Swansea half done and dusted!

[StringsandKeys]

So just did the Swansea Half today and still wearing my bright orange tee-shirt six hours later! This is a lovely scenic half with so many Friendly Welsh people cheering you all the way! Love the fact the organisers put your name on your race number so you have a lot of “keep going Sue” so nice! The course is mainly flat with some long stretches of road and then promenade. I’d definitely like to do this again. On a personal level I’d not been sure I wanted to go as I’ve had a cold this last week and still sorting out getting the right running shoes. In the end I wore my very old shoes with holes - no little toe issue - just a bit sore on the soles of the left foot. I set off slow and kept it that way. Did start walking at 7.5 miles which I was annoyed about but then after that I got into a pattern of doing a tenth of a mile walking and a tenth of a mile running. Weirdly with all the coach Jeff speed training I was able to do this and pass a few people for the last four or so miles. Still came in at 3:20. At the start wanted to go sub 3 hours but it didn’t work out that way! I’m going on but I do find this a great forum to share thoughts. I’m unhappy with the time but realistically I know I’ve felt much better in training than I did today. Possibly now got my eye on doing one in September or October recommendations welcome. So personally tough but glad I did it because it was an itch I had to scratch. Thanks for the shout out can I now have my half Marathon badge thanks!!

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations to you StringsandKeys on completing the Swansea Half Marathon, you should be very proud of yourself, it won't be long before you see the magic words HALF MARATHON next to your username, now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement with 🍷 and cake if you want to. 😊 🏃🏾 🎓

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you! Hope your running is going well

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to StringsandKeys]

Thanks, it is but I have not ran a half marathon although last year I walked and ran a little the half marathon distance as a bit of a experiment to see how it went, as I said it was mostly walking, I started it at 7.45am and did run for a minute and walked for 4 minutes except for the last 2 kilometers when I ran at about 8km/min pace as I wanted to complete it by 11.30am which would have meant that I had been out for 3 hours 45 minutes, I actually completely it at 11.08 am because I was feeling a bit hungry, so that would be 3 hours and 23 minutes that HM distance was done, but as it was mostly walking I didn't ask the administrators to put half marathon next to my username.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Huge congratulations! I have given you a well deserved half marathon badge to go with your awesome bling and t-shirt. The thing about your first half is that it is always going to be a PB, so very well done! Going for your best time on your first half only makes it harder for your second one!

For now, bask in the glory of finishing a half marathon. That is an awesome achievement and you should feel immensely proud.

Should you wish to better it in the autumn, well ... that's a whole new goal!

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you for my badge fabulous! Well it’s my first half of my fifties I guess. I used to do half marathons when I was younger and always under two hours. But that was then and this is now and a new era! Thank you for sorting out my new status so quickly and I like your thinking! Hope your running is going well

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to StringsandKeys]

Oh wow! Sub 2 hours is absolutely amazing!!! I really look forward to seeing your autumn time ... no pressure 😍

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ha no this one was 3:20 I mentioned the ones I used to do a few years back and definitely before babies when they were sub two hours. For now I’d quite like to go below three!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to StringsandKeys]

Sub 2 is awesome whatever age in my eyes!!! I suspect sub three will be no problem for your next one.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Well done to you! Your first HM is a big one, so I hope you have your feet up and are celebrating in style!

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thank you good luck for your running!

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

Huge well on your First HM 🥇And how great to have done so at the Swansea event and a lovely reminder of a medal 🥇

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon]

Thank you - it’s a long long way though! Need to build up some mental toughness!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

And there’s a very happy looking runner! Great bling too 😍

Well done and congratulations 👏👏 I’m sure the atmosphere was brilliant.

The Bath Half is postponed until 16 October and I’m sure they still have places……

[nowster Metric Marathon]

At that distance it's more about actually finishing than the time you get, especially with your first one.

Very well done!

(I've now done a dozen solo runs at that distance or longer. The first one nearly wiped me out energy-wise. And I haven't broken the 2 hour barrier yet.)

Did you take any fluids/fuel with you?

[StringsandKeys Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Yes definitely got that right re fuel and the water stations were great so well organised. Now going to need to find my next goal - probably another half in the autumn! Park run this weekend first though!