First half marathon tomorrow, hand hold please!

[MrsSDK]

I am not a natural athlete or remotely sporty but I started running, age 42, in lockdown 1 to get out of the house. FT WFH with a lively 4 year old and fairly lively DH. Started running further.. again to get out if the house but for longer! I’ve done 10 miles a few times now and lived to tell the tale!

DH, who runs marathons, said he thought I had a half marathon in me, so enthusiastically I signed up for one last Oct.

That was postponed until this Sunday and then postponed again until this coming October. I’ve gone with the ‘defer’ option as I want to experience the atmosphere.

Anyway I’m feeling pretty fit so have decided to run the distance tomorrow morning ‘for fun’.

I’m excited and nervous and just want to get on and start running!

Can I get a hand hold please lovely MN’ers?!

I did my first half at 45, running & walking when I needed to. Good luck & enjoy it!

Exciting! As it happens I'm planning my first half for next weekend. Do you have your route all planned out?

I should say that I am also in my early 40s and took up running in lockdown - are you me?

I did my first half at 46 and I'd only run 10 miles beforehand. It was better than I thought and I was really pleased with myself for doing it. Good luck

Thank you all! Haha maybe I am Una! 😉

Yes route planned give or take the last mile, may have to loop the block a few times!

Includes a water station at the house with DH at 8 miles 😊

The first time i ran the half-marathon distance was a couple of weeks before the race. It was the course but without company or spectators. At about 11 miles i sat down and was 'What the hell am I doing?'

Two weeks later, proudly finished the race in a respectable time.

Start off steady and take your time.

You can run 10 miles so you'll smash 13.1! Good luck, and good luck for your half in October.

YES!! An excellent plan! I love this. I honestly think you will FLY. Take it SLOW. The victory is in the distance not in the time. In fact don't even time it just enjoy it. < improvised medal.

I only have one speed and it's steady 😂

Good luck :)

When I did my first (and only so far) half marathon I told myself it's not a race, just want to complete it and it's OK to walk if I needed to. Managed to jog the whole thing (whilst eating jelly babies!).

All the best.

I started running at 50-ish, found first half marathon a daunting prospect, and it did go a bit wrong at about 11 miles, but I did it! And it felt wonderful. Enough to sign up for another one....

I am 44 and just did this too, my first half marathon on Christmas Eve. I was supposed to run with a friend but she didn't manage to do enough training.

I had no time expectation, I just wanted to finish it..which I did. It wasn't too bad. I did it at 6am in the dark, on my own, with no food or drinks, but I had a nice shower and breakfast planned for after.

I had a route planned around my house but actually went a bit further away towards the end so I couldn't give up.

Good luck, you'll ace it!

Good luck!! My top tip is to aim to negative split it - ie run the second half faster than the first. You almost definitely won't do that if it's your first, but if you aim to, it should help stop you going off too fast!

When I'm racing a half I like to set a target time for my first 10 miles and not allow myself to go faster than that. Then for the last three, put on the gas and see what you have left.

Go for it, and report back!!

Thanks for all your lovely messages, I'm just off! See you in a few hours!

Good luck OP!

Thanks again for all your support, it was ringing in my ears as I ran!

Last mile was HELL but I did it and I'm so happy!

Legs stiffening up nicely now 😂

Fantastic MrsSDK! Well done you...

Well done!

Wonderful! Well done. Can I just say you have inspired me to get back out there. Not run since September but today is the day.

@SummerHouse

Wonderful! Well done. Can I just say you have inspired me to get back out there. Not run since September but today is the day.

That's great SummerHouse! What's your plan?

Well done, hope you're feeling proud of yourself, OP! That's an impressively short amount of time to have wracked up that milage!

Wish I could run, but sadly I'm too injured and awaiting an MRI before I can start to rebuilt slowly.

Congratulations! Don't forget some stretching and a nice hot bath to soothe those sore muscles :)

How was your pace, OP - did you manage not to go off too fast, and keep it fairly constant?
And when are you running your next half?! It's addictive...

Haha, yes it is addictive! 12 hours ago I was muttering to myself never again but now I'm thinking how to improve my time for Oct. Looking forward to the crowds and atmosphere!

I did 2.25hr, slower pace than usual (not by much!) but as expected and still delighted I did it. I've been starving all day! Haha

@Cam2020

Well done, hope you're feeling proud of yourself, OP! That's an impressively short amount of time to have wracked up that milage!

Wish I could run, but sadly I'm too injured and awaiting an MRI before I can start to rebuilt slowly.

Was it a running injury Cam? Sorry to hear you're out of action, it's so frustrating when you can't run.