If you read my blog you might be wondering whether I completed my half marathon. Yes is the answer, in a time of 3 hours 8 minutes and if you really want to get detail a whole 10 seconds!!! It was a great achievement for me although I realise that others finished much earlier than I did but I was, at least, not last!!.
It took a lot of discipline in training and I know that if I trained harder I could of got a better time but I am a busy mum who works and has other commitments to fit in around what I want to do.
The other day I was in Bristol City, it was about 6.30/7pm and it made me think it would be great to do the Bristol Half - I wonder when it is. It is in September so I'm now thinking I might do that one as well. I had said I wouldn't do another big race because the training takes up a lot of time but then again its a women's perogative to change her mind!!
My birthday was the day before the race which was a great excuse to go away but it did mean I couldn't endulge in the hotel breakfast on the day of the race (maybe will have to rethink that part!!) We left the children with Mum & Dad and took off on the motorbike up to Reading where we stayed the night in a Holiday Inn. It was so nice not too have to cook dinner or wash up or get up and down from the table for any number of reasons. We then spent a little while listening to a sweet old man 'tinkling the ivories' before going to bed.
On the morning of the race we arrived early after having a healthy pre-race breakfast of 'salted' porridge (not quite sure about the salted part)and banana and scrambled eggs, whilst Pete endulged in the cooked breakfast after also having the porridge. There were about 16,000 competitors milling around outside the Madjeski Stadium with lots of tents - either selling running gear or for storing your gear.
My cousin also entered but she is in a different league to me. When it was time to goto the start line she went in one direction and I in another (she finished in 1 hr 43mins) In the area where I was there was a man standing in a 'mankini' (some bit of material that leaves not a lot to the imagination). I have to wonder why anyone would run a 13 mile race virtually naked but I guess we're all different.
It took about 18 mins to get to the start line (3hours to get to the finish!!) and then we were off, it was that packed. The atmosphere was great, people lining the streets to see us as we went on our way, kids holding out their hands to be tagged.
Towards the end I found the going really tough, my back was sore, my legs were sore and a lady close by encouraged me to keep going. Once we were on the uphill road to the stadium I put on a piece of music (a power song) to give me new energy and ran as fast as I could to the finish. After finishing we made our way out of the stadium where we received a medal and goody bag. Afterwards I was able to get a back massage which was really nice. We took a steady journey back home but each time we stopped it got harder to get off the bike. By the morning I had pulled a muscle in my leg. I ran 13 miles but pulled my muscle getting off a motorbike!!!
