HU HM

[PDIGC]

As I had planned, I done my run yesterday evening. This was my first time running a half marathon distance since finishing Couch to 5K last June. I started at about 6pm but it was still very hot and sunny with a clear blue sky. The app showed 23ºC but it felt hotter in the sun. I had no expectations for a finish time other than completing it. I nearly came a cropper near the start when I encountered someone walking 6 small dogs, all without leads! It was a wide path but one of them wandered straight in front of me and I had to quickly avoid it which made me stumble but thankfully I recovered without falling. Weirdly I had another encounter with more dogs about halfway, but this was a route around some waste ground where two wild, very angry dogs chased after me growling and barking! They seemed confused when I stopped and faced them and gave up and ran off - hmm am I really that scary? I guess I was intruding into their territory!

It was pretty uneventful after that, just taking in some nice views out to sea or the mountainous looking inland, depending on which on direction I was running and a very well groomed golf course. I thought I was keeping well hydrated and was snacking on salty banana chips and some jelly sweets, but as I approached 18km my legs were getting really painful and thought I would have to stop. I slowed right down but the last couple of kilometres seemed to be as long as the rest of the run! I guess with this being a virtual HM it's the point at which you need a real crowd cheering you on, rather than me telling myself I can't go on! But I did make it to the end, although it took me 2:40:16. Thankfully I finished 5 mins from where I live so I managed to walk home, but never felt such painful legs! However, with more water and stretches and a hot shower it didn't last too long and the baguette, cava, cheese and jamón I promised myself after went down really well! I'm feeling fine this morning and amazingly no aches!

Thank you to all who were involved in organising this event and good luck to those who are yet to run. Have a great weekend everyone.

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

Well done on your first HM 👏🏽 I ran mine today & also found the last few KMs tough, sore legs!

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to Runnin-g]

Thank you and congratulations on completing yours too!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Well done PDIGC , that’s a great time for a first HM, especially with doggy obstacles!

I know exactly how you feel towards the end. For me, the goals of 10k and 10 miles are great incentives, but those final 4k from 17k onwards seem to go on forever! I’m doing mine tomorrow, so I’ll think of you when I reach there. 😀

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you, and good luck for tomorrow! I'm out with friends tonight so I will no doubt be feeling a little worse for wear tomorrow, but feel entitled to a small celebration!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to PDIGC]

Cheers, and enjoy! 🥂 You deserve a good celebration after that epic run! Hopefully I’ll be able to celebrate myself tomorrow evening. 🤞

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Go Munks 🥳🥳

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP! I’ll have my eyes on the prize. 😍 🏅😍

[Cmoi Marathon]

Congratulations on your first HM PDIGC !

I have also (by dint of elbowing Irishprincess and linda9389 out of the way) duly awarded you your shiny new badge!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😍😍😍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

😘

[ForbiddenPlanet Half Marathon]

Excellent going PDIGC! 👏👏

As a "veteran" (as if 😂) with 3 HM runs under my belt, My experience has been that the painful legs during the last few K went away with practice. 🏃

Took me years to get there though; HM within a year of C25K is impressive. 👏

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Thank you ForbiddenPlanet.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Massive congratulations! You're right, those last few kilometres can be so hard without someone to cheer you on; but you did it! You were both runner and supporter all rolled into one! Hope you're feeling suitably chuffed today 😊👏👏👏

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes I do feel a little chuffed with myself! It was nice to be able to share it on FB with friends back in the UK and over here. I don't think I want to focus on the longer runs tho really. I'm glad I done it and would do it again, but I run now because I enjoy it and obviously for the health benefits. Running up to 10k after working all day is doable but anything more is hard especially in the heat here.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

That is a terrific first HM. Hard enough without having to contend with the heat too. If you didn’t have any aches and pains it means your preparation was good. Brilliant effort 👏👏👏👏

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thank you Beachcomber66. I had managed to get up to 19km a couple of weeks ago which I seemed fine so I was surprised how hard I found the couple of Kms extra yesterday. All good experience though.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

That’s a great sounding run! Well done to you, especially with all those dogs you had to deal with 🙀

But your post-run food sounds delicious and clearly worked some magic on your legs 🙂

Great job!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Wow, what an inspiration 👏👏👏 I'm so impressed and apart from dogs it sounds great, glad your legs recovered quickly

[PDIGC Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you. The 2 dogs that chased me were pretty scary and I immediately though of rabies and it was quite remote from anywhere, but I don't actually think they have it on the island. I think I might avoid that area in future though! Yes, I've surprised myself and it's testament that the Couch to 5K programme really works. When I think back to week 1 and remember struggling to run for a minute!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to PDIGC]

Best to avoid those dogs, yes the programme works, that first week was so tough and we've progressed so much

[Kevin41 Half Marathon]

well done - half marathons are tough enough without obstacles and incidents, congratulations on getting it done!!

[Dendev75 Half Marathon]

Wow what an accomplishment! Well done and also for not falling over many dogs and being scary enough to chase off those next two wild beasts 😱🫣 👏🏻👏🏻

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Huge well done you on that first HM !

[00marks Marathon]

Well done!