Half marathon new thread

[londonmummy1966]

Starting a new half thread - as we are running out of space - no I'm ot envious of the lucky guys with London places - no not at all...

mad - lots of pasta and water beforehand and whatever you fancy afterwards - although I think the orthodox advice is protein I always find the naughty stuff like burgers chocolate and cake seem very well deserved....

not ready gutting - happened to me 3 weeks before the Great South one year so I feel your pain

Did you see the physio today Imnotready? Fingers crossed!

Hi everyone, just got back, he thinks it's a muscle contracture (hope it's the right. Word? I'm not in the UK... had to google translation), he's done a few treatments, incl some Chinese traditional medicine stuff, at which point I was a bit skeptical (I'' not too much into alternative medicine), but all in all it feels better, so I'll see how it goes. Going back next week. Thanks everyone for asking!

Fingers crossed for you Imnotready.
Good luck tonight mad, lovely day up gere today and forecast for tonight looks mild. Have fun!

Hope it does the trick Imnotready

Are you all set Mad? Good luck!

Good luck mad let us know how you get on

Thank you so so much ladies.

I have to admit to being a bit overwhelmed at the finish line and welling up a little bit, I still can't believe I've done it.

3:34. Absolutely gobsmacked. Was on course for under 3:30, until I went over on my ankle just before the last hill. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I was capable of a time like that.

Well done mad that's great! I cried at that finish line last year too, I remember wailing all over poor Dh! It is a very tough course, I think most people just have nothing left at the end. You can be rightly proud of yourself now. Hope you enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved it.

I really do outdo myself. I didn't hit the wall until that last hill (Christ, that is vile!) which I think is about 13 miles in? And once I'd climbed that, I knew it was home straight so got my second wind. I honestly expected to struggle so much more than I did. It really has given me such a boost in self confidence.

I've walked away with just a blister, so happy times.

I'm not amused I'm awake after only 4 hours sleep though. Wtf?!

Well done mad fantastic work. I am not surprised you felt emotional going over the line. Huge congratulations

imnotready how are you feeling after your treatment?

DS1 is doing the Sheffield 10K today. In a purple tutu. I hope it won't slow him down too much, he ran his first sub-45 minute one a couple of weeks ago.

Oh really well done mad that is amazing. Shame about the sleep though, I bet your mind is still going over it all.

Good luck to DS Fifty - the tutu might not be aerodynamic.

I ought to get out for a long run but keep putting it off. The next half is in December and I've not really focused on it. I reckon I could start at 8 miles next weekend. Don't want to lose the time on feet but otherwise running has been good, 10kb PB, and two parkrun PBs in the last two weeks, one my all time best.

Thank you chutney and well done on all your running achievements over he last fortnight. DS did it in 48 minutes. He said there were lots of children pointing at him and saying "man in a skirt" . He is over 6 feet tall, was wearing a purple tutu and orange leggings, so not easy to miss. One of my friends bumped into him and has sent me a photo.

I too have another HM in December but am avoiding long runs - my OU study has re-started after a summer break and it's ramping up very quickly, so my Sundays will be study days for the next few weekends. How is your studying going emummy?

Slowly FiftyNine, slowly! Started with rather boring topic, improved this week but now am fighting with misbehaving laptop which won't let me install the statistics programme. Sigh. Prefer running! Hope your's is a little better!

Well done to your son Fifty.

I have to admit to feeling a little confused. I feel absolutely fantastic. I was expected to be tired and a little sore, but was bouncing off the walls yesterday (even after only 4 hours sleep!) and again, I'm raring to go today. Is this normal?

If this is how I feel after them, sign me up for more!!

I guess the tutu didn't hold him back then brilliant time, well done him. Your friend was never going to miss him dressed like that!

I admire you both fitting in studying too. I did a short course years ago and found it very intense. Great but hard work, so longer courses must have a big impact.

Not normal for me mad but great to hear!

Hi flying visit - just to say, have entered Hampton Court Half - it is the only way I can imagine I will keep my running up!

5 days to go. Got my race number and instructions.

Just to pile on the pressure, DB is down from N Wales with my parents that weekend and they will all be watching me, and MIL has asked DH to pick her up so she can watch too....... So I will have about 10 people plus other members of my running club to watch me stumble over the finish line and fall flat on my face. Not to mention I have been known to vomit after a race

You will have 10 people wishing you well and congratulating you afterwards on your amazing run you mean Irian!
I also can be on the verge of vomiting after a race, there's some very unattractive finish line photos of me out there! Good luck, hope your last few days before it go well and you enjoy the race

Good luck Irian. I am afraid I am too lazy a runner to be ill at the end. I managed to make myself sick after a training run years ago, and I have never been able to push myself as hard since.

Thanks both!

I am hoping I won't be sick. It's usually after a 10k when realise I am flagging at the end and really push myself hard for a sprint(ish) finish. I think I have trained myself to run steadily enough that it wont' happen this time but races do funny things to me.... [blush[

Last time it happened I had a chap trying to get me to stand still so he could get the timing chip off my trainers and getting annoyed with me when I kept moving. I escaped and managed to reach a ditch at the side of the car park - would have served him right if I'd puked on his back

irian I found it really helpful having people with me the other week - but yes, there are some great race photos. I cannot understand how others manage to look happy or athletic, when everyone I know looks like they're going to cry!

My last half still I made a point of watching for the photographer and smiling so I could get a good picture. When the photos came or I spent hours going through them - not one of me!! So that's it, I give up!

Race photos!! Oh lordy I have yet to see one of me that doing look really awful. One race they had a big sign up saying 'Smile for the camera!' and I really did try - but it just came out as a sweaty desperate grimace. H always likes to take one as I finish and am passing the timer. Which is lovely of him but.....

I wouldn't have minded even a dreadful photo, I got completely missed the last half and 10k I did. Not that they ever look great but still

Glad it went well for you mad and for fifty's son in a skirt...
Good luck Irian hope it goes well tomorrow.
still which hampton court are you doing as I put my name down for the "official" one rather than the "original" - very confusing having 2 of them. I know I won't run if I don't have another one to aim for.
What are people doing post race? I read somewhere to cut out one short run and then do a series of 6. 8.10 miles on successive weekends so that dropping into a training plan is not too painful.