Firstly thank you so much sparky66 who has really encouraged me with this one - you rock! I have had a mental block with this distance as the other two times I’ve done it I have been in my own personal hell. Last time my knees literally went numb and I was walking in circles for a week the DOMs were so bad.
I am the first to admit it was pretty slow, but I don’t care! It felt so much better than my previous 2. It was warm when I set out but I managed to find bits of shade here and there which really helped. I had originally planned to do a flatter route, but psychologically this route, while physically fairly difficult, is mentally so much nicer! Rolling hills, views over fields, so pretty and so good for the mind as well as the body. And lots of cheeky rabbits 🐇 with twitchy noses all having a look at the heffalump running past. They make me chuckle 🤭.
I had a hairy moment towards the end in a beautiful little wood 🌳. Tired legs meant I tripped over a tree root and I literally windmilled forward. I have absolutely no idea how I didn’t do a face plant. Secondly, based on how I propelled forward, I am amazed I didn’t pull a hamstring. But thank goodness all seems good.
I am now watching the Manchester run on tv and am amazed that a man dressed as a pint of beer can do a HM in under 2 hours. Dressed as me and with the wind behind me that will never happen! Well done him, and I hope everyone racing a half today as well as other distances are having a fab time.
Have a smashing day all! 🌺😊🤩
Written by
Frenc
Half Marathon
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Well done F, that sounds like the hm I'm working towards Frenc. Amazing good luck you didn't hurt your knees and all when you went down.. Soft landing? I like your time... That is what I'm hoping to do it in, as near to 3 hours as possible. It will be my first.. Hope your not too stiff after the fall,tomorrow.
Thank you so much Mormor1 ! I think everything’s ok, fingers crossed. Didn’t actually fall but it was a very close thing, I definitely lucked out there. I am in very good company then if you are aiming for 3 hours or so too! Will you be doing it in your sandals? My feet were so happy to be released when I got home. 😊😊😊
Great run Frenc. The fact that you felt better through the run this time, I think spells progress regardless of the pace. That’s a long time to be on your feet too, so it makes sense your concentration might be off towards the end when that pesky root caught you. All my face plants have been towards the end of long runs when I was tired and getting unfocused. Well done to you!
Thank you so much! I do wonder if I should try to go a bit faster - that way I’d be on my feet for fewer minutes. But I don’t think I’d manage the distance any quicker. It’s a bit of a conundrum! Next time I‘ll aim to do it the other way round so my legs are still fresh for the roots 😁.
Yes, if I'm doing it in the summer it will definitely be a sandals run. I'm quite looking forward to it now...a year a go after a 16k I said ' never again'!
Ah thank you so much! I was thinking of you cheering me on and it really helped. And a lazy morning sounds lovely - I’ve had a very lazy afternoon, even had a bit of a snooze, which seems so naughty when the weather’s so nice. But I needed it! Yes, that almost fall was pretty scary, it’s never happened before. Take care sparky66 ! 🤩🤩🤩
I've now done eleven runs at this distance or longer since September last year. I've had incidents with tree roots too. In that particular case it had lifted the pavement such that I stubbed my toe and had to hobble the next minute or so until the feeling passed.
I no longer get the muscle soreness unless I extend the distance beyond 21km.
You have done brilliantly with your HMs, I think you try and do one once a month? I need to start doing it more regularly - I think I will be a bit stiff tomorrow 😊.
Thank goodness you did not come a cropper!!! Horrible that sensation of going over!
HUGE well done you... you had a good run, beautiful surroundings, blue skies. sunshine and a gorgeous location; add the rabbits, admiring this wonderful runner, and a very good time too ( if it mattered)
But the best bit... YOU absolutely enjoyed it! What a win!!!
Thank you so much Oldfloss ! I am very relieved I somehow managed to stay upright while doing an impression of a windmill keeling over 🤣. Those rabbits are brill, I recognise which bits of hedge they pop out of now, they’re fairly big! My eyesight isn’t great, so perhaps I’ve seen a few hares too. 😊. I made some funny cat noises recently at what turned out to be a log. Time to go to the opticians again I think!
This is excellent, congratulations! Love pretty scenery makes it all so worthwhile 👌And how funny, I did a windmill arms near fall too over a tree root in front of a load of ramblers near the end of race ! Must be the day for it! 🤣😫🏃♀️x
I think that you need a special badge for courage for taking on those hills as part of a HM Frenc. My last HM was much slower than my first and my pace was much slower than the 19k which preceded it….. sometimes I think it is just like that. The main thing is to celebrate what you did; an absolutely epic run 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🏆🥂
Hey! How did I miss this post? Great stuff, Frenc, and congratulations. The distance does require digging deep. But lots of happy memories to think back on. 👍👍👍
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