Well I set out to have a long steady run and that's exactly what it was , just a bit longer than I expected it to be!.I planned to do my normal route of 5 miles and then reversing it and doing back the other way. I remembered seeing a massive apple tree with apples just going to waste, so I thought I'd have a little detour and pick a few. Then I realised Coach Bennett was telling me I had reached 9 miles and I realized I wasn't anyway near home, so I thought I'd just carry on at a nice steady pace.
Have to admit needed the loo and dashed behind a hedge, a very disgruntled squirrel was most amused as he sat up on his hind legs , gave me a disgusted look and carried on burying his walnuts🤣🤣
My NRC app ( Coach Bennett had now left me) told me I'd done 21.5km, but Strava had stopped recording when I stopped, maybe it was disgusted with me having to go in public!!🤣🤣
Anyway, so it wasn't an official race, but wondered if it still counted to get my HM badge??🙏🙏🙏
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Hedgehogs123
Metric Marathon
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Congratulations on your HM run! 👏👏You must be buzzing…having gone out for a 10 miler! I am sure your new HM badge will be pinned proudly next to your name very soon - enjoy! 🙂
Yes I'm really pleased, and atleast I know when I do my first official HM next April I should be ok. My legs are starting to stiffen now, so my foam roller and sports massager will be in action later!!
Woo Hoo, thank you!!!! I'm just pleased that it shows me that I should be ok for my official HM at Boston next April. Legs stiffening already so plenty of stretching, foam rolling and yoga either tonight or tomm, and should certainly sleep tonight. Is it normal to be so thirsty? I've not stopped drinking water since I got in.🌝
Perhaps you weren’t hydrated enough before the run. I think it’s harder in cold weather to drink enough water but running for over 13 miles will definitely dilute the water stores!
Yes maybe, although I did have water and a diluted energy gel with me which I sipped every 20 mins. I'm drinking lots of water now, plus a big helping of apple crumble!!😃
Fantastic run Hedgehogs; all the best first HMs are done by accident (so was mine 🙂).
According to Coach Bennett, hydration is as important in cold weather as it is in hot; so your system may be craving a little top up given this distance wasn’t planned. I ate for a week after mine! Great run 👏👏👏👏
You just keep on running, that's how! 😉 The only milestone distance I ever set out to achieve, and for which I trained, was marathon. All the rest were unplanned.
Thank you and yes, managed to get some in my pockets and then a very kind lady came out and said she had loads from her trees and would I like some!! She then got a big bag and dropped them at a point near my house for me to collect later! So we've had apple crumble and I made an apple cake. I'm sure after a HM you can eat lots!! 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you, I felt ok too as I was sensible and took it steady. Feels good I have to say, 2.5years ago when I started C25K, I didn't think I'd run further than a 5k!!😃
I know just what you mean! I didn’t get to 5k when I completed C25K, and already I had people asking me if I was going to aim for a 10k - hold your horses I remember thinking 😁. Massive congratulations again.
I know, Im teally chuffed with myself. Atleast I know I should be able to do my first HM race in April. I was intending to do the 10 miles as Ive done that a few times before, and thought I may do 11, but then seeing as I was a little way off being home I thought if I took it steady I could run it rather than walk, so that's exactly what I did!
Yes, not sure who was more surprised, me or the squirrel! 🤣🤣
Woohoo 🥳🥳🥳 Well done you, that’s brilliant. I never doubted you could do it, you are such a strong runner. I think there is something in the mindset (well mine anyway 😂) that says “if I do the extra bit now I don’t have to do the other bit again” 😂😂 Hope you’re not too stiff this morning
Congratulations on your first HM Hedgehogs123 ! 🎉 Definitely counts, if everything had to be validated by an official race I for one wouldn't be on here!
And you're definitely not the only person to have "popped behind a hedge" doing a longer run. I got caught short on my HM to Cromer and back when on holiday in July this year. I had to pause the watch several times, including during a visit to some proper public loos in the clifftop village of Overstrand where I cleaned myself up properly.
Thank you, it did feel good, and atleast I know I should be ok to do the Boston HM next April 😁.Having said that, pride becomes before a fall, so they say. Tonight whilst out with the running club, I took another tumble. Luckily even though I knew I was falling, I was determined not to land on the pavement as I did before (as that hurts!) I managed to divebomb into the grass verge, so wasn't too worse for wear. I'm just so clumsey! 😵💫
Oh no HH, that’s not good but at least you had the forethought to throw yourself somewhere a bit squishier. I’ve done the tarmac sandpapering and it’s not fun is it? Hope you’re feeling ok 🤗
Yes, I'm fine thanks, ribs feel a bit bruised but nothing as bad as last time, where I had scabs on my knees and hands for weeks!! The club are joking that I need full protection on to run in the dark!! 🤣
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