So guys I didn't disappear off the thread just because I'd done my half 
just been busy since 
will catch up with everyone first and then tell ye about it
pik well done for signing up for another one, you've well and truly caught the bug, what's a kids marathon?
shortaris good to hear your foot has improved
sirzy can't wait to read how your half went
I've inquired off the local sports injury and massage clinic in our village about deep tissue massage and plan to do one in next few weeks. It's €40 and lasts approx an hour and he has great hours 10am to 9pm each week day.
so stewart and blackandpurple on Oct 1st
sirzy 9 mins off your time is a huge improvement
trigirl well done to you and your dd, isn't that funny that the part you dreaded turned out the easiest 
I'm currently listening to Kerre Woodham's Short fat Chick to Marathon Runner when I'm in the car for amusement and tips! Because I'm also a short chick more heavy than fat I guess. I'm a 10-12 on top and 12-14 on the bottom and when I get to my target weight, creeping there, I'll be 8 on top and 10 on the bottom. I'll always have chunky thighs and strong calves, but those legs power me through the miles.
minesapint sounds good about running with your dog
so here it goes my half marathon experience
as I mentioned up thread I was in heels for 12 hours previous day, and felt unable to walk at about 12am on half marathon day. soaked my feet in boots foot bath for about 20 mins and sprayed on their peppermint soothing foot spray a couple of times in the next hour and went to sleep. Got up at 6.10 on race day and was able to walk, but due to dawdling didn't really have time for breakfast and I'd poor sleep so I wasn't too keen, grabbed a banana and two crazy caramel bars from Tesco and ate them on my way to my friends house. We drove to the half and she told me that she'd been in bed all previous day and didn't know if she could run or not. 47 trips to toilet later and we were off. One of the best organised events I've been to in my running career to date. 20 portaloos, racepacks ready with singlet, number and pins inside, pacers from 1 hr every 15 mins to 2.15 and we started with our pacers. There was meant to be one for 2.20 also but there wasn't. This annoyed me a little but I figured I'd aim to keep the 2.15 in my sights. I set my runkeeper to a target pace of 11 min miles and this really helped as up to mile 11 I was ahead of target pace. At mile 11 I felt my hips with every step which i blame on the heels the previous day this mile took 14 long minutes and I found the following two tough but ok. I finished in 2 hours 28 mins so 8 mins faster than last one I had done (which wasn't an official one). I lost a bit of time mixing my tailwind at first water stop as I didn't stop to use the table, mixed it while walking, didn't mix any at second water stop and did again at last water stop but at the table. All of these things cost me time. I had hydration backpack with me but decided not to use it.
Weather was ideal - cool morning, it's known as the flattest fastest straightest half marathon in Ireland and it didn't lie. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my friend did too she finished in 2hrs 15 mins, and we're planning on making it an annual event. we're talking about another in March also but I'd like to do a metric marathon with a virtual race in the interim.