runners united: the one with the time running with other people

Well done ibby. It doesn't sound like a good course. Am not a fan of laps !

Hurrah and well done to tulip, ibby, and June, all great results!

tulip, are you sure you didn't see a ball of dust in the distance, from Moshi?!?

What a strange course ibby!!! lol at your banana being too big!

June, loved the giganto race report, made me feel quite emotional. Really pleased you enjoyed it so much, and am certain you can do a
sub 2 hour one!

Rhet, shame about BIL. Sounds like he could do with a kick right up his arse! Can I come and live in your house please, the home cooked food sounds truly awesome!

Rhet, it was Heathrow Tibenham, Norfolk

Well done, June and Tulip - was about to ask if you managed to meet up but then remembered you were running HMs in different places...

Loved your report June, sounds like you had a great time.

So, the runway 10k this afternoon. Spent much of day feeling a bit crappy, not sure if pre-race build-up or due to yesterday's over-exertion. I did a lot of digging yesterday afternoon, and have noticed previously that it seems to leave me feeling a bit weak and wobbly the next day. Also felt tummy achey, yet hungry. However DH persuaded me to go, as he knew I would mope around the house if I didn't!

Big build up to start, then 10 minutes of faff, then the start horn with no warning. Luckily had my finger on the Garmin button (can't believe how easy it is to use).

As it was a run way run, it was a case of run along the main runway for a bit, then turn down a smaller runway and return to main runway, run along a bit, turn down smaller runway, return to main, run along a bit, turn down smaller run etc etc. It was a tad boring I have to say, especially as the 10k-ers had to do it all twice (these doing 5k did it once). Found it hard going,as strong wind in one direction, and when the wind was behind, it was really hot going.

Runners were generally friendly, talked to one runner who I had seen at parkrun yesterday - she said she was only doing 5k this afternoon because she had done a local HM this morning!

No knobs to be seen, but I guess with a 10k blokes can be a bit more restrained. I gave away my goody-bag banana at the end though, as it was too large...a friend commented there was a joke there somewhere but we were too tired to think of one.

Time was around 53m 30 (forgot to stop the Garmin!) - not a PB but pleased with effort given that I was considering not going.

Rhet sounds like you have had a good weekend of celebration.

Oh yes tulip - I've not quite been sick but have retched my way to a finish line before.

Oops sorry didn't think that had posted as was still on my phone !

Well done tulip. Great time. Is the new forest half off road ?

Well done tulip and big respect to anyone who tries to sprint at the end...I am barely staggering at that point!

On my phone so popping in - really well done June ! Sounds a fab event and you did so well.

Backward - well done at the tri. Sounds fun but a bit daunting. I'm going to add that book to my Christmas list I think.

Did 8.2 miles with dh yesterday . What should have been a LSR turned into a race pace run and we did it in 69 mins. Tried half a gel in the middle as never had one before and took on water throughout and didn't feel sick despite pushing myself.

How did the other racers get on today ?

Debi That's kind of what I meant by a tri suit, sorry! I just meant as opposed to a traditional swimming costume.

Well done june you beat me by 1 min. I was 2.10. Race reports would read similar to yours but it was mile 6 that I found really hard but by mile 7 I was back in the game. I also 'tried' to sprint the last 1/2 mile and also nearly puked. I wonder what they would have thought if I did. Is that something people actually do?
Can't wait til the next one. Although my legs feel like I am 80 years old tonight so it may be a while .
Anyone know how moshi got on?

Paws I'd actually say don't buy a trisuit. For both of mine I wore tri shorts and a tight, fitted sports vest type top (not a cropped one) then pulled a tshirt on for the cycle and run. Advantage of separates rather than a 1 piece are that if you were to eventually do a longer tri you can go to the toilet no prob and it's more flexible. I wear my trishorts for cycles month and will wear them for the duathlon next month.

