A long time coming, HM a last!

[MikeJones68]

It's been a while since I posted on this site, but as I finally took part in a HM last weekend I thought it was about time.

I had booked a place in the Bedford Spring Half Marathon for May 2020, which of course never took place. It was postponed to May 2021, and then again to September, becoming part of the Bedford Running Festival and of course not taking place in Spring at all!

I was totally unprepared and not race fit after a 6 week break due to a suspected gout attack. I managed two slow 6km runs in the week prior to the event. At the start I put myself in wave 4 (estimated time 2:01-2:15) and tried to pace myself at 5:30/km. I pretty much kept to that until my Garmin showed 13.1m (21.1 km). Unfortunately the event distance was over that and I hit the wall with the finish line still on the other side of the river. Several runners were looking confused and asking if we were going the right way, but the marshalls confirmed we were.

By the time I crossed the finish line my Garmin had tracked 21.74km, with a time of 2:02:41. My watch and Strava gave me a HM time of 1:58:34, so I am happy that I hit my unfit HM target.

Happy running!

[Richard7 Half Marathon]

Well done Mike and a great time even if the official did not match it ... maybe you did a lot of staggering around to clock up the extra distance 😉!!

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Richard7]

Thanks Richard. I did make sure that I didn't straight line the bends in case I came in under distance 😂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to MikeJones68]

Oh I see your badge now 😃👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Brilliant race and time after your setbacks Mike! Really well done. 👊 I usually find my watch doesn’t match official race distances, nor does it even match the NRC app. It’s hard to go on once you think you’re done isn’t it?

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It is! A lady next to me was asking if I was carrying on as we'd reached the distance. I pointed to the finish line on the other bank and she was not amused!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to MikeJones68]

Oh dear! Hope she got to the finish in the end. 😅

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

She did, in fact I think she got there before me!

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Congratulations, Mike. A very impressive time.

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thank you! Hopefully I can knock some off that next time with some training!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

COngratulations! It's amazing how often GPS is out of line with official race distances - truly messes with my head when distance markers and lap alerts are out of sync! That's a fabulous time or a first HM. Amazing!

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda! Yes, dodgy GPS robbed me of recording my best 5k!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Brilliant run Mike. Our localPark Run is longer than my Garmin 5k. I just have two PBS; one Park Run one Garmin…. It records long for everybody 🤷🏻‍♂️ You have to go over the finish line in a race though, if only to collect the bling !!👏👏👏

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

This is true! Last time I did my nearest park run it was under distance, thus stopping me recording a 5k PB!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to MikeJones68]

Frustrating! I would probably have avoided the funnel and kept running!!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on your Half Marathon - terrific time too!💪🙂🎉🏅

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra 😊

[Bluebirdrunner]

Congratulations Mike 🦇 must feel amazing to pull that out of the bag when you haven't been able to train for it.Strong stuff 💪🏃‍♂️Lovely bling and T-shirt🏅xxx

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Jan! The lack of training (or any running) almost put me off going, but I'm glad I did, even though I look half dead on the event photos.

[Macrun Half Marathon]

Well done Mike great time.

[misswobble Marathon]

Wonderful news! 👏 congratulations 🥳. Have you applied for your HM badge!

I hope you’re feeling recovered and well 🙂

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thank you! Yes, badge in place and now looking to book another HM 😁

[misswobble Marathon in reply to MikeJones68]

Oooooooh get you! 😃💪👊✊🏅

Yeah, bring it on 🌪🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

I have no idea how you run twice that distance! Mind you, I said that about 10k when I completed c25k!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Brilliant race Mike! Especially with the confusion and training barriers. Yeah GPS hardly ever matches race chip distance!

[MikeJones68 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thanks Decker! I forgot to mention that I was at a music festival the night before and had a few 🍺

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to MikeJones68]

Even more impressive!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Decker]

I have that scenario every run with NRC. I try not to look at my Garmin 😎

Hi by the way 😃👋👋👋👋

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Hi! Yeah I’d like to say I’m not looking at the watch anymore but I’d be lying 😎🙄