This was possibly my 15th half marathon and probably my worst time ever, but I had a great time, got a medal in the bag and enjoyed myself. I am looking at it as the first real step back into fitness. The last 16 months I have been blighted by an achilles injury that just would not leave me, and even though I have finally seemed to have cracked it, on the way I have lost my running mojo.
Saying that I have continued to run and work out, but in an ad hoc manner following no proper training plan and not running as much as I should. I could not seem to find the motivation and time ran out and the day of the Great North Run had come.
I did do a few half's last year and even ran one in February this year, all my times were worst evers, but that's what I love about me, I never give up no matter how bad it gets. Sunday I ran in the Great North Run, seven hour coach journey on Saturday, followed by a sleep in a uni sports hall on a camp bed, a little too cold for me, so did not have the best rest, and a race that took well, I ain't ganna say the time, but what I will say is that I was in a different world at the back of the field, but I made it, I done it, tried to run as much of it as I could. I toughed it out and got to the finish line in one piece on major injuries and the achilles held up just fine, in fact I did not even have one little niggle, bar the usual mash downness you feel after running 13.1 miles.
Where does that leave me now, hopeful that I can start picking up and get fitter and healthier and faster. I will run no more than 4 times a week and the rest of the time work on my strength, no more excuses with my achilles finally mending and giving me no major problems, it now seems as if it is my head that needs to get back on track. I need to start believing in myself again.
Next Half marathon will be the Brighton half in Feb and then the Reading half in March, I got 5 months to get my act together and train hard and smart and start running with a sense of purpose, pride and direction again. For now, I am going to give myself a pat on the back for my tenacity and stuborness for keeping on running when many would of given up, and for believing that I will,I can get better. If I have learned anything it is that I am the kind of runner who needs to train, has to put in the hours to post a decent time, I cannot coast it, my body does not work like that, so time to start hitting the road again, this tortoise will keep putting one foot in front of the other until she can start flying again. This is my way of being accountable, forcing myself to keep trying no matter how hard it gets.
you look fit even if you don't feel it. You finished the run, that's all that counts. Well done
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