Did it (but very slowly!)

[timlesvagues]

Just finished my first (and definitely) last half marathon, the AONB North Devon in aid of North Devon Hospice. It has lovely scenery but vicious hills to make up for it (see photos). I nearly gave up half way round after a long very steep hill but thought now that I'm at the top, it must be mainly downhill from here (it wasn't) but persevered and completed it in about 3hrs 40mins (not got the official time yet, my Garmin watch died yesterday and Strava on my phone doesn't seem to be giving a sensible time) and may well have been the last to finish! I have to admit to walking most of the way.

Anyway, the main thing is that my lovely and generous friends and family sponsored me for £250 plus Gift Aid so I feel it has been worthwhile. And that I deserved a long soak in the bath to try to recover. Goodness knows whether I'll be able to move tomorrow.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations on completing that AONB North Devon Half Marathon, hills do make those longer runs harder but well done on completing the run, sorry about your watch dying yesterday, that £250 +Gift Aid was well worth your run. 🏃🏾 👍

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow! Congratulations!!! I have just given you your HU Half marathon badge to wear with pride.That sounds like a beautiful but really tough event - very brave choice for your first half marathon. You should feel incredibly proud of yourself both for completing it AND for the amazing fundraising. What a dreadful time for your watch to die though, arrgggghhh!

Rest well now, feel proud AND beam from ear to ear at your amazing achievement!!!

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda. I will wear the badge with pride as you say.

[HeavyFoot Half Marathon]

Huge congratulations!!! You really suffered in a very good cause 👍👍

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thanks HF.

[Frenc Half Marathon]

What a super achievement all round! That scenery looks stunning, although I felt your pain going up that hill. You have done something remarkable today, so you should be very proud of yourself. Hurrah!

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thanks Frenc.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Well done…..hills and distance make a tough mixture; brilliant effort. Lots of hydration and working on muscles to do now….and eating!! 👍👍👍

[timlesvagues Half Marathon]

Thanks Beachcomber. Need to get some electrolytes in to try and stave off cramps.

[Cmoi Marathon]

Congratulations on your HM and fundraising timlesvagues ! That route looks beautiful and absolutely my kind of event.

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi. Hard work but worth it.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Brilliant work on both the run and your fundraising! Whatever happens next you can always look back and say “I did that” Well done!

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

One to tick off the bucket list! First and definitely last!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That looks beautiful but sounds tough so really well done for entering as your first HM!

Congratulations for starting, finishing and picking up the beautiful bling 😍 I’m sure you made many special memories.

Hope you're not too stiff today 🤞

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP. Bit of cramp yesterday every now and then but not too stiff this morning.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to timlesvagues]

That’s great 🙂

[MrsRDj Half Marathon]

Congratulations on your first HM, well done for making it over those tough hills and thank you for the lovely photos 😍

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon]

Well done, what a fantastic achievment regardless of what time you did. I haven't yet plucked up the courage to enter one. Only ever 10miles once so I have a bit of training to do! You should be so proud though! Looks a beautiful but tough route!!!👏👏🏃‍♀️

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Thanks HH123. I think I only did 10 miles once or twice before yesterday. Used one of the Garmin training plans which was useful but life got in the way of the last few weeks of the plan so didn't do as much as I should have. Give it a go but maybe choose a course with fewer hills!!

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to timlesvagues]

Haha, not many hills where I live in Lincolnshire so hopefully I'm safe! There is one next May which a lot of running buddies do, so maybe I'll pluck up the courage and enter!! 😄

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Good luck!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

I was in the Lincolnshire Wolds yesterday and it’s not at all flat there 😁. Big skies on the way home 🥰. Beautiful 😀

[Hedgehogs123 Metric Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Maybe I need to get some running practice there!!. Did you do the Race4Life run, if so was it good?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Yes I did it! Up the hill out of Louth and onto the Hubbard Hills, round some lovely scenery and back into the town centre via Horncastle Road

I’ve done it twice now. Great event! Very fun and friendly I’ll post my report in a minute with some footage 😀

[misswobble Marathon]

You will! You’ll probably run another half as well 😁

Congratulations on nailing what sounds a difficult course. Always worth hanging in there to see if things will improve 💪😀

The beautiful scenery does help matters as it’s a distraction from the task at hand. Well done on your run and for your fundraising work. Great job 👍🏅

[Asnad-Run Half Marathon]

You did amazingly well!! The views are breathtaking but I am sure hills were too in a different sort of way. Finishing a Half Marathon is a great achievement, you should be very proud of yourself 🏅

[timlesvagues Half Marathon in reply to Asnad-Run]

Thanks Asnad-Run.