3rd and Slowest Half Marathon Yeah!

[Frenc]

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! 🌺😊🤩

[Mormor1 Half Marathon]

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.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Mormor1]

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. 😊😊😊

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

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!

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

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 😁.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

I think you could go faster still if you wanted to. My last HM was almost 1hr faster than my first attempt two years earlier.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Wow that’s impressive! And it gives me hope. It would be so nice to not be on my feet for what seems like half a day 🤣.

[Mormor1 Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

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'!

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

🏅🏃‍♀️🎊👏You superstar !!!🤩

Huge well done Frenc 👏

Your route sounds lovely but tough.. rolling hills😅

I had a lazy morning... Encouraging you along.. I knew you'd do it 🏃‍♀️💪

Was great watching the Great Manchester Run knowing we've ran that distance,(you on the day) 🤩

you must have had thoughts of the vrb's here on the forum cheering you along 🎊 pom poms waiving 🎊

So relieved you didn't hurt yourself when you tripped,it's so scary when that happens..heart pumps with dread 🙈

Well I hope you're well rested now and have a glass of something later to toast your well deserved success on today's HM 🥂🎊🏃‍♀️👏🏅

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to sparky66]

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 ! 🤩🤩🤩

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to sparky66]

I enjoyed tuning into the run on TV - there’s some amazing folk out there! 😊

[nowster Metric Marathon]

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.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

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 😊.

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Yep, I was definitely stiff for a day after my first HM. I do try to do at least one per month at the moment. Twice in November and this month.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

You did it Frenc, and that means you’re a superstar! ⭐️ Really well done! 🎉🎉🎉

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you cheekychipmunks ! Just had a snooze, and now I’m tucking into a big bowl of pasta and hoping I can walk tomorrow 🤣.

[Oldfloss Administrator]

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!!!

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

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!

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Oh my days!!! Should have gone to....you know who? Wonderful..!

I don't like even tripping! It sets everything racing!

Your run just sounds full of joy...! Xx

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Can’t beat a bit of joy on a sunny day 😊.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

That does sound lovely 😊 and so glad you didn’t faceplant

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Me too! Thank you 😊.

[Jools2020 Half Marathon]

Well done , Frenc - another HM under your belt! Many congratulations 👏👏👏👍🏃‍♀️🍾🎉

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you Jools2020 - I am pretty stiff today though I have to say! 😊

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

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

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you! Oh no! I didn’t have an audience thank goodness. It’s quite scary isn’t it 😊. Hope you didn’t hurt yourself.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

No all fine but probably looked quite comical!! Xxx

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Amazing work well done!!! So lucky you didn't do any damage when you fell👏👏👏🏃‍♀️

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Thank you! I am really lucky nothing bad happened looking back on it. Just generally achey today - but that will go 😊.

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Congratulations Frenc. Running a half marathon is an amazing achievement and it’s all the same distance, however long it takes.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you Dexy5 ! My legs are slowly getting less stiff 🤣.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Frenc]

Although you might want to rest, a short recovery run does help. 😃

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

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 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🏆🥂

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

That is so kind, thank you! You are right, we need to celebrate 😁😁😁.

[HeavyFoot Half Marathon]

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. 👍👍👍

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thank you HeavyFoot ! Sorry for the late reply, it’s a bit awkward at the moment finding and responding to alerts, but I got there! 😊.