HU10 complete

[61Lady]

Oh my - what a fantastic experience 😁 Everything VRB’s have said about friendly supportive people is absolutely true.

I didn’t sleep particularly well and was wide awake at 5.20am 🙄 I pottered around trying to do things to take my mind off it but finally left home to make my way to the RFL venue. OH drove me even though he knew we’d be way too early - he’s so supportive.

I hovered by the loos for a while but really didn’t need to so just gently walked around as race time approached. I enjoyed watching others doing the warmup but it seemed rather too energetic for me. With race time was fast approaching, it was time to get with the appropriate flag - not runner, not walker - jogger flag seemed to be the correct category.

Everyone in the group with me were chatty and seemed quite relaxed - must be seasoned participants I thought. Finally time for me go - my sister had turned up to wave me off which I wasn’t expecting and a lovely boost.

The track was quite a lot of longish grass and mud which I’m not used to and it felt like hard work but after the first 1.5k the route moved on to tarmac for a while. The route was 2 laps - also difficult because although everyone said don’t set off too quickly, I think I must have and starting the 2nd lap felt like “oh no - I’m not sure I can do this again” but I managed to avoid the temptation to veer off to the finish line and on I went overtaking some joggers who started to walk but everyone had a smile and a wave and the marshalls were all very encouraging.

I could just about muster a faster jog for the last 500m and there I was done in a time that seemed to far exceed my expectations but we had been warned that apps aren’t very reliable in the area so I didn’t really trust what my app said.

Someone kindly gave me some water at the end but I couldn’t hold my hand still and spilt most of it 🤣 Had the shakes for about 5mins.

My aim was to go below 90mins - I’m back home now. Imagine my shock when I scanned my chip and got my time of 1:13:37 😮 no wonder my hands were shaking. I really felt I’d given it all I’d got.

None of this would have been possible without you cheering me on - thanks for giving me unfailing support and for giving words of wisdom to calm my pre-race nerves

🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Congratulations to you 61Lady on completing the HU 10K in a very good time of 1:13:37, you should be very proud of yourself, now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement with 🍷 and 🎂

[61Lady in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you so much - yes I really am very proud of myself. Not sure I’ll move around very easily tomorrow but basking in glory now. 🍷& 🎂 sounds perfect

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful read! That's totally awesome. Race magic, see ... it's very, very real 😍 You rose to the occasion magnificently and totally smashed it. Woohoo!!!

[61Lady in reply to linda9389]

Ahh - race magic 🧚‍♀️✨. Do you know the atmosphere was so much better than I expected. I really enjoyed my first ever race. May even sign up for something else now 😉

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to 61Lady]

That's how we all ended up on the slippery road, the bling trail 😍 It's great!!!Runners are generally lovely people and the sense of being alone but not alone at an event is quite something. I think RFL events are the most relaxed and friendly of all (based on my one RFL experience, anyway).

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Yay 61 Lady….the magic of Pom Poms really works! Being in a race does bring that bit extra out of us. I remember that feeling of losing control, but you kept going really well and achieved a really good time. I hope that will make future races feel less scary, although they do, for me, always bring a buzz of excitement. Brilliant run 👏👏👏👏👏🥇

[61Lady in reply to Beachcomber66]

Pom Poms definitely helped and I had VRB cheers ringing in my ears.

I not keen on uncertainty of where I’m going so maybe I would do that different next time and try and check the route - otherwise everything went brilliantly - really chuffed

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to 61Lady]

Next time ……good to hear 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to 61Lady]

I'm totally with you there. Before booking anything I study the route (terrain and elevation) and the travel logistics in fine detail!

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Whoop whoop!!! 🥳 You sounding buzzing in your post and it’s clear you enjoyed it. And what a great time too! Well done 👏

[61Lady in reply to Irishprincess]

Bit achy now but not surprising really. I had a marvellous time as you all predicted I would . I’m so grateful for all the support I got from everyone yesterday when I had a bit of a wobble 🙏

[Jools2020 Half Marathon]

That is a brilliant run, well done! And what a great time! 👏👏👏👍

[61Lady in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you so much - my first race and what an amazing experience. Aching a bit now so maybe overdid it a bit but I can’t tell you how chuffed I was with the time - spurred on all the way by Pom Pom waving VRB’s 😁

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Goodness, that was fast, didn't you do well?

[61Lady in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you - still can’t quite believe it

[RunSkippyRun Half Marathon]

congratulations and many pom-poms 👏👏👏 and exceeding your target by so big a margin ! wow! but the biggest achievement (IMO that is) is resisting that temptation after the first lap - there's so many reasons to stop and keeping going can become difficult.

[61Lady in reply to RunSkippyRun]

I could quite easily have stopped - especially as I found grass difficult but how pleased am I now that I kept going. Thanks for cheering me on

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congratulations! Nice run report. That’s a great time. Well done. 🎉👏👏

[61Lady in reply to Lavender1962]

Thank you - it was truly a wonderful atmosphere

[lexi6 10 Miles]

What a brilliant post 61Lady huge congratulations and what a fast time 👏👏🎉

[61Lady in reply to lexi6]

Thank you so much - I don’t usually write too much as I don’t want to bore but I was so excited, it all came flooding out.

It was a wonderful experience all round

[Gwenllian1]

That's absolutely brilliant! Great report and brilliant time. I've been trying and failing to build back up to 10k but you have inspired me to have another go. It does feel wonderful doesn’t it? You should be so proud of yourself!

[61Lady in reply to Gwenllian1]

Thank you so much - more proud than I can say. I’ve only visited this distance a couple of times before I trained for this event so all relatively new to me but you’re right - it does feel wonderful. I’m sure you can build back up again - my plan was over 14 weeks so I took it very slowly. All the best - I look forward to hearing all about it

[BGood]

Brilliant very well done and a very good time!

[61Lady in reply to BGood]

Thank you - training clearly paid off. I feel like I’ve come such a long way in so many different ways since starting C25k and couldn’t have done it without HU VRB’s. So pleased I found this forum

[GTFC Marathon]

Simple...YOU ARE SO AWESOME ⭐🏅

[61Lady in reply to GTFC]

Thank you - everyone here has had such kind things to say.

Need OH to widen doors at home to fit my head through 🤣

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

How wonderful. That first official race is so special - and it sounds like you knocked it out of the park with that amazing time. I get a real buzz out of running with others, and I’m glad you enjoyed it too! You are a runner! 🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🤸🏻‍♀️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️

[61Lady in reply to Dexy5]

Ohhh - how exciting - I really am a runner

Thank you

🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Sounds so special to have had such a good first 10km race experience. Many, many congratulations 😊🏃🏻‍♀️👏🎉🏁🏅