Also I did both mine on a mountain bike but it is a good bike with a fairly small frame and no suspension and so is quite light (for a mountain bike). And there were other mountain bikes doing them too. If you could borrow a lighter bike that'd be good but at £500+ I wouldn't fork out for a road bike until you know you'll use it a lot. I am so glad I got mine, it's so much easier to ride especially uphill (although I'm a bit annoyed that so far my average speed isn't much more than on the mountain bike, 15mph up to about 16mph)

Great report June and a great time. Esp as you were thinking 2:30. Your split times are making me think I could do one in less than 2:15 as your faster miles are about the speed I normally run at.

On my phone so popping in - really well done June ! Sounds a fab event and you did so well.

Backward - well done at the tri. Sounds fun but a bit daunting. I'm going to add that book to my Christmas list I think.

Did 8.2 miles with dh yesterday . What should have been a LSR turned into a race pace run and we did it in 69 mins. Tried half a gel in the middle as never had one before and took on water throughout and didn't feel sick despite pushing myself.

How did the other racers get on today ?

I would say a sub-2 hours is well within your grasp June!

sticky I woke up this morning feeling really tired and chesty, but I've felt better as the day has gone on. I needed a day off today that's for sure.

backward I was googling for beginner advice on bikes, and the gist seemed to be that a proper tri bike gives you a big advantage not just in the bike section but also the run. In fact the article I read suggested that for the standard distance you could be looking at saving 10 minutes on the bike time and 5 minutes on the run, which is huge overall. Hmm ....

Paws it was my mountain bike that I used and I really was at a disadvantage. The event I did did not specify that you needed a road bike, but I suspect other more serious events might. I don't have much boobage to speak of, so the tri suit was supportive enough for me! It had a built-in sports bra and it was very tight, so I think having larger boobs would have been ok!

June you could definitely aim for sub-2 hour next time - that's my plan after a similar time to yours!

Some how the 'b' replaced the 'g' . Great report I should say.

Breat report June, sunds like you really enjoyed it.

Fantastic report June ...you really captured the whole day and I felt I was there with you! Really hope I have such a successful and enjoyable half in two weeks time.

Also meant to add I'm in awe of anyone who has done or is training for a full marathon. This is hard work. You know some people run some marathons and that it's hard but I don't think you realise (or just can begin to imagine) how hard until you've done a half, definitely the case for me.

Other stats from the race report:

Overall Race Statistics:
10754 TOTAL RUNNERS
139802 TOTAL DISTANCE (MILES)
02:07:28 AVERAGE TIME
9'43"/m AVERAGE PACE

My stats:
I placed 6025th out of 10754 runners (so not 17000 then?)
Time 02:07:57
Pace: 9"46' /mile
3 miles 27:21 pace 09"07'
6 miles 29:55 pace 09"58'
9 miles 31:16 pace 10"25'
13 miles 29:52 pace 09"57'

Something I couldn't work out was how some people could be walking quite slowly but still be in front of me. I think (now that I'm thinking straight) they must have started in a previous pen or were just really fast and then burnt out or something. At the time it baffled me :)

Is it do-able to shave 8 minutes off and actually realistically aim for a sub 2 hour half marathon next time (say in 12 months) or is that too much time to work on? How much time have you guys improved your pbs by?

master well you'd think so but your average White male runner's knob somehow just passes you by without too much interference.

That's fantastic June and brilliant race report too. Definitely sub 2 hours for the next one, it sounds like this is just the beginning!

Paws - totally empathise re being the dc's social secretary/taxi driver! There aren't many people who I regularly see now who aren't someone or others DM/DD. But generally they're a good bunch (few oddballs!!). Is the cold beginning to clear at all?

Did a reasonable 10k this morning (beautiful morning, very misty at first before the sun started to burn it off, and the trees are definitely turning now), 59.32, but it really took it out of me. Even after a hearty breakfast, I felt hungry and tired the rest of the day. The rest of the week I will be running after breakfast, so I hope that will mean I don't feel so knackered. Perhaps just one of those days.