HU Half Marathon

[Cantstopmenow]

Thanks to Linda, Cmoi, Tailchaser and all the admins for making this event possible.👏

I've run 10 miles fairly recently, but haven't run this distance since my 60th birthday HM for Shelter in December 2020, so I started out at 9am this morning with some trepidation.

The morning was warm and bright and the hazy sun was starting to burn through the cloud. I abandoned my planned route as I discovered a local road had been resurfaced and was covered in loose chippings.

I headed instead into the park to warm up and ran circuits along the rough track round the footy field. I enjoyed the smell of the freshly mown grass and the sound of the birds chirping in the trees. The children playing on the swings kept me entertained and a friendly springer spaniel seemed determined to accompany me on my laps round the field.

The park eventually became too busy with over-friendly dogs, so I headed out of the village and up the hill. This section was uneventful, I only saw a few tractors and speeding motorists as I plodded along the lanes, keeping an eye on my pace and feeling too hot under the now full sun.

I completed 16k (10 miles) fairly happily, but at 17k developed a sharp pain in my right knee and my stomach muscles became painful (must do more cross-training). The overhanging trees provided welcome shade and a chap mowing his lawn shouted words of encouragement. I was walking more than running by this point, so I was pleased to turn onto the road leading back to the village, for the final, slow, downhill stretch to the finish line!

Now showered, fed and recovered, the aches and pains have miraculously disappeared!

Best wishes to all VRBs whether running or on the IC .

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

What a run! Hope your knee is ok

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you. My knee seems fine now. It was lovely to take part in the event. I wouldn't have run that far otherwise.

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

That’s a great run report, Cantstopmeow. Amazing that you powered through the pain and finished so well. Hope your knee and stomach are both fully OK now.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thanks Stephen, I'm fine now. "Powered through the pain" is a very generous description 😂. See you at the next HU"virtual" event 🙂

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Yes, or hopefully before! Take care.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations on completing that HU half marathon, the only HM I ran I also started to feel very tired at just over 16K, as they say it's only a parkrun distance for the final 5K but doesn't feel like a parkrun, once again well done, now go celebrate your wonderful achievement with 🍷 and 🎂.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Alan, it is a long way to run. I will take your excellent advice. 😃

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Well done and you did it! And a doggy came too 😂

Fingers crossed the aches will stay away but who cares, run complete ✅

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Absolutely! I love dogs (still miss our labs) and did feel guilty for not throwing the ball.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

No stopping you at all CSMN! Great run and well done for taking this on, and succeeding, with less than optimal build up. 👏👏👏👏

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you. Looking forward to your report. 😃

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

We’ll done, fingers crossed the pains don’t return 🤞🏽 👏🏽

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Runnin-g]

Thank you 👍

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Congratulations on completing !!!

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

Thank you 😃

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Wow that’s fantastic CSMN, you did it! I hope your knee turns out just to be a grumble and nothing more serious. 🤞 You’ve given me hope as I haven’t run HM distance since September 2021 and intend to do the HUHM next Sunday in some form!

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky. I think my knee just wanted to get home. Time will tell.I hope you enjoy the HUHM next week. I know you will complete it in the way that's best for you. I look forward to your report. 💪

[Bluebirdrunner]

Wow, well run Cantstopmenow, finishing despite 'a sharp pain in my right knee' and stomach pains. You lived up to your name and battled on...fantastic achievment. Glad to hear all the pains have gone.

That must have been offputting having to change your planned route too. You are strong willed.💪🏃‍♀️👌xxx

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks you BBR. I think that, once the end was in sight, I lost my concentration for for those final few Kms! Anyway, so pleased to finish.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done on pushing through - and glad that your niggles have eased! 🙂

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra. Me too 🙂

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Very well done CSMN, fantastic job 👏 🎉

Each time I've done a HM I've found the last 3k really difficult & wondered why I'm putting myself through it...and yet, I'd like to do another. I can only assume it's the challenge that gets under our skin! Crazy but addictive 😆

Glad your aches & pains have disappeared, hope they don't pay a return visit tomorrow 🤞

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

I know!! I completed it in less than my target time, but now I'm thinking .. if only I'd kept the pace up for those final Kms... So maybe another HM is on the cards 😂

[Run46 Half Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Haha...you'll defo be doing another!

I only want the perfect run...to do it well, in a decent time, and to enjoy it! Not much to ask is it 😂

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Run46]

That sums it up exactly! We'll keep going 😂

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Trust the warm weather to arrive on the day you run your half marathon Cantstopmenow . You did it though! Congratulations 🥳 . I hope your knee is ok now

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. I remember last time we had an HU event it was blowing a gale the length and breadth of the country!

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Cantstopmenow]

it’s probably saving that for the day I do It! 🤣 10k that is.

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Nooooo! Although you must be used to breezy runs.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Yes we do get lots of practice at running in the wind, it’s our equivalent of hill training.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Congratulations on the Half Marathon. You did so well to carry on given the change in plan and the aches and pains. But what fantastic news that your knee feels better now. Hopefully that carries into tomorrow too, but do consider being kind to it for a few days to be sure 😊

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you. I probably lost my concentration and let the gremlins in! Welcome home. 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cantstopmenow]

I'd say you successfully kicked the gremlins into touch!!! (and thank you)

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

congratulations, very well done for getting to the end - yes, it is a long way!!

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Thank you skysue. It's too easy to look at what we could possibly have done better, rather than celebrating our achievements. 13.1 is definitely a long way!

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Very well done you...a good run too despite knee niggles and tummy tension!A run's easy when it all goes swimmingly, but takes special determination to do it when it doesn't!!!

Fabulous x

[Cantstopmenow Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss. I wouldn't have got to 10k, never mind HM without all the encouragement, learning and sharing both on here and on Strava. Xx