run a half marathon

1 hour 37 minutes 1 second.
273rd out of 5,000 runners – really happy with that! :)

To be honest I’ve let my training slip a lot the last 6 weeks or so, so was a bit wary of how I’d do. My original aim when I started training in January was to get my time under 1:30, wasn’t really doable. So I aimed for a 7 and a half minute mile pace to put me just under 1:40.

My sister was running as well, we both got to the start in plenty of time, out of 5,000 runners my predicted finish time (1:40) put me in the first 1,000 or so people, just behind the elite athletes. Weather conditions were pretty good 12C and overcast.

First mile or so I overtook a lot of (few hundred??) people in my starting group, then settled into a good pace. The first mile I was 7 minutes, same with the second and third. By the 5th or 6th mile I was 2 and a half minutes under my predicted time but gradually levelled out after that. Didn’t overtake many other people but got overtaken a lot – didn’t matter as the only person I was running against was myself!

There was a voice telling me to give up at times but there was no way I was doing that! Got a couple of minor stitches in the first half of the race but looking back I was never really that out of breath. My legs were really hurting, particularly after 8 or 9 miles so if I want to run faster I need to work on strengthening my legs.

Hard going but managed it in 1 hour 37 minutes (final time TBC)
My sister managed 2 hours 6 minutes (only 6 minutes slower than she was aiming for – good going considering her knee went after just 5 miles but she pushed through – can now hardly walk!)

This was one of the first goals I’d set on 43things, it felt really good to get it completed! This half marathon has been a lot of the motivation for going to the gym… So what next? Well I’ve registered for the full marathon in a years time but that’s a while off yet. Think I’m going to do the odd run but get out on my bike a bit more now. Also wanting to do some weights at the gym with my brother twice a week or so. And stretch properly for my Taekwondo so I can kick higher.

Stuart

Since my last entry I’ve run 2 miles, played 5 aside football once and not done a lot else. Will try and have a brief 3 mile easy run either tonight or tomorrow, then nothing til raceday!

Also as a sidenote I’ve just pre-registered for the full Edinburgh Marathon in 2011!

Haven’t been running quite as much as previously last few weeks. Did a 6 mile and then a 3 mile outdoor run last week.

Going to try at least a 10 mile run tomorrow, then taper off with only a few short easy runs before the big raceday!

Just did the one 12 mile run last week (as well as a Taekwondo class and a game of 5aside football)

My hamstrings are feeling really tight when I go running and my legs are taking a few days to recover… Not really where I want to be considering the run is 3 weeks on Sunday!

Still hurting from Sunday’s football but will do a run tomorrow and hopefully another 2 by the end of the week.

Only did a 10k run last week, nothing more!

Today I ran 12 miles on the treadmill at 12.5kph – just over an hour 30.

Will put up my full schedule for this week when my home internet is back up.

Ran 10k in around 45 minutes.
Was supposed to be doing 11 miles but my right hamstring was playing up – getting tighter and tighter as the run went on and still got my Taekwondo training tonight. I’d rather cut this run short than put myself out completely for a few days through injury.

Week 10 Recap:
13 mile run
Weights session at the gym
2 x Taekwondo training sessions
Taekwondo Grading

After a great start went a bit easy on the running (gave my legs a rest for my Taekwondo grading)

Week 11 Plan:
11 mile long run
7 mile hard run
5 mile easy run
4 mile quality run
4 mile quality run

1 or 2 Taekwondo training sessions
Weights Training at the gym

To be honest I’ll be doing well if I manage 3 of the 5 runs. The important thing as well is to do at least one of my runs outdoors this week. Have made a goal for this as well.

Was supposed to be running 11 miles today, but felt good so persevered for just over the full half marathon! :) :) :)

21.2km (13.17 miles) in 1 hour 36 minutes 34 seconds (around 1,600 calories)

Ran at 13.1kph for most of the run, then bumped it up to 14 and the 15kph for the last mile or so. Felt good breathing wise, no real pain or stitches either. Tight hamstrings towards the end and legs were beginning to hurt a bit. Legs are really hurting now!

I’ll not mark this as complete just yet, because although I’ve completed the distance I haven’t yet run in an actual half marathon. It’ll be good to keep tracking my progress. My aim always was (and still is) to run a sub 1:30 – think this is defo achievable! :)

Also been tracking every run this year and that’s me done just over 24 hours of running since the start of 2010 – 182 miles total so far. :)

7 weeks til raceday!!

Week 9 recap:
11 mile run
5k hill run

Taekwondo training (2 hours)
Weights training session (45 mins)
Football (1 hour)

Not really a great effort on the running front, looking to step it up this week.

Week 10 Plan:
11 mile long run
6 mile hill run
6 mile fast run
5 mile easy run

1 or 2 weight training sessions
1 or 2 Taekwondo training
Taekwondo green belt grading
1 hour football

Really need to start doing more runs outside – I’ll try and do at least one of the runs outdoors this week.

Stuart