Most importantly, I really enjoyed this event and got a huge amount out of the day! One to remember for all sorts of good reasons.
Would I ever get to the start line?
I signed up for the ballot on 6th Feb 2019! I did get a place but I had to defer because of my stress fracture, then it was cancelled in 2020 and so finally, two and three quarter years later here I was finally able to run it! Even so it was a very close call – I’ve had leg issues for weeks now and my training was abandoned, replanned, rushed! Two weeks ago, after my last long training run, the leg was particularly bad, but after 10 days rest and a very short tryout run it was feeling easier and I decided to ignore the twinges and go for it (advice I wouldn’t give to anyone of course!!!) 🤞
Would I run to the finish line?
A PB was never on the cards. The 2h08m I put on my entry form was mentally revised to between 2h21m and 2h 30m. But above all I wanted to run the whole thing. At my last half marathon I kind of gave up mentally and physically around 11k; my structured run/walk strategy gave way to walking whenever I felt like it and half-heartedly running occasionally! However, this time I adopted my usual strategy of running the whole thing, apart from when taking water from the aid stations when I would walk (I spill water even when walking but at least don’t end up choking!). I had done my 19k training run using this strategy, and the confidence from that run truly crushed the demons hanging around from my last race - they didn’t get a look in yesterday. I ran the whole thing with no demonic chatter in my head! 👊
Would I follow my pace plan?
I usually start too fast (ridiculously so in that last HM) and frequently pay a price for that. Would this finally be the time I made a sensible start? Nope! There is something about the atmosphere and the sea of moving legs and bodies that make it very, very difficult! I did however remain very aware of my pace and reined it in a bit. My final kilometre was the fastest, and the last 400m were sub 6m/km (peaking at 5:14) so I clearly wasn’t burned out at the end. I managed 2h18m which is well short of a PB, but better than I dreamed of for yesterday! 🏅
Will I ever walk again?
Well the bad leg has seized up and I have a set of half a dozen truly awful blisters that make it impossible to walk properly just now; but give it a few days and I will feel much better I’m sure 😍
Did I enjoy it?
You bet! More than I imagined. There’s nothing quite like smashing demons! I truly appreciated the atmosphere and crowd support and, as my father is over from Canada he got to see me race for the first time too! Oh, and I got to meet the amazing and lovely Roseabi before we ran (making the most of a long loo queue and a warm up session to remember)! I ended the event in the pub with my father and hubby, right by the final few metres of the route; it was wonderful hearing all the crowd support for the last runners that came in. Overall, a very good day indeed. 🥰
Linda 218 Gremlins 0
Final comment (if you got this far)
Oxford HM actually had mens fit t-shirts and womens fit t-shirts .... not a unisex t-shirt in sight!!! Result!!! ✔
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He did look very proud and I am sure he was the reason for my late burst of energy. I hope there is one photo that reflects that feeling at the end 😀. The tshirt fits and I absolutely will wear it, yay 😊
Lovely report, it sounds like you did really well, and how nice that your dad was able to see. And what a beautiful medal, definitely one of the nicest I've seen.
It was pretty magical. Even the two long straights weren't as tedious as I feared. Runners on the other side were all cheery and encouraging too. The only let down were the marshalls - I think I only heard two out on the course giving words of encouragement; the crowds more than made up for it tho! Fab to meet you too!!!
That is a lovely bling you got after running The Oxford Half, congratulations, those T Shirts seem very good, nice that after your wonderful run you spent your time with your father and husband in the pub, a well deserved 🍷, nice also meeting Roseabi, a truly amazing day for you 🏃🏾👍
I love that medal Linda and a T-shirt that fits is a bonus. I was miffed that my ordered small T-shirt had been taken at GSR. Sounds like you had a great run in Oxford.
That's frustrating Dexy! I think this is the first ladies fit t shirt I have ever got from a race. That it fits as well is amazing. Bring back the sunshine please!
From past experience most of the blisters should be comfortable in the next couple of days (less sure about the large one that burst before the end of the race 😱) and the medal and tee are great consolation 😍
Sounds like win, win, win, win, win, win. So very pleased for you, but of course I hope that the seized up leg and blisters improve very soon. Many, many congratulations to you! 😊🏃♀️💥👏🎉🏁🏅
What a great report and it sounds like a brilliant event. Well done on persevering. It must have taken some grit and determination! Lovely bling too! 🤩
It was a far better event than I was expecting to be honest. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with road races, but maybe my expectations are more realistic these days. Running the second half with burning feet is always a bit of a miserable challenge, but until I have a better solution, that's what it will take 🤷♀️
Ah well done Linda, what a great day, blisters and all 😊. I love the idea of you sitting in the pub after listening to the crowd, how wonderful to see your dad and roseabi too! It sounds like the perfect run day 🏅🏅🏅.
