I know this post is late but better late than never eh! So couple of weeks ago I completed my first half marathon and OMG what a race it was.
Leading up to the event I had been out running each weekend doing a good 2 hours in one session and various 10km and 15km runs during the week. Training happened regardless of whether it was raining, sunny etc.
So let me set the scene that was 'Race Day'.......the race was held at Dorney Lake, Windsor (the venue where the rowing will be held for the Olympics). All runners had to complete 4 laps of the course. The course was flat and completely unprotected. When I say unprotected there are no trees to protect you from the wind..................and on Race Day it was bloody windy as hell! Definitely made a huge difference to my race.
The first couple of laps were fine but as I got to 13km mark I could feel my left knee starting to give me trouble but I said to myself 'Harden up, tuck your butt under, suck in your stomach and run tall' and I did that up to the 17km mark.........at this time the inside arch of my left foot really started to hurt, again I repeated my mantra 'Harden up, tuck your butt under, suck your stomach in and run tall'. I did this till the last 100m of the race where at this point I sprinted for my life.
My first half marathon was completed in 2:26:58
I was disappointed with this result but then I had to remember that I had never done a half marathon before and last year I couldn't even run more than 15kms in a session.......so after those thoughts I then was quite happy with my effort.
The test comes again when on the 11th March I run my second half marathon, Silverstone Half Marathon. My physio has given me strict orders to use my foam roller, run slow, focus on technique and enjoy the run as painfree as possible........
So till next Sunday peeps
Smooches
xx