Half marathon - any one doing one?

[Cherryminx]

There was a thread last year which I looked at in admiration as I struggled through C25K and then went on to run a 10K. So I can hardly believe that in a fit of madness I've signed up for a half Marathon in May.

Training starts tomorrow! Would anyone like to join me?

Gah! Have just been out for 9 miler and managed to fall flat on my face about 6 miles in (tripped over tree root while admiring bluebells). Have a huge graze on each knee and one on my face too . Plus may have pulled something in my thigh. I am so annoyed with myself .

Still managed to get home ok and the woods were lovely. Hoping my leg stiffness is just temporary.

It was hot running, especially the road bits as there's nowhere to hide. Definately sun cream and maybe a hat Igotta and Laughing. I'm still looking like a boiled lobster even after a shower.

Igotta - white rice, Chelsea buns, in fact most stodgy cakes. Egg - very binding .

I haven't run a lot in the heat but did a lot of long distance mountain walking in 30 degree+ temperatures and used to find if I started the day really well hydrated (drank a litre of water with breakfast) I could go most of the day without feeling too thirsty.

Oh dear Cherry! Hope you recover soon.

Oh no cherry! hope you're alright, probably be a bit stiff in the morning.

Tomorrow I'll be eating pasta, Chelsea buns and poached egg on white toast!! Guilt free!

How are you feeling about it now laughing, just had a good luck email from the organisers - making me feel excited but also a bit sick with nerves!

I'm all signed up for the RH so very up for virtual running buddies Cherry. Hope you're not feeling too sore, it's such a shock when you fall, never mind the grazes.

I had a Chinese takeaway the night before my HM - not sure that's entirely recommended ratios but defiinitely lots of carbs . I think some sort of sunshade would be good and definitely second the sun cream, I only did five k yesterday at lunch but could feel my arms prickling., I'll be rooting for you both this weekend,

Ooh exciting chutney when is that then?

Just checking the forecast for Sunday again and it's not too bad. Sunny intervals all morning and up to 19c. That's the advantage of being in the north, hot weather isn't actually that hot! As long as I'm done by the time the thunderbolts start coming down at 3pm I'll be fine

First post on this thread. I'm running the Hackney Half on Sunday, and like others running this weekend the change in weather has thrown me a real curveball. All my training in the cold and rain, my longest run has been 12.5 miles and it was fine and I was hopeful of a sub 2 hour. Think I'm just going to have to shelve those plans and concentrate on. It fainting.

So not a fan of the heat!

Was speaking to my boss who said that over drinking during the race can almost be worse than being dehydrated, so I'm going to try and keep it to a small amount actually ingested and tip the rest of the water from the stations over my head.

They have 4 misting stations on the last miles, I'm already looking forward to that!

It's in September Igotta. Thunderbolts sounds like quite an incentive, but that's definitely a better prediction,

Good luck Little, hope the heat is not too bad. Misting stations sound good!

Little I'm doing Hackney too! Yes seriously looking forward to those mist showers, providing I haven't fainted/ combusted/ melted by that point. I'm also a bit worried about over drinking - gonna try and follow the email advice of drinking to thirst and then pour lots over my head to cool me down.

Yesterday a friend suggested buying one of those camelbacks and freezing it so you are running with a block of ice on your back (at least at the beginning). I am kind of tempted! Although seems like a bit of a risky thing to try on race day.

Igotta I haven't been out in the heat since my last easy 2 miles on wednesday. At this stage I think it might just freak me out! Enjoy your white bread and chelsea buns today!

Cherry sorry to hear about your fall but well done for getting up and carrying on!

Hello little pickle! Good luck for tomorrow. I'm a bit worried about over drinking dodgy pelvic floor but I'll take a little bit of water at each station, which is every 2/3miles. Leeds has got one misting shower thingamy but it's not till mile 12 .

How are you today cherry?

Good luck to you all tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing all about it

Igotta, laughing & little pickle - stop reading this and GO TO BED. You need your beauty sleep. Wishing you all good vibes for tomorrow. Keep your cool & eyes on the prize.

Everyone else, thanks for thoughts about my ridiculous knee injuries. They are grazed and sore but stood up to a day of walking in the sunshine quite well. Thigh seems to be ok too. On final taper down and feeling a bit nervous.

Good luck to those of you running today - is it Leeds and Hackney? I hope it's not too hot for you. I haven't been further than parkrun this week, and even that was a struggle yesterday.

Cherry hope you heal up quickly and the knees are not too sore today. You are a proper runner now you have running related injuries!

I'm thinking of signing up for a local 10K trail race next weekend to give me something to do. My foot still isn't great but if rest isn't helping I guess there's no harm in running

Hoping everyone's getting on OK.

Sounds like this week should see you right then Cherry.

I know what you mean FiftyNine, parkrun nearly finished me off yesterday. Trail 10k sounds like a good plan if you take it easy, it'll be good to get out.

I did it!!! 2hrs 5mins!! Really enjoyed it, although the last mile was tough. Ok route, couple of long hills, some dull bits of ring road and long straight back into the city but some lovely leafy sections too. Very warm though, but I coped fine and felt able to speed up a bit at mile 9. Regretted it by the time I was near the end!! Fab support though, jelly babies, orange quarters, high fiving kids and some absolute superstars hosing us down with their garden hoses!!

How did you get on laughing and littlepickle?

Brilliant Igotta massive well done and super-speedy in the heat as well

Fantastic time Igotta, what an achievement in that heat. Well done indeed.

Thanks fiftynine and chutney, I do feel a bit like I have a touch of heatstroke now!

Look after yourself and rest up. And drink lots too. Maybe not alcohol today!

Brilliant Igotta, very well done!

Igotta - fantastic!

Presuming with a time like that the chelsea bun/ egg pre race diet worked a treat.

Wonder how the Hackney Crew got on. Must have been baking in London today.

Fantastic Igotta especially if you got anywhere near the weather we did today. I could hardly sit in it any length of time. Massive well done on the time too

We'll done Igotta! Decent time, especially in this weather. I went for a short run in sunny west Yorkshire today and almost melted!

Igotta that's amazing!! Seriously well done!! And great that you really enjoyed it too.

Hackney was hot. Seriously hot. I was doing pretty good up till mile 9, but then was starting to feel a little woozy so decided to do a bit of run/walk. Then at mile 11 the stewards started asking everyone to walk as they had had so many people collapsing the medical staff could not handle the number of casualties . This did seem to make sense, I had seen at least 10 people stretchered off. Hopefully nothing too serious . I was annoyed at first about having to walk but actually pretty relieved as I wasn't feeling great myself. Ran the last mile (incredibly slowly) and came in at 3:05. Was aiming for sub 3 so considering it was 27*C, I'm ginger, very fair skinned and hate the heat I'll take that!

plus should be able to beat it for the next one. Which I haven't already started thinking about, oh no