After several weeks of disruption to my training (walking holiday, sore back/groin and mother staying with us) I was beginning to worry that I would never get back on track. I really needed a long run to reassure myself that I could still run more than 5km!
So yesterday I got hubby to drop Squiggy and me off on his way to town so we could run back home. Overcast, bit of a breeze and not too warm - just right. The varied route included lanes, footpaths, trails, sandy grass, pebbles and wet sand. The first two Kms down to the beach were rather slow. We negotiated several gates, narrowly avoided a barking farm collie 😬, stopped briefly for a drink 💦 and paddle in a stream (not me 😂) plus a couple of doggie bin stops! Once we reached the shore we ran along a sandy, grassy path then joined the cycleway. After a while the smooth track ends and so we run along the wet sand to avoid the pebbles. It is humid but there is a lovely breeze off the water.
Next the route goes inland along the lanes and gradually uphill 🥵 . Eventually we are back on our usual route and Squiggy gets a run off lead as well as another paddle! I am tiring by 12km and feel a bit of a stitch but plod on. Determined to reach my target distance I take a short detour via the lighthouse then back through town along the harbour, where we dodge around people setting up market stalls then on to the park. Yay, 14km 😀 and could have done a bit more so very pleased.
Things to think about…..
Race plan…….start slow, stop at every water station to stretch and fill bottle, walk up the hill (only one)…not really a plan!
Nutrition- still need to experiment because I usually run early morning without eating. The HM event starts at 10 so thinking that I will need a bit of breakfast 🤔
Shoes….road or mixed terrain, need to buy some soon because certainly don’t want to run in my heavy trail shoes!
Had an email from the HM event organisers only 7 and a half weeks to go!! 😬
Written by
skysue16
Half Marathon
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All sounding much more positive for you now. It is sometimes all we need, to just go out and know, yes we can run further than 5K !
So much to think about ! I remember that well. I had a breakfast before my run... not anything different than i normally had for a breakfast ( although it would have been after a normal run at home). Took Staffordshire oatcakes and cheese , rolled and cut into circles, for a snack when we got back to the car...they were delicious!
I took some jelly babies and my own water too, Otherwise it was all like a normal run, ( which worked for me, with some extra water at water stops).
The only thing I did, after some excellent supportive advice from misswobble over my training weeks, was to up one or two things in my normal eating regime in the 2 weeks before... just extra protein and carbs really.
I wore my normal road shoes as the run was along a recognized trail ( sort of sandy hard core-ish), no grassy sections but a tad rough underfoot at times
Starting slowly... yes.. definitely and just finding that happy pace....for me ( in those far back days when I was running further than 4K :), after 6K, I always felt like I could go on for ever...
Also. don't be afraid to walk if you need to... pace it... many folk on that first HM I did, were jeffing it and arriving in good times too.
Plenty of time to go and time for you to work out, and experiment to find out what works for you... are you allowed to take Squiggy?
Thank you very much for all that advice OF……lots of good suggestions and I need all the help I can get!! I only have trail shoes so I have a good excuse for going shoe shopping 😂. Just thought a mixed terrain shoe would be more useful since my usual routes are tarmac and trails. No Squiggy not allowed and Bournemouth HM is all tarmac anyway. I need to practice running without him! 😕
The oatcakes are ace! Usually my post run feast with a cooked breakfast piled on top. I had thought they’d be robust enough to use like wraps, stuffed with suitable filling, sliced into eatable slices, wrapped in foil and toted for the run. Apparently they are excellent as an alternative to lasagne sheets in that so-named dish 😋
They’re big ! Thick, and rubbery, and designed to fit a full English on
They’re a Derbyshire/Staffs invention. They make the liquidy dough with a bit of vinegar ( I believe) and leave it overnight so it’s a ferment like a sourdough.
They’re substantial and so satisfying. Cheap too 😃
Oooo exciting Team SS and Squiggy! That was a wonderful run and you certainly proved you can do it, especially feeling like you could have gone further. 🏃♀️🐕👏
Definitely recommend not wearing trail shoes unless absolutely necessary! You’re right, they’re so heavy, and who needs extra ballast? 🥵
I’m certainly no expert but on my first HM attempt ( 13.03 miles 🤣) I had a banana which made me feel quite ill 🤢so on my next attempt which was a full HM! I didn’t eat anything on the run which was also a mistake! I would experiment pre HM with what works best for you in terms of nutrition ❤️🏃♀️
Thank you for your advice Willie 😊. I usually run without eating first and have managed 10 miles and felt ok but thinking that HM distance (and the time it will take me) will mean fuel will be needed! Just concerned that I will feel sick or get a stitch if I eat - even if it is several hours before the start 🤔
None of my runs have been that long yet, but this weekend my plan has me down for a 10k run on Friday (should be fun after 7am bootcamp 😮) and then an hour on Saturday.
Luckily that leaves Sunday as a total rest day as my son is down for the weekend.
Thank you Maddee, I was getting concerned because I need to take advantage of the school holidays to get in some longer runs. I hope your boot camp goes ok 👍
How kind Sparky, thank you 😊. The smoothie sounds delicious but I couldn’t manage to eat that before a run! I have had replies to my post about getting new shoes which has been useful. A trip to the running shop I think!
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