant. Look how far you've come in such a short time; you went for it today without the 'crutch' of a training plan, followed to the nth degree, without being either fully fit or fully prepared but instead you had self belief and that's something to REALLY celebrate. The Katnap/TC did did great!!! Congratulations on a job very well done 👏👏👏
Thank you Linda, yes, the self belief really helped - I definitely didn't have that last time. We both now know what our bodies can take and we also know the roads really well now too from all the training we've done throughout the year. You're right, we have come a long way, both figuratively and actually! I'd never have even attempted this a year ago that's for sure 😀
Well done to both of you. You have done it despite everything thrown at you. I hope you’ve now had a long Epsom salts bath and are celebrating your HM. You both deserve medals. 🏃♀️🏃♂️🥇🎖
Do you know Dexy, I had a packet of that sitting next to my computer! I was saving it for a long run but forgot all about it. I think you’re right, it’s time for a soak 👍 Thank you 🤗
Superstars, both of you! Can you believe you’ve just run a HM again? I marvel at your speed even though preparations weren’t ideal. 👊 Huge congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I know cheeky! Took 6 months to get to the next one though, you're well ahead of me (Katnap has done at least two in between I think!). Hopefully not so long to the next one but I'm in no rush 😁 You might think it's quick but I bet you recover quicker than we do!
Well done to both of you and a great run report TailChaser ! I guess theres rarely a perfect run when it comes to these longer distances but you dug deep and did it! Great achievement!👏👏🎉🎉🏅
This is very true. It's a long way for it all to be perfect, I'll just strive for a bigger percentage next time. Thank you Sandra 🤗
Many congratulations on another HM! Now you are resting it's extra satisfying to look back at the arduous parts and know you both conquered them! Well done because on the day you got through it and whatever was in front of you, you both overcame 🥇👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks GTFC! Yes, I think that's one of the reasons why I do it, particularly at the moment when there is so little to strive for. That satisfaction and the warm feeling of well used muscles 👍👍👍
Ooh that sounded tough but you both did it 👍💪 Your route does sound gorgeous though 🙂
I’m always surprised at how long it takes for a cold’s affects to go, so if you’re anything like me, your body was maybe still not fully recovered. But you did it!
Congratulations to you and Katnap and very well done. I hope you celebrated well and are recovering nicely 🙂🥰
Massive congratulations to you both for such a great achievement 👏👏👏
I enjoyed reading your run report. Impressed you managed to find the energy to go for speed in the last 3k! Hope you are still basking in the warm glow of your awesome job done 😊
Thanks ST! I think I was stumbling through the last k but yes, we were determined just to get them out of the way! Only stumbling down the stairs today - haven't felt that problem since C25k days! That just shows it was definitely a challenge 💪😁
Woohoo!!!! - congratulations on a great run complete with a quick paddle by the sound of it!! I thought about a similar strategy of two regular 10k routes added together but as soon as I realised that at 10k it would mean I’d be close to home - I didn’t trust myself not to stop for a cuppa!!
Yes, I know what you mean! I'd realised I'd forgotten to get dinner out of the freezer about 5k in and Katnap suggested we do a quick pitstop at half way to get it out - no way was I going to do that!! Anyway, that's what microwave ovens are for... Thanks Kevin 👍👍👍
Wooooo hoooo TC and Woooo hoooo KN. huge well done and must say it’s crazy how much a cold can impact on you even when it’s cleared up... Speed and swearing worked well I see...👍😀
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Race Report - HUHM V5K
