Half-marathon - in a fortnight

[Exciseman]

I just entered a half-marathon, then realised that it was only a fortnight from now. Just 14 days to progress from the odd short treadmill run to 13.1 miles on the roads. Should be a laugh lol!

[Aidan]

It would take me a fortnight to complete a half maratho. Best of luck on the day.

[Pete Smoke]

Have a nice walk.

[les taylor]

Tim stop mucking about and do a full marathon. Hope it goes well on the day.

[Lawrence]

If I was planning on a half marathon I'd watch half of Run Fat Boy Run....

[Exciseman]

Grim, grim day on Sunday. It poured with rain throughout the pre-race period and throughout the race itself. But the worst bit was the walk back from the finish line to my gym, as it was sleeting.

Being a 'gym bunny' and training just indoors, I had no wet weather running gear. So, ran just in shirt and shorts.

Never been so wet or so 'chilled to the bone'.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Ah, you runners, now you're just bragging.

[les taylor]

Grim, grim day on Sunday. It poured with rain throughout the pre-race period and throughout the race itself. But the worst bit was the walk back from the finish line to my gym, as it was sleeting.

Being a 'gym bunny' and training just indoors, I had no wet weather running gear. So, ran just in shirt and shorts.

Never been so wet or so 'chilled to the bone'.

Tim you are right sunday was a vile day. Not good for running in, so well done you, I hope your recovering from it now.

[Aidan]

I'm fundamentally opposed to gyms.

Congratulations on finishing the half marathon. That's some achievement.

[Exciseman]

Gyms have their upsides. In no particular oder, mine benefits from:- a cafe bar serving excellent food, coffee and newspapers, good company; a brilliant range of cardio and resistance equipment; and girls, girls, girls.

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Mine doesn't have a cafe bar, but it does have a particular oder.

[orange_barnet]

Well done Exciseman! .... I imagine you'll have needed to warm yourself up after running in that cold wet weather....

[Exciseman]

Sue's decided on a Lent half-way house. We've not given up booze entirely. However, Monday to Thursday (4 days a week !!!!!!!!!) are dry days. Looking forward to tomorrow.

[Nick Brown]

It's easy to complete a half marathon.

Don't believe me, try it for yourself:




m a r a _ _ _ _

(Seriously - well done Tim!)

[Exciseman]

Oh God, what have I let myself in for? I'm a fifty-one year old 'porker' who runs short distances (5 miles) four times a week one a gym treadmill. So why am I even considering lining up on a full-marathon start line this Sunday? It is sheer lunacy! I need a drink.

[Pudge72]

Oh God, what have I let myself in for? I'm a fifty-one year old 'porker' who runs short distances (5 miles) four times a week one a gym treadmill. So why am I even considering lining up on a full-marathon start line this Sunday? It is sheer lunacy! I need a drink.

How did the full marathon go for you 'Exciseman'?

[orange_barnet]

Oh God, what have I let myself in for? I'm a fifty-one year old 'porker' who runs short distances (5 miles) four times a week one a gym treadmill. So why am I even considering lining up on a full-marathon start line this Sunday? It is sheer lunacy! I need a drink.

How did the full marathon go for you 'Exciseman'?

I'd like to echo pudge's question - how did it go?

[Exciseman]

I looked out of the window on the morning of Sunday 29th April and nearly went back to bed! Truly ghastly weather. But get up I did.

The race itself was brutal. The combination of cold, heavy rain and storm-force wind made the going very, very tough.

Physically (cardio and legs), I was fine through the first half – although I thought seriously about calling Sue pretty much every mile. Miles 14-19 were the worst. All directly into the wind. They just completely knocked the stuffing out of me. So, I went into ‘survival mode’ for the last few miles. The last mile was awesome. All downhill with StadiumMK in sight. Then, down the tunnel and into the stadium, which was absolutely ‘rocking’, for a finish that I’ll never forget.

It was foolish for a 'gym bunny' to take on 26.2 miles on so little long-distance work and no outdoor training whatsoever. However, I don’t think that it was lack of stamina that ‘thrashed’ me. Rather, just having to work so, so much harder each and every mile meant that I had no reserves.

Pretty proud though. At the end of the day, this 51 year old porker beat 1,000 of the 3,000 finishers (NB 2,000 other entrants didn't turn up).

[orange_barnet]

Well done Exciseman! What an achievement.... and indeed you should feel proud of yourself for completing the marathon!! It will be easier next time....

[Exciseman]

Weather-wise, I've actually had bad luck with more recent marathons.

Nottingham 2006 - 30 Centrigrade in the second half and they didn't have enough water.
London 2007 - 28 Centigrade for much of the race.
Edinburgh 2011 - All four seasons during the race, with some brutal headwinds over the closing miles.
Milton Keynes 2012 - Driving rain, cold and gusting wind.

Indeed, I have to think back to my outings in the Paris Marathon for decent conditions.

[Pudge72]

Congratulations 'Exciseman'! Finishing any marathon seems like a remarkable achievement, especially so in those conditions.