Hi everyone. This will be long. I have no doubt! Apologies.
Today was the day. I was up nice and early to make the hour long drive to Cardiff. Iβd paid for a parking spot at the football stadium - it was 3k from the start of the race. π¨ Fine as a warmup, cruel as a cooldown. π₯΅
Cardiff is a big event which I love as the atmosphere was electric. As we were standing in our pens about to start the slow crawl to the start, the Welsh contingent (the vast majority) began singing their anthem which was spine tingling. Wish I knew the words; Iβd have joined in! π₯°
Iβve mentioned before that Iβd done no training for this, nor had I run beyond 10k recently. I was under no illusion Iβd find it easy, but I was nerve-free for some reason. I started off slowly and felt awesome. No toxic ten, legs and breathing great. There was a longish incline around 5-6k which I trotted happily up. We then crossed the Barrage which is so cool - I spotted a choir friend of mine drumming with her group! Still felt great. It was pretty warm, around 20 degrees, although thankfully no sun, but I was getting quite thirsty. I took out my electrolytes mix and sipped on that without breaking stride. At the 10k water station I took a bottle, drank some then tipped the rest over me. It was surprisingly cold - and I momentarily wished I hadnβt! π Not for long though.
All ok for the next 3k or so, then my poor under-trained legs started to complain. Letβs just say I was aware of them, they werenβt hurting as such. I told them off, hoping I could ignore them, then I had a fit of the sensibles. I have the GSR in 2 weeks. What if they were simply telling me to give them a break or else? There was still 8k to go after all. So at 13.5k I began Jeffing. Not officially, as I was walking a bit as and when - around the next water station, up a nasty hill at 12 miles, and a few other times. It was hard to get going again, but I zoned my complaining legs out and they loosened up for a while. I ran the entire final mile as the crowds were amazing and I even managed a little sprint.
My time was 3hrs 16ish. Nowhere near my PB, but that was never going to be in danger today and I was pleased with it. If Iβd have trained I know it would have been close as my breathing was not a problem at all. π
Got a gorgeous 20 year commemorative medal and a nice red teeshirt. I treated myself to a large pizza and it barely touched the sides. Not the most elegant get up from the grass however!
Iβd definitely do this one again. It was amazing. Maybe train next time though! π¬
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Half Marathon
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Oh Iβm so glad you enjoyed yourself cheekychipmunks . I knew you would do it , even if it did mean having to throw some walking in for good measure. My dad was Welsh and I still canβt get my head around the Welsh worlds to the anthem, but when I went to the millennium stadium in Cardiff and heard everyone singing it , it brought tears to my eyes.
That is the perfect training run for the GSR in 2 weeks time. You will have no problem.
Iβm looking forward to the GSR. I know the distance will be achievable now even with my limited training. Iβll make an effort to pop some leg strengthening in over the next 2 weeks. πͺ
Amazing, congratulations Cheeky!! I will be pleased if I do my half in that time. Have a nice long rest for the next two weeks and youβll fly around the GSR ππ»
Thanks Mudita11 ! Oh youβre a speedy one and would definitely be able to better that time! Cardiff is predominantly flat with just a few inclines and one nasty hill. I couldnβt take on a seriously hilly HM. Iβm relieved the GSR is flat as a pancake I must admit! π
Epic run cheeky, I had no doubts at all; nothing stops you once you set your mind to it. To turn a showpiece HM into a final full distance + training run for the GSR was pure genius. Just a couple of little looseners required now and that should be that. I would not have been brave enough to take on a HM without completing a full plan β¦.ππππchipmunks rule ok!!
This is one tenacious stubborn chipmunk tooBeachcomber66 . I wouldnβt advocate taking on a HM with as little training as Iβve done this year, but I felt confident Iβd be OK. The Jeffing part wasnβt my favourite, but it was my way of acknowledging that it really is a long way and needs respecting. I donβt fancy a stint on the IC thank you very much.
