Completed my first half marathon yesterday. Tackled it a bit earlier than planned as it was living in my head a bit, also a bit of a jump up from my longest run of 17km last week but I felt I could do it.
I do a 7km route and I just did it 3 times, this also allowed me to keep water at my car to hydrate with. I made some of the peanut butter flapjacks mentioned in this thread healthunlocked.com/marathon... using dried cranberries which helped cut the sweetness and whole almonds from my tree! I have to say they were lush! I had one for a sort of breakfast along with a caffeine drink from "Mutation Lab", purchased from a chap who had me googling "prison tattoos" on returning home. Not sure if either helped or not Felt good at the end of the first lap, tiring at the second lap when I grabbed another "power bar". There was a forcasted westerly wind which hit halfway through the last lap where I had to run into it on the incline, hardly a hill but definitely an elevation gain which goes on for the thick and of about 2.5 km. Struggling a bit at this time so changed my music, banged up the volume, sang loudly and played air drums! About half a k to go, large Rottie in a too small cage (not spotted previously) being aggravated by the families 2 kids. Was a little concerned it was going to get out, made plans in my head to run at it if it did as there was no way I was running away but thankfully it remained incarcerated-poor thing. I am a dog lover but always hold them in respect when running and find if they give chase the best response is to chase them back. Anyway finished probably about 15 minutes after I thought I would but not bothered about that really as I did it.
I remember finishing C25K and thinking 5km runs will do but they turned into 10 and so it goes on. I think half marathons will be enough though...........
Sorry about the rambling waffle, I just thought, as there is so much support here I ought to say something. Thanks everyone!
Written by
Jonno34
Marathon
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Congratulations!.You have achieved MY goal-I'm only at just under 15K at the moment but hope to get where you are by the summer. Always encouraging to read of someone who started on the c25k journey who has made it!
Fantastic! Have yourself an HU HM badge to wear with pride! I have a great image of you running menacingly at the neighbourhood canines, wielding your air guitar and hitting the high notes!!! Great job 👏
Well done. Don't apologise about the length of your message. All that detail is fascinating and really brings the experience to life. I always get chased by dogs. The ones that worry me are the small ones that really do look like they mean business and have something to the prove. Strangely, the large carnivorous wolves worry me much less. I hope you keep posting your HM experiences. Great ideas on hydration and refuelling.
It's the distance I'm working on at the moment. It's tough as I'm still figuring out how to tackle it: run half at race pace, or go a bit over the HM distance at easy pace and just keep building up the aerobic?
I was looking out for your race report! You did brilliantly, really well done. Your finish time is about what I'm hoping for, so you'll be with me on my HM hope you don't mind,,,
Well, my plan has been put back a couple of times, it was scheduled for the actual usual date of the Cambridge HM, but what with one thing and a another (real life getting in the way!) now I'm hoping for Wed 24th. I live in Cambridge, so I'm going to follow last years route as far as possible.
My longest run has been only 12 KM but I'm a slow runner, and I'm prepared to walk if I need to, so I'll just keep plodding away.
Congratulations on your 1st half marathon and well planned too for refreshments on route and lovely reflection on how you’ve arrived at a HM - bask in the glory take it easy next week and start to plan the next one.
Fantastic, very well done on your 1st HM 🎉👏I am in training for a 3rd and I'm still definatly with you...a full marathon is something I'm really impressed by but have no thoughts to ever attempt! That said, did you know there's a metric marathon now, ie: 26.2K which is 16 odd miles 😏
Congrats again, enjoy the feeling of achievement 👍
Ooo now you planted an idea in my head. Soon as you said 7km route 3x the whole thing seemed less scary! Well done on completing yours! I'm thinking same...I'll stop at half! Well an ex runner told me to thd other day too!!
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Felt good at the end of the first lap, tiring at the second lap when I grabbed another "power bar". There was a forcasted westerly wind which hit halfway through the last lap where I had to run into it on the incline, hardly a hill but definitely an elevation gain which goes on for the thick and of about 2.5 km. Struggling a bit at this time so changed my music, banged up the volume, sang loudly and played air drums! About half a k to go, large Rottie in a too small cage (not spotted previously) being aggravated by the families 2 kids. Was a little concerned it was going to get out, made plans in my head to run at it if it did as there was no way I was running away but thankfully it remained incarcerated-poor thing. I am a dog lover but always hold them in respect when running and find if they give chase the best response is to chase them back. Anyway finished probably about 15 minutes after I thought I would but not bothered about that really as I did it.
A frustrating half marathon
So pleased I’ve run my first Half Marathon! 😊
My first Half Marathon training journey begins.
Virtual New Forest Half.....done!! 😁