Every time the crowd started cheering and clapping it would restore you mr faith in the human race all over again! The atmosphere inside the pub was fab too. Pretty sure all groups had one or more runners and it was laid back and chilled, and buzzing and loud and super friendly all at the same time. My father was so impressed with how friendly and nice everyone was 😊
Great run report! Well done on your half marathon. I’m glad that it was one to remember. Nice to have your father there from BC. Meeting c25k ers must have been fun. 🏃🏻♀️🙂👏
It was all pretty special. Having not lived in the UK for over 50 years he has some pretty bad memories of England, and he adores BC, so it was really great for him to see such a nice side of us - the beautiful city and the wonderful community of runners showed us at our best!
Brilliant run report Linda! Well done on your HM - and in a fantastic time, especially taking in to account your recent injuries. I hope your body forgives you soon 😉 but it certainly sounds like you had a great time! Must have been wonderful to meet our dear Roseabi too! 😀
Thanks! I am pleased with the time, all things considered. I'm even more pleased that I never wanted to stop. Meeting roseabi was the icing on the cake 😊
Today has been tough, but will all be worth it in the end. As you say, it won't last long. And to all the nay sayers who keep suggesting I'm getting older and should maybe reconsider my running limits I say ... pffttt!!! 🤣
You may be right there - at the very least I still have a very warm glow and a big smile. Gotta love this running malarkey despite all the ups and downs 😊
I was pretty scared of those gremlins cheeky. Realising i had enter a race and then given in to what felt like apathy or disinterest was really unnerving. Having succumbed once, how much easier might it have been for it to become a habit? After Oxford, I now have that gremlin locked in a box marked 'blip', where it belongs!!!
Thanks Decker. I had virtually no confidence leading up to the event - so much so that I had very few nerves!!! The positive 19k training run was the foundation of Sunday's 'mental run' and thankfully the leg had recovered enough in the next two weeks to get to the finish line.
Well done and as for your not-advice to others, don't we all do something sometime that we think is very irresponsible and would never advice someone else to do? I'm far from a HM, but I remember working up to 10K and jumping from 7K to 10K in 1 run. Not really within the 10% rule, but it felt great 😆
It's very true - sometimes we can get away with breaking the rules; but the price is very high when things go wrong. I imagine I will pay for this for at least a couple of weeks now. I'd pulled out of everything else this autumn and had used up all deferral options on the Oxford entry so decided to take a chance. My decision and my consequences, but it would be very poor advice to give anybody else 🙈🙊🙉
Great race report and very well deserved after all your set backs. Hope you recover quickly. You definitely put the thought in my head that maybe one day I could run a half!!!
Loved reading your report linda9389 and that you had a great day and run so lovely you met up with roseabi and your Dad was there too, after the year you have had you deserved to enjoy this run - well done 👏👍🏃🏻♀️🎉🏅
Well done, Linda. That’s a huge relief for you I bet. Especially after those setbacks you’ve suffered. 👏👏👏 Do you think a new pair of shoes might help with blister prevention? I’m quite happy to advise 😅👍
Haha!! I bought a new pair on your advice earlier this year 😀 with the broken training I haven't had chance to try them over long distance though, so stuck with the Hokas for this. Although not showing wear, these Hokas have covered a lot of distance and I wonder if the four new blister sites 🙈 are down to lack of cushioning. As for the two old faithfuls, they are bigger than they have ever been so any and all recommendations welcome. Maybe you could write me a list of options 🤣🤣🤣
I have to agree! It's just a question of do I replace them like for like - devil I know - or try something different. They all feel comfy as anything up to 8 or 10k, then blister beyond that. Makes it hard to tell on the shop treadmill !!!
Nike, Saucony, Brooks, Hoka ... all have blistered both feet in the same spot from 10 to 13k upwards 🙈. Each has been fitted in (different) specialist running shops. I wear wide, but have also tried standard width. There may yet be a make/style that will work ... but I do like the Hoka Cliftons in all other respects. It's depressing as the blister pain is always the thing that drags me down mentally in a half marathon!
Definitely worth a try. I use the return option a lot. It’s very easy if you use the big brands as they are less fussy about outside use, have generous return windows, and don’t charge. Good luck 👍
Hi Linda. Great report. So pleased to read that this went well. Just sorry to hear about your leg and blisters, and I hope that they are improving now. Take it easy!
Great report there Linda and I’m glad you enjoyed the day. There does seem to be something great about going to the pub after a race doesn’t there. Hope your legs recover soon.
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i hope you recovery goes well
My first Half Marathon - Race Report
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