I fully agree with Beachcomber66 "chipmunks rules OK" a big congratulations for that post and run today CC, you did very well and what a beautiful medal you got, you thourghly deserved that medal and large pizza after you completed your run, I wish you the very best for the Great South Run in two weeks time. βοΈβοΈππΎπ
Thank you AlMorr ! It was a fantastic chunky medal, just the sort I like best! My hanger has just enough space for one more from the GSR in 2 weeks, then itβll be full! Time for a new one from Santa I think! π
Well done on your success. You have amazing spirit and determination. Nothing will get in the way of your love for running - and bling of course! Well done πππ
Thanks Cantstopmenow ! I love running and races - however Iβm shallow enough that I wouldnβt enter a race, especially one as long as a HM, that didnβt have bling! π
Flipping brilliant!!! I ran with you through those miles and when your legs started complaining thought "Oh no" but sensible you got through and that must have felt so good, a sprint at the end and prize of pizza....sounds perfect. Loved reading your report πππ
Ahh thanks SueAppleRun . Iβm now wondering if I should have Jeffed this one from the outset; it might have saved my legs. But hey itβs done now and Iβll definitely enter it again! π
Thank you Lavender1962 ! Itβs a gorgeous medal isnβt it? Room on my hanger for just one more (itβs jam packed!) which will be the GSR in 2 weeks. π
Well done, fantastic that you got round on little training and enjoyed the day cheekychipmunks ,sounds like a great day out,congratulations! πβπͺπ
Thanks aliboo70 ! Iβm chuffed to bits. It shows how running, even nowhere near as much as I should have, maintains a basic fitness level. Love it! β€οΈ
Thatβs my thinking exactly misswobble . Totally deserved and expected with the legs. I canβt expect to swan around 13.1 miles after the dismal training Iβve done! Medal and pizza made the leg pain disappear though. π
Oh wow LottieMW , thatβs wonderful for your daughter in law having run the first one too! What a wonderful tee shirt and medal! π
It was pretty warm which didnβt help matters. There were quite a few casualties being tended to at the side of the road, and the ambulances were kept busy. It was a wonderful event, though, as Iβm sure she would agree! ππ
Ooo how exciting, I hope she gets to. π€ Iβd like to run one too (when I say run β¦.. π ) and I keep entering the London ballot. That would get me training!
Youβre doing great, and never say never, you too might run the Cardiff HM one day! π
Thatβs a nice little warmup for the GSR Munks! A huge well done to you ππI do think you are very brave going for a HM on no training but I am very impressed that you clearly felt little fear and just went for it.
That race sounds brilliant, I might have to do that one myself one day. And what a medal!!! I love it π
It must have been amazing to hear the national anthem from those those famously good singing voices. Spine tingling indeed.
Well done! I was there too. Decided to take it easy, and ended up with the fancy dress and charity crowd. Had the best day running in front of this guy. He danced and skipped the whole way round π€£
Haha Teresa1632 , I didnβt spot him, but I was running with a dinosaur and some firemen in full kit! I also saw a fully grown baby complete with dummy and giant bottle of milk! Wasnβt it fun? π
The atmosphere and support was amazing. And somehow, relaxing hanging near the back with the fancy dress crowd was far more fun. Never laughed as much! π€£ I finished at 2.55, about 25 min slower than normal, but far more fun!
I totally agree! My PB is 2:49, so I was similarly slower than that! I didnβt mind one jot though, and everyone was so friendly and upbeat. None of this finishing in one hour malarkey - absolutely couldnβt believe that! π₯
Your post exudes so much relaxed confidence as to what your body can do. Really good to read. Lovely to read how you completed the distance and enjoyed it too. Many, many congratulations! ππββοΈππ π
Thanks so much over61andstilltrying . I wouldnβt advocate being as daft as me and running with insufficient training, but I had a good feeling about this. It was amazing and Iβd love to go back and do it again next year. β€οΈ
Well done!! How funny we both turned to jeffing half way! I'm fascinated that you can see the regularity in my run walks at mid way ish point! Quite tempted to enter a race just to try this right through..... I think it definitely helped me stop getting too bad pain after and hope you're ok for GSR too! There's no stopping you!
Thank you Cowladyrunning ! Yes I laughed when I read your report and saw you did too! I too then wondered how my legs would have fared if Iβd Jeffed the lot. I probably should have done that in retrospect. I wonβt be doing it at the GSR though. I shouldnβt have any reason to (but please donβt be too hot!) π
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