Ran my first half-marathon

Sir Tokyo Sexwale · August 1, 2011

Yeah, I know there are people on here who have run a marathon, or loads of marathons, or even longer distances, and also half marathons faster than I did, but nonetheless...

About 3 weeks ago a mate told me one of his mates from work couldn't run it (The Queens half, around Flushing Meadows Park) and kind of cajoled me into doing it. Now, I'm a decent 10k runner, I'll pitch in about 6'30" miles for one of those, I could go faster if I dedicated a bit more time to training...so I sort of agreed. But I didn't do any proper training for it beyond my usual 10k kind of distances - I threw in a half-mile swim & 5.5m run in a session the week before - but it's hard as I play footy twice a week, and have just finished in a kickball league and have a kid and social life...

Anyway, I figured that 6 miles wasn't going to be an issue & 8-9 miles I could easily stretch to. Beyond 9 miles though & I was into uncharted water.

So, apart from getting up at 5am for a 7am start, and it was 79 degrees (26 in English money) and humid, it went quite well. The first mile I did at a leisurely 8 mins, but the first mile is always like that because of number of people, then miles 2-8 all at 7.30 pace & mile 9 at 8' which was all ok, putting me on for about a 1'37" finish. After mile 9 was really tough though and from 11 it was hell, overall harder than I figured.

I finished in 1'45" which is ok, putting me 733 out of 4,800. So assuming I do another/more I am aiming for 1'30" which means proper training and stuff.

It was deffo well worth doing - it was one of my small goals in life to do; I have little interest in a marathon as they're f***ing brutal on the knees

ManxRed · August 1, 2011

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