If I could offer you any advice, if you're looking to take on a half, please please please train! I didn't do nearly enough beforehand as I should have done and I definitely felt it. By mile 10 I was spent! I could hardly move.
I didn't run the whole way - I would have killed myself!! I promise you, though, I gave it my absolute all and I couldn't have given it any more! I ran across the finish line and cried with relief and overwhelming emotion. I was walking faster than I could run anyway teehee!
The weather for our run was perfect!! The course went right along the beach which was lovely and given the weather in the week leading up to the race (clouds, rain and even snow at one point), I was amazed at just how beautiful the day turned out to be! There was only a bit of wind, completely blue sky and it was relatively warm for February!
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| Taken with my iPhone! Amazing right! |
I am so grateful to have shared this experience with my Dad. It is a memory I will carry with me forever because he carried me yesterday!! There is no way that I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. He is a true star, he is my hero and I will be in awe of him forever.
Because I had to walk a lot over the last quarter of the course, I had a big build up of lactic acid before I had even finished so it is more than fair to say I am sore today!! (I was sore by the time I got home haha!) My upper body is fine (despite my shoulder twinging at about mile 8!), by legs are 90% there after feeling like lead but my feet are in agony still! I am waddling about like a penguin today - I keep laughing at myself hehe). When I got in yesterday I jumped in a cold bath (that was harder than the actual half marathon!) and have been doing stretches and yoga moves frequently so I should be fine soon!
I'm not sure if I will ever do a half again, I know there is no way I could ever do a marathon! I would love to do the Disneyland half and if the opportunity presents itself then I probably would enter but I have really learnt the importance of a training schedule! I'm just not sure if Im a runner! I really enjoyed my experience and it's something I will take with me forever, what's more, I am so proud of myself for completing it! I learnt that I am strong enough and I am good enough and I am brave enough.
One of the things I learnt was that in situations like a half marathon you really need to focus on your own race. To begin with I was thinking that I could stay with these people in front of me because they had a good pace etc. But I had to keep checking myself - I was running my race for me! I had to do what was right for my body! If I had run full out towards the end of the course, I would have really hurt myself! Listen to your body!
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| At the Start Line! |
I keep thinking of how far I actually ran and how my mind kept pushing me instead of bashing me and I can't believe that I've made this journey! It all still seems a bit surreal - I have run in a half marathon --- and finished!!
If you're looking for a goal and you want to push yourself, I can absolutely recommend a half. The experience was incredible, I don't regret it at all and I'm filled with such a sense of achievement - I want to share it with everyone!!!
Here are some of my own pictures, as well as the official pictures from race day! Enjoy :)
Georgie x
**Update**
Hey guys, so after writing all of this I've found out that I've developed a stress fracture in my left foot and have got tissue damage in both feet because of the half marathon (namely the lack of training the few weeks before the half and mainly my Nike Free 3.0's! I love these shoes - they're super cute but I will only be wearing them in the Gym now! They are 100% not long distance running shoes! There's no way I'm going to let this slow me down though over the next few weeks! Stay tuned!
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| It was such a lovely day for it! Run along the beach anyone? |
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| Wish it didn't have the watermark but love this! |
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| Looking and feeling good at mile 5-ish? |
Pineapple juice is supposed to help with lactic acid build up and sore muscles. I don't know if it's mental, but I always feel better! Sorry to hear about the stress fracture, but what a great accomplishment! :)
ReplyDeleteI got a stress fracture from running long distance in Nike Frees too. Shoes and injury prevention exercises are SO important. I've had to learn this the hard way:/. Congrats on your race! That is a huge accomplishment.
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