After yesterday's 5k I finally ran my first half today. It may have been a mistake to do two races in a weekend as my legs were a little sore. There had been a forecast of rain, but the day turned out pretty good. Not too warm and just right for running.
I cycled over to Standalone Farm where the start and finish was. There were lots of serious looking runners there. A bit different to the fun run atmosphere yesterday. Some people were loaded up with drink bottles and gels that seemed a little over the top for the distance. I knew there were two drink stations on the course and I assumed that would be enough, but I guess some people must have their own special drinks. I think there were around 280 starters. It's supposed to be a self-guided race with limited signage, but there were marshals at some points. You just had to know which turnings to take, but I had already scouted the route and I had people to follow anyway. The roads were not closed and there were marshals at the crossings. In most cases drivers let us cross.
Here's the start. I went near the back as I didn't want to hold anyone up. We had to walk a little to start with and there are some narrow bridges that caused the runners to bunch up, but then they got well spread out.
I took it very steadily as I knew it was going to be a long slog. I found I was not huffing and puffing much generally. I just kept my legs moving, even on the hills. There are a few climbs, but they are not too steep and I was pleased that I could keep jogging when others walked.
The route is mostly on the Letchworth Greenway that runs right around the town. It's a compacted sand and gravel surface that's a little more forgiving than roads. Some was on grass with a few stretches of pavements (or sidewalks if you prefer). I just settled into a comfortable pace and was able to maintain that most of the way. I found I passed a few people, but it wasn't really about where I was placed.
The drink stations also had some gummi bears that may have helped me a little. There were a few people along the way cheering us on, but no big crowds before the finish. I saw some spectators a couple of times, so they must have driven ahead. My wife and son were waiting about 2km from the end to give me some encouragement. At that point I was feeling pretty good. It does seem to take me a while to really get going. Just after I saw them I speeded up as I knew the finish was close. I may have done that a little early as I had to walk a few steps as I got on the track around the field where the finish was. I managed to get going again in time to finish at a nice run with lots of people cheering. We had our names on our numbers, so it was fun to hear people shouting 'Come on Steve!'.
As I crossed the finish the clock said around 2:10, but the provisional official times shows me doing 2:11:40 in 188th place. I'm very happy with that as I didn't expect to do better than 2:15. My app (Endomondo) shows slightly better, but I can't say how accurate it is. The max speed is definitely not right. It does show my best times are all in the latter stages, but that's probably down to my 'sprint'.
My wife and son were at the finish to welcome me. There was a wonderful selection of cakes for competitors. You can see me here enjoying some scrumptious rocky road.
You can't see my medal above, so here it is with the one from yesterday.
So what's next? Having done a half now I can contemplate doing another, but there are some 5k and 10k events locally that I'd like to do too. What about a marathon? Well, that's a whole different thing. I can imagine I'd really have to step up the training for that. Maybe next year.
Run free!
Runners should check out #RunningProject and #RunForSteem that can earn you some extra Steem or SBD. We have a great community of runners on Steemit.
I'll buy guitar picks for Steem Dollars
Get some passive income with Mannabase
If this post is over seven days old you can vote up one of my newer posts to reward me.
Spam comments may be flagged. Beware of the Commentphant!
Well done Steve! I'm very proud of you. It has been a real treat for me to follow your progress and watch you work away at your goal.
The fact that you enjoyed the race is the most important thing. and that little walk near the end is just about perfect. That mean you pt all your effort into it. You went hard, and got a good result.
Your time and placings are useful to measure progress (not so much to massage your ego). They let you see how you are improving against other runners. for example - I did an ultra last year and was two and a half hours behind a woman I met at registration. My last ultra I was 26 minutes behind her. So no matter what my time and place was I know I'm improving - especially since i felt really good during and after the last ultra.
So, you have done a good thing yesterday. You completed your challenge to yourself and you did it well. Yes you will be sore for a few days, but that will pass. A light, sort run finishing with an even shorter full on sprint (100 metres) will help with that.
And then you can do the other races that you wanted to do knowing that you have the distance sorted - this is a short race for you.
I'm glad things went well for you, and I'm looking forward to badgering you about stepping up to the next level ;-) (but not today. Today is about celebrating what you have achieved)
Well done. That man deserves a beer ;-)
Cheers. You have been one of my inspirations. I did have a beer last night.
Well done Steve, what a weekend! I'm surprised you did a 5k the day before but seems to have worked out well. Congrats on getting it done and in a good time… onwards to the next challenge!
Good job and great photos Steve.
Congrats 🍾🎉🎈. Good for you! @swt3df1
It's good to know you still go out for sports. I hardly have time for stuffs like this. Juat once in a month
Well done, I bet you feel amazing after achieving your first half, I know I did xx
It's great to have finally done it, but I'm suffering a little. One of my legs is all tight. I'll rest it for a few days
Well done Steve. Quite an achievement.
Cheers. I just wish I'd started this running lark when I was a bit younger, but I'm enjoying it now anyway. Not enjoying the leg pains I'm suffering now though :)
Our running shoes have magic in them- the power to transform a bad day into a good day; frustration into speed; self-doubt into confidence; chocolate cake into muscle. - Mina Samuels
Source for gif
Vote for your running author of the week 16!
