Entered a half marathon and now feel like a twat.

[zippy539]

Warning: this is long and self indulgent.
Context: I'm a short, unsporty and moderately fat 44yr old.

In a moment of madness six months ago I entered a half marathon (happening in march 2012). I thought if I had a ridiculous goal I would be motivated to get fit. I've been 'training' since October using the walk/run method designed by Jeff Galloway for unsporty and moderately fat 44 year olds. (The idea is that you use a combination of walking and running throughout training and in the race itself in order to avoid injury/improve times).

So far it's been going okay - I actually enjoy my runs though I am very very slow. I'm run/walking about 10 miles a week and apart from the odd crap run I've been feeling great. I've learnt to put up with the fact that I run at the speed of a slug and can pretty much laugh off the sideways looks I get from those that pass me when I'm out on 'a run' (eg old ladies on zimmers/people casually strolling with their dogs). Cut to today. I got up at an ungodly hour to catch the village bus into the nearest town (I was due to 'run' six miles and didn't fancy going so far down super-icy country lanes). Got into town and realised that all the paths were treacherously icy so got the bus back home again - was gutted as all geared up and had even had a nervous pre-run pee up a lane precariously close to the local high street. Back at home I decided to risk the country lanes and once the ice had melted set off at my blistering 14 min mile pace. Two miles in my shin and calf started hurting like you would not believe. I tried to run through it but ended up hobbling and had to turn around and walk 2 miles home in disgrace (and had to have another public pee up a country lane mercifully NOT close to any high street but in full view of a field of scathing sheep).

I'm on the settee now with a bag of frozen peas on my leg and feeling like an utter idiot. What in God's name made me think this running lark was a good idea? I've set myself a huge goal and even in the unlikely event that I do manage to complete the training I'm still going to be the only plonker who is running/walking and still coming in utterly last on the day. But I don't want to give up because the goal of the half marathon is the only thing that gets me into my trainers every day. Should I pack it in? Go for a more realistic goal? Just feel gutted cos I was feeling so good and now I feel like a total overweight, 44 year old twat.

hi neither - everyone I've spoken to has said a 10K is absolutely the best training for a half. Maybe try to see it as just another training run rather than a 'race'? (yeah right). I'm supposed to go today but we've got your gale here this morning and I HATE running in wind. :o

Hope you have a good run today!

Thanks zippy. I went out for a quick burst around the block (I'm re-doing C25K to try to work on my speed - jogging in the walking bits and running fast in the running bits). I'm going to do the 10k route tomorrow (it's a lap of our local park, so it's where I usually run anyway - the half marathon is two laps).

Hello zippy, how is your training going? I hope it's going well!

I did my 10K 2 weeks ago, and my half marathon today. It had snowed overnight, and snowed all through the run, so it was turned into a fun run instead of being timed and scored. It was hard work trying to run through the snow, and I ended up doing a combination of running and walking after about 8 miles.

At the twelve mile point they directed all us slower runners to the finish without doing the last mile - I think they just wanted everyone off the course because it was getting so slippery and snowy - so I did the 12 in 2.29, on course for a 2.45 finish if I'd done the whole thing.