It only took two years!
Anne-Marie asked me if I could write a training and race report for the half marathon so I thought I would go back to the (sort of) beginning for full dramatic effect.
Oct 2022
Not to be theatrical about it but exactly 2 years ago this week I was shit scared, stuck on my back in a hospital bed unable to move with two prolapsed discs and debilitating nerve pain. I didn’t think I would be in this state at the age of 32. It was the classic “something has to change” moment.
December 2022
I could now walk again and was coming off the meds that turned me into a zombie person. Waiting for an NHS physio appt to work out my next steps.
July 2023
I was scared walking through the door of the gym 6 months later (thank you NHS gym referrals for making this accessible and affordable) – this wasn’t a place for people like me. This was a place for thin and beautiful and fit people who have fancy clothes and perfect hair.
February 2024
Now I’m one of those people that goes to the gym 3 times a week (I even met Bea in the changing room) and I’m still nervous every time I walk in there. I want to run but treadmills are boring!
March 2024
My Mum was a member of Cotswold Allrunners and she went on and on and on about how bloody nice everyone was. But I was too scared to join because people are scary and new things are scary and this was both in one.
So because I’m really sensible I signed up for the Stroud Half Marathon.
April 2024
No choice now – I bit the bullet and completed the trial membership form.
Thu 9th May
Walking up to the group on my first Thursday evening was proper scary (especially when Mum copped out last minute because it was too hot) leaving me on my own. Then David (who I just knew as the man who asks lots of questions) asked me what my 5k time was. My answer – “I don’t know if I’ve ever run 5km, I just run until I’m tired and then stop. I haven’t got one of those magic watches like you. Mine cost £9.99 from Argos.”
That first run was hard and I was scared. Could I keep up? (Yes-ish) Was I drinking enough water? (Maybe) Was I drinking too much water? (Probably) What if I needed a wee? (It was so hot I didn’t) Did I have the right kit? (There is no such thing)
Mum was right though – everyone was really bloody nice. Welcoming and kind (and David isn’t actually scary when you get to know him). So I came back the next week. And the week after. And probably the week after that.
Now I was running once a week, every week.
Tue 28th May
I joined intervals on Tuesdays even though I was scared of that too (and fell over first week running too fast for my legs to keep up). Jenny and Karen looked after me though. I moved up to steady-improvers on Thursdays. First run in that group was scary but Max kept circling back for me.
Now I was running twice a week, every week.
Sun 7th July
After much putting off – I’m not fast enough, I will hold everyone back – I finally signed up for a Sunday run (I was just scared really though wasn’t I?). It was hilarious – 3 of us in the pouring rain, sliding around in the mud because the footpath had been blocked by tree felling (thanks for sticking with it and us Michael Luff!). I loved it – I felt stronger and more powerful than I had in years.
I signed up to some shorter races before the Half and did those. I was scared for them too (in case this wasn’t obvious).
I kept running. 3 times a week. Every week.
September
Big scary races.
Woodchester 8 miles – so hard and hot and fast. I came in last and felt quite deflated but I finished it.
Chedworth 10 miles – beautiful, loved it, rivers are fun but I was so tired so fast! Learnt that eating is really important before and during runs longer than about 6 miles. First time I felt proud of myself really (then I got cross because they had run out of medals so us steady runners didn’t get one).
I kept running. 3 times a week. Every week.
October
Anne-Marie welcomed me into the medium-steady Thursday group. It was all going well. I was up to 10 miles and prepping for a few extended Sunday runs to reach 13.
Then I got sick 3 weeks before race day. And because I’m really sensible I went hiking in the Brecons while I was sick because I decided I was better now (I wasn’t).
This was actually fine because it gave me lots of time in bed for online shopping where I bought a lovely race vest so I could panic-pack all the things I might need on the day (I didn’t need any of them it turns out). But it also wasn’t fine because I got more and more scared.
Sunday 27th Oct – Half Marathon day
I was proper scared by now. My chest was still tight (although my tonsils had gone back to their normal shape). I had been up every 2 hours for both nights previously with a sick child. I hadn’t had a chance to work out my “fuelling strategy”. I hadn’t run 13 miles ever, so I didn’t know if I could do it.
Off I went to the start line. I left home early so I would be there in plenty of time. But then I faffed at the car for ages because I couldn’t decide what to take and wear (even though I decided the night before just so this wouldn’t happen) so then I was nearly late for the club photo.
To nervous wee or not to nervous wee – that is the question. I joined the wee queue and then my hands tasted of hand sanitiser for the whole race.
I joined Bea with the last pacer (2:30) thinking I’ll try to keep up for as long as I can then see what happens.
Then it was 9 o’clock and we started running – couldn’t back out now. Bea and I went ahead of the pacer and felt comfortable. She took off a bit later and then it was just me doing my breathing exercises and trying to chill the f*** out.
I carried on running – listening to some blokes chatting behind me about their pace – very complicated, I couldn’t understand but I thought “well they seem to know what they’re doing so if I’m as fast as them I’m doing fine” (shout out to the two men in orange Gloucester Tri team shirts).
I carried on running and actually started to enjoy myself – this is just like a normal Sunday run (but with 1200 other people and road closures just for us).
And I carried on running. Past the first water station (I have decided to count races in water stations not miles). Past my mates from work who followed me round (shout out Hels and Morgan!). Past water station no 2. Starting to feel tired and oh shit the 2:30 pacer had appeared behind me. I kicked on for a bit but the inevitable happened and he went past me.
Now it was hurting and it was a long old straight all the way back. I nearly stopped to walk and someone coming past me said “you’ve got this” so I carried on running (thanks tall person in grey). The marshals kept me going through Ebley then everyone was lining the road all the way back past the roundabout and cheering us on.
I could see the finish line and a group of Allrunners cheering me on. So I pushed it and did the “sprint finish” that Keith has been training us for in intervals (turns out it’s just running at normal speed rather than the foot dragging zombie speed I had been doing since the 2nd water station).
And that was it – I finished my first ever half marathon. In time to get in the Allrunners finishing photo too. Everything hurt but I was buzzing.
Thank you Janina for the cake (I was all sugared out so couldn’t face any of Bee’s birthday cake) that I took home. And thank you for all the congratulations, hugs and well wishes from everyone. Thanks for letting me join your gang, I love it.
I came in last of the Allrunners but that doesn’t matter. I finished it.
And because I’m really sensible I’ve signed up for the Stroud Trail Marathon in May.
I’ll still be scared. I’ll still be near (or at) the back. But I’m not going to stop running. Who’s coming with me?
