I did it!!!

Marathon S.

Just a quick recap over the last two weeks worth of training.

16 days ago, read the The Chi of Running and found out that my running style wasn't quite right so decided to change it during a 10k treadmill session, with the result being that I ended the session with a painful right knee to match the left that has been nailed since I began, however, the shin splints seemed easier!!

14 days ago I decided I really needed to do a long run so armed with the first Harry Potter book on my pod I decided to attempt a 16K, a run 6K farther than anything I had ran previously.

I completed the run in fairly good shape, however, at the end my right knee did a semi collapse thing and stopped working with shooting pains ripping through it when I tried to lift my foot.

Decided that I just needed a little rest so had a few days off till 7 days ago when I decided to try an 18K run to get my confidence up for the half.  

Set out in the 26 deg heat of a Jersey afternoon in a day glo neon running shirt with the second part of Harry Potter to 'ave it!!! Got off to a slow start then got even slower, I was breathing like a race horse on the last furlong of the national, the shirt was cutting underneath my armpits and the earphones kept falling out.  The net result was I managed to do 4.77K in 29 mins then had to walk back 4.77K to the car with a sore knee and looking a complete tit in the day glo neon shirt with my belly and man boobs on full display.

Met Marathon T on Monday morning inconsolable at the disastrous training that had occurred.

Marathon T imparted some words of wisdom so I did a 6.2k treadmill session that night a 36K exercise bike ride on the Tuesday topped off with a 70 min 10K on the Wednesday night prior to the start of tapering and no exercise.

Carb loading took place with sweets, pop, steak and king prawn espatada's and chinese food being scoffed down with gay abandon, however, all too soon it was the night before the race.

The rain was lashing down, it was cold and the wind was whistling outside.

I tried to sleep but found that futile, I was at defcon 5 on the panic scale and wanted my mummy.

The alarm sounded at 06:15 and the porridge was made with extra salt.

The pee test was performed and found to look like rape seed as opposed to clear so a hydration plan kicked in and I nervously paced the house and waited for Marathon T to collect me!

We made our way to the start line in the cool morning air with the drizzle falling, seeing just how far 13 miles is!!

Much nervous banter was engaged in at the starting area with more hydration taking place.  By this time the pee test told me I was overhydrated so a few trips to the urinal were engaged in.

All too soon we were under starters orders and we were off.

The first couple of miles seemed to be all up hill with a wind battering my face so small steps were called for to help me conserve energy.

In no time I'd reached 4 miles (I lie actually, a large period had elapsed) and the first water stop where I took on even more fluid so much so that I was loosing it from my whole body so it could stop itself drowning.  At this point the right night which had been diagnosed as having medial knee ligament damage was playing up, however, I manfully battled on.

I got to 6 miles and took on even more water still feeling okay but with the knee pain increasing.

I crossed the half way line and had a good sponge down at 7 miles before taking on more water at 8 miles and a half a litre of Lucozade at 9.5 miles.  By now my bladder was the size of a football and the same pressure so I had to nip into a potato field entrance to relieve myself.

When I tried to start off again the knee had decided it had had enough and refused to move even throwing in a pretend collapse for good measure.  I battled on slowly as I only had 3 miles to go and finally reached the 400m to go sign.

I didn't have a sprint finish so lamely crossed the line in more of a fastish walk as opposed to a run in 2:19

Anyway the rest of the MoFo's were at the finish line to clap me home.

As I type now my knee is buggered, but that is temporary, the satisfaction of completing my first half marathon will never leave me, nor will the pride I have for my running companions.

We've had a fabulous team spirit which has kept me going through numerous injuries.

I'm really pleased that I've gone from overweight couch potato to completing my first half marathon.

So just one question remains, is my running career over?

Well, I'm taking two weeks off, however, I already have two things planned for the remainder of this year so check back and see how I get on!!! :O)

Marathon S (Properly marathon S) signing off for now, however, as Arnie famously said "I'll be back!'