HU HM

[ForbiddenPlanet]

Firstly thank you  Cmoi  linda9389 and  TailChaser for organising this - and it really suits someone like me to have an 8 day window in which to run. 🙏

Having experienced a sore foot a few weeks ago I had been limiting my run lengths to around 10K and now found the thought of an HM intimidating.

To be honest I wished I had not put my name down for it. Of course after I had done it, the reverse was true and I was pleased that it had nudged me to get out there when I really didn't want to!

I had been doing short runs since Sunday just to keep moving and help me get 10,000 steps in. But now it was Wednesday and I didn't want to leave it till the last minute. I am lucky that I don't need any special prep for an HM, so it was just a case of throwing my kit on and getting out the door.

Maybe I would just do a 10K? During the 1st km of a run my HR often spikes but it was slow and steady which I took as a good sign, and then the first km came up in the 6:20s. That seemed to me a good HM pace, and so it was on.

It was warm and sunny so I was concerned to manage dehydration and cardiac drift. Accordingly I tried to keep the first 10K at least partly on the slower side of 6:30 / km and then thought I would run the second 10K on the faster side of it; and so it was.

Between 17K and 21K I think of as the twilight zone. My first HM last summer my calves started burning around 18K and I finished on will power in 2 hrs 28. My second, in March, when they started to burn I kicked on and found a new energy level for a time of 2hrs 21.

This time there were no such dramas or burning calves, the running remained smooth until the end, and I finished in 2:15:14 - a modest but welcome improvement on the 2:21 in March. I was also pleased with an average HR of 131. I would have liked under 130, but given the weather I was happy with what I got.

Perhaps I could have gone faster but I really just wanted to finish, and it's nice to leave something on the table for next time. Maybe in the autumn when there are some cooler days I might be able to get under 2 hrs 10 minutes.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Brilliant run FP, both HM pace and underlying fitness are amazing. It was the HUHM event which turned my tentative exploration of the NRC app into an HM attempt. Well done Cmoi linda9389 and TailChaser 👏👏👏🥇👏

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

It’s a pleasure 👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

🙂

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you BC. I'm just an oldie trying to enjoy the autumn of life; maybe you too?

And props to the ladies who organised this. Fantastic! 👏

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Exactly on both counts FP. I call it my Indian Summer 🙂

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Took the words out of my mouth BC! 😁

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Goodness, that's a great run in my eyes, what speed and what steadiness for the whole thing. Congratulations 👏👏👏

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you Sola! 🙏 Although I expect you will outshine the likes of me now you have more time for hobbies like running. 😀

[TailChaser Marathon]

That’s a great HM FP! Great time! I’m envious of your heart rate, I’m happy if mine is under 150 during an HM.

I love your description for the last 4k btw, it really is 😬

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks TC! 🙏I just did some low heart rate training, which any runner could do. 🏃🕺😀

[00marks Marathon]

Well done!

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to 00marks]

Thank you! 😀

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Well run FP! Lovely weather, steady heartbeat, no drama. Things worked out just right! Congratulations 👏 👏👏

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Thank you 🙏- it was a great experience, and still "glowing" several days later. 😀

[Kevin41 Half Marathon]

Brilliant run and amazing heart rate average. I’d never be able to keep mine that low for so long. You must have some fab fitness!!

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to Kevin41]

Thank you 🙏 - I have worked hard for a while on low heart rate running, and honestly, I think most runners could train as I did, and get similar benefit. 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow! 6 minutes? I'd say that was a significant improvement, not modest! What a fabulous run. Congratulations 👏👏👏💪

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda! 🙏 And thank you for a great job organising this - I surprised myself, and it wouldn't have happened without your brilliant organisation! 😍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

👍🥰

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I love the way you hadn’t really planned to run a HM but you did anyway! And what a great improvement in your time 👏 You must be really pleased with that. Well done.

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon]

Thanks IP! 🙏 That's me - I just muddle through and get there - or somewhere - in the end. 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator]

A super run... and a super post... well done you!

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you - hope your run goes well today! 😀