Resteemed by @runningproject
This is a great result, Steve! Sincere congratulations!!!
Excellent! Congratulations and respect, Steve. You did just great.
And you don't look tired at all. I am certain that you could run some more :)
As for your next goals. Take it easy and make the distances up to a half marathon your comfort zone. Then it will be time to step out of this zone and to the next big goal. It just might be a marathon run, why not.
Bravo!
I felt pretty good at the end, but then I did put in all that training. My legs are still sore, but I'm looking to do more 5k and 10k events soon. I'm not sure I'd want to do the longer distance too often, but maybe I can get out to do them gently now and again.
Well done!!! Looks really a very nice day ! Even if I'm too lazy to run, to have a selection of cakes for competitors could be a great incentive for my legs ;)
I was doing it mainly for the cake :)
Well done Steve - proper job!
Well done! 2:10 is a decent time, not bad at all. @bingbabe did 1:59 last year but she's running with a friend who is not her equal this time so will probably be a lot slower.
She says she doesn't want the pressure of beating last years time, a good plan I think, especially if its warm.
The time is not really that important. Someone said to me today that if people ask about her time she says 'I had a good time'
Congrats on a great accomplishment!
Thanks. I was sort of dreading it, but now I'm wondering what else I can achieve
Did you hit the dreaded wall at one point?
I actually did hit some sort of wall a few hundred metres from the finish, but then I had sprinted before that. I recovered enough to run the last stretch. I think this would be more of an issue on a full marathon as the body just runs out of fuel.
Congratulations @steevc! Regards from a spanish runner and steemit runner!
There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment.
Good job .. If Steemit sponsored you could have worn a tee-shirt with the name on it.
Great health! :) I love the photos.
There's an idea. I could get a Running Project shirt to advertise it.
Congratulations, that's really well done, so nice to have followed the story through to its conclusion. I loved the bit about people shouting, Come on Steve!
Finally the big day! Congratulations :) Time for a beer in the geeky guitarist!
I did celebrate with a beer last night. Hoping my legs will recover soon for more adventures
You know your a runner, when you think its a good idea to do two races in two days. Well done mate and congratulations.
Regards @run.vince.run
Far out Steve! That is so impressive!
I should get back into jogging. I can't ever imagine myself doing marathons though, but I have respect for anyone who can do even half that!
Well done mate!
I couldn't imagine myself doing this a few years back. It's been a long road to get there, but I'm proud of what I've achieved.
You should be proud, mate! It's epic!
Excellent Steve. Well done on completing this.
Congratulations on beating the time you set for yourself @steevc. Glad to hear it went well! 😁
Congratulations! Not a lot of runners can do 2 races in one weekend! Take some well deserved rest now :)
Congratulations Steve, well done! That's perfect that you made it without walking.
Well done! A fantastic weekend of activity. Congratulations on completing both and feeling well doing it!
What an achievement, you put my fitness level to shame! ☺️
Well done Steve! Hope you sleep well tonight. Mine is still one and half month away :-)
Congrats on the accomplishment! I don't know if I could have run two races in one weekend, but that is super impressive!
You sure burned a ton of calories on your run! sheesh!
That piece of cake got them all back :)
Haha that it did! What is your food intake and hydration plan the day before and day of the race?
There's no real plan. We had curry last night, but I stayed off the beer. I'll have one tonight.
I think staying off the beer was probably a good idea! I love a good curry!
You had a busy weekend with two races! Congratulations, well done!
I'm glad you enjoyed your marathon. Man that's impressive, running for straight 22 KMS with the average speed of almost 10. That's wonderful. These are pretty nice medals you have won there, and you look good and in shape too.
You should take a long rest now, and should take care of your legs. in this age bones get sensitive.
Anyway congratulation for two medals.
Here i live have no contest like running/marathon. Though i like 100/200 meters running contest. at school life i was at 1st, 2nd or 3rd position, never missed a trophy of running.
If anything running should be good for me as an active body is healthier.
This is true that you said :-) but anything excess or over dose is not also much good for health. take care.
Maybe you should be worrying about the millions of people do marathons around the world. What I do is not excessive
Good job my friend!! 🎉🎊🍾
wow...2 in a week. You really pulling something huge. Well good luck to the end.
Congratz man.Reminds me I need to look more into running myself.
Congratulation
You have done your first half marathon. It was not easy. I wish you best next.Welcome, @steevc, We are saying welcome like your son and wife. You got a medal that we can see. As a steemian you doing good. We want to see steemian winner.
Congratulations @steevc you did really well in half marathon. Glad to know that you finished earlier before your setting goal of 02:15. Great going. Really tough to jog for more than 2 hours at a pace of app 10 km/hr. Keep it up. All the best
Congratulation
You have done your first half marathon. It was not easy. I wish you best next.
well done. you like as a hussain bolt,best wishes for you.@steevc
Congrats!! Great job out there, keep running my friend!
congratulations on your run. There were people there ! On the way for the marathon ;-)