Big Half Marathon complete!

[Zee221b]

A bit late to update on my half marathon, but I completed the big half a couple of weeks ago! It was so nice to do it alongside my friends and the weather was lovely. I have now finished it two years in a row - I did it last year and it took me 3h20min as I had terrible knee pain. Over the last year, I have taken up strength training which has honestly worked miracles. I feel stronger than ever and completed it this time in 2h30min!! Most importantly I wasn't in any pain which was just euphoric.

I ran a 10k today and completed it in 1h01min, with my 5k taking 29 minutes. I am so happy with that! It is the first time I have ever actually run 5k in under 30 minutes. I have a few 10k races lined up for the rest of the year with the Vitality 10k being next week. My goal is to work towards a comfortable sub 1-hour 10k, and hopefully run my next half marathon in 2 hours. Either way I will be happy though, it just feels good to be able to run and the last couple of years of dealing with knee pain has truly made me realise what a privilege it is. 😄

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Well done! Finishing a HM with no pain is such a great feeling so that strength training is clearly working well 👍

Great looking medal and t-shirt, the icing on the cake 🤩

Good luck with your goals and keep us updated here 🍀

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you Irishprincess! I agree the medal and t-shirt was really nice this year, i've been wearing the shirt on my runs! And thank you so much, I definitely will try to log my weekly runs on here 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Wow!!! What a difference that made. No wonder you were euphoric. It must be amazing to have your efforts repaid so handsomely. Huge congratulations!!!

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Hi Linda! Yes it was one of the best runs I have ever had and I can't believe I am on the other side of the knee pains, I really am grateful. Thank you 😆

[RunWillie Marathon]

That’s a good incentive to keep up with strength training. Well done Zee221b 🤩

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thank you! And yes I have fallen in love with strength training, there's no stopping me now! 💪😅

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Awesome 😎 you are a great advocate for strength training too 😃

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you Sue!! Yes I will shout from the rooftops the beauty of strength training, wish I had started sooner! 😊

[misswobble Marathon]

WOW! Fab-u-lous 👏

Great work Zee 🏃‍♂️You should be well chuffed 😀🏅👊✊

I’m so glad you feel so much stronger and fitter. It’s a relief isn’t it 🙂 Proof positive your efforts are paying off

Good luck with your training 💪

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Hi misswobble, thank you for your kind words! I have only been strength training a year and it really has transformed my running. All the best with your running too!

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Wow thats a brilliant improvement on your time plus pain free! I think I need to take up sone strength training! Congratulations! 😊

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you! I highly recommend strength training alongside running, that extra muscle mass is a tremendous help! 😁

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Really good run Zee221b. I am totally with you on the strength training. I started this 7 weeks ago, and it has made a big difference. 10 or 20 minutes a day, including some yoga and already my legs are stronger. There are no more zealous advocates than recent converts I know 🙂! Great run and well deserved.👍

[Zee221b Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

This is amazing, the changes are so noticeable aren't they?! I completely agree, I tell every running friend I know to strength train 😂 thanks a lot beachcomber66