On Sunday, I completed my first half-marathon, and while my body is broken, my spirit most definitely is not. I first intended to do this in late October 2011, and was part of my goals for this year. This gave me roughly 4 + 1/2 months training, starting from practically zero. I chose the charity Get Kids Going! to run for, which helps less-abled kids play sports and other physical activities by providing special equipment, assistance, and everything else they could need.

Training

My first run, or rather attempt at, was terrible. Not just bad. Terrible. I set off with high, naive hopes and ended up stopping shortly after the first mile, hunched over struggling to breathe in Digbeth, as workmen looked at me with judgingly pathetic looks. My second big attempt at a run crippled me for 4, near 5 days as my leg muscles gradually relaxed and healed the damaged tissue. The error with this one was not warming up, or stretching out…

But over the months and weeks approaching race day I improved dramatically, and righted any previous wrongs. I increased my running frequency from 1 or 2 times a week, to 3-5 times. I would run for longer without stopping, running a maximum of 1:35 before race day. My pace increased from 9:45/mile to an average of 8:20/mile, and was more consistent. My training also prepared my body for these types of strains, and as a result, I stopped getting stitches, shoulder pains, breathing problems and cramp (I did however unfortunately experience ‘runners trotts’ due to my training and healthier diet).

Apps

To log all this training I used 3 iOS different apps, being Run Keeper, Endomondo and Nike+. I may review them in the future more thoroughly, but I preferred Nike+ overall, due to it’s slicker and more polished user experience, with fewer GPS annoyances experienced with the other two. Using these apps, I easily clocked up over 160 miles of training, which is a fair few meals at Bodega burnt off.

Overall they were pretty crucial to keeping me interested in training, as i constantly tried to improve previous times and distances, and the apps would give me regular updates of my pace. If you interested in running or jogging, I would wholeheartedly recommend getting a good ‘tracking’ app to keep training more involving and dare I say… fun?

Race day

Leading up to race day I was starting to get more concerned about the distance and what I could do to help prepare. In-between reading guides on training, pre-race diets and the-like, I was training most days a week. The week prior to the race I wound down my training and began to carbo-load, giving up fatty food, processed sugar and alcohol in the process. Annoyingly I also dreamt about the race for 4 nights straight, each one seemingly about forgetting I was in the race. It wasn’t until reaching the actual track that it became soberingly real. Pre race I was nervously drinking free Lucozade sport drinks, and then franticly trying to pass it out of my system before the race start. When the time came, I simply got my Nike+ app ready, with 2 episodes of The Vergecast to entertain me, and set off with everyone else.

I initially made good pace, and didn’t have too many people to run around, but as soon as I hit the first mile marker I knew It was going to be a big challenge. The next 8 miles were uncomfortable in the heat, but it wasn’t until the 9th mile that things became race-finishing-questionably painful. A stitch hit me hard on my left side, which after trying to push through for near a mile, became too much before I had to stop intermittently to let the pain die down. The pain of my feet, legs and joints was manageable, but the stitch was something I hadn’t felt in all my training leading upto the day. Eventually it died down enough for me to continue on the rest of the distance without stopping, and even after passing the 13 mile marker, I found a hidden pocket of energy and sprinted the last 0.10 of a mile, spurring on what seemed like all the crowds of people to cheer my name, giving me even more of a boost… My finishing time i’ll indulge shortly, but I’d like to express a couple more thoughts (read: excuses) first.

The months I had been training were mostly cold, wet, overcast, or near freezing temperatures, and I always trained early morning or in the evening. Whereas the race started at mid-day, on a clear skied, easily-the-hottest-so-far-this-year day, which I was definitely not prepared for. I dehydrated a lot quicker than I did in any of my training, and felt the heat noticeably impact on my energy levels. The experience of running on the historical Silverstone race track was an exciting privilege, but alas only for my mind & spirit, as unfortunately running on the tarmac for 75% of the time also took its tole on me, due to normally mixing up the surfaces I run on during training… But I did complete it, and only just shy of my target.

Results

Time: 2h:1m:22s
Place: 2755th / 6354 finishers
Average speed: 6.5 Mph
Money raised for charity: £231.25

For more results and stats check out this site.

Pre-race with Christopher Dyer, and post-race

Thank you

So lastly, a massive thank you to everyone who donated and gave support, and especially my family for cheering me on, on the day. Special thanks to Ashley O’Brien and Ian Caulkett for suggesting it in the first place, and Christopher Dyer for also running it. (Massive congrats to him also for completing it in 1hr 26mins and coming 76th…insane runner goth man)

Here are the names of everyone who donated:
Ian Caulkett, Stephen & Sharon Dean-Corke,  Rachel D-C, Ron & Betty Butcher, Diane & John Phillips, Rachel Camozzi-Jones, Carol Wheatley, Elaine & Steve Milne, Ashley O’Brien, Ben Freeman, Claire Hartley, David & Bernadette Webb, Andy Webb, Anita Bardsley, Peggy & John Tidd, Lee Aplin,  Jack Smith, Sally Bentley,  Martin & Jan Butcher, Darren Phillips, Jackie P, Claire White

oh… and i’ve already decided to do the Birmingham Half-Marathon in October.

  Much love
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