HM race re-cap!

[Deleted]

Conwy, Wales Half Marathon, Sunday 24 November.

So, here goes... I arrived at 1030 since I had to pick up my race bib (I registered late) and it was a cold crisp morning, light cloud, but no where near as cold as it could have been. The location is right on the tip of Wales, so you have the Irish Sea which can be brutal, but today it was flat as a pancake. Not even a breath of wind in the air. Well, not at sea level. 

Picked up the race bib and had an hour before the gun time, so we went back to the car (husband, dog and me) to relax and take in some fuel. I sat nervously in the car wondering whether the race was a good idea. Or, more specifically whether the cocktails I had the night before were a good idea. Anyway, I went back to the race area, queued to use the portaloos and then said bye to my husband and dog who were going for a coastal walk to kill time. Told them I would be back in a couple of hours, meet me at one of the tents.

i stood in the start area where, ridiculously, non racers were also standing. Annoying to have to navigate past them, but whatever. First mile, over a bridge and past a castle, all good. Then we wind down towards the shore and it's a narrow track, on sand. Huh? Thought it was a bit slow going but maybe it was a good thing to pace myself. 

The course turned inland and through a cute village on a headland, where the coast on the other side awaited us. As well as a three mile climb up a hill. I knew it was coming and inhaled some gel for the very first time and waited for it to kick in and see whether I could tell. Reminded me of my uni days and experimenting with certain banned substances. The climb up the hill went fine, I just plodded along silently agreeing with myself that plodding was fine, stopping was not. Besides I wasn't in any pain of any kind so I had no reason to stop. I eventually reached the top and though it was hard going it wasn't as bad as I had expected. I don't know whether it was the gel, the hill work training, or both. But. I knew I wasn't going to set any records. And that was okay because frankly it was the beautiful coastline with the turquoise waters slapping gently on the rocks way below that was making my day. I felt alive and was thoroughly enjoying it. Rounding the headland the big decline came and it felt fast, but good. I kept up a decent comfortable pace back along the coastline, over the bridge past the castle and over the finish line. 

The funniest thing was seeing the surprised look on my husband's face. Why? Because...

I finished in 1 hr 51 minutes. Whoa. And I placed 19th in my category. WTF? He said he walked up to the finish early to cheer on the racers but did not expect to see me so soon! 

And there you have it: my very first half marathon. Bloody loved it. Will do another before Paris Marathon. Well, once I peel myself off the sofa.

[G22]

Congrats! That's a great time for a first half!

[al320]

Congrats!! Awesome time!

[jene]

Congrats! That is a great time!

[coconutbug]

Wow, fantastic job! Congrats!!

[shellfish26]

Woohoo! You are super speedy!

[Wines Not Whines]

Congratulations!

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2013 13:06:30 GMT -5 shellfish26 said:

Woohoo! You are super speedy!

That's the weirdest thing, I'm really not, I'm a plodder. I rock my own pace and just hope I don't come last. I write everyone off around me as being professional so I don't try to keep up. Weirdly though I did a 7:39 mile. Downhill, obviously! The rest were in the 8 min range. 
I even apologised to the guy at the running shop for wasting his time because I 'wasn't really a runner'. Then bought a really expensive pair because he was lovely and I was wasting his time. I think given I lost the use of my left leg last year (entirely, couldn't even lift in the hospital bed and cried for a day) that it's hard to believe I'm even attempting this stuff. 
Ugh, sorry for the flowery emotional ramble. I blame endorphins. And champagne. And now I want pancakes. 

[jchokie79]

Sounds like a beautiful route and an awesome first Half experience. Congratulations on your super fast time!!!

[hannahb]

Glad you had such a good experience and awesome time!

[gt7301b]

Nice work!!

[katinthehat]

go get some pancakes- you earned them! Fantastic race!

[skwcm80]

Congratulations!! That is a great time,

[noisemaker2]

Terrific job!!

[labbie]

It sounds like such a beautiful course, and congrats on the speedy time!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using proboards

[trigal]

Nov 24, 2013 13:21:12 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Nov 24, 2013 13:06:30 GMT -5 shellfish26 said:

Woohoo! You are super speedy!

That's the weirdest thing, I'm really not, I'm a plodder. I rock my own pace and just hope I don't come last. I write everyone off around me as being professional so I don't try to keep up. Weirdly though I did a 7:39 mile. Downhill, obviously! The rest were in the 8 min range. 
I even apologised to the guy at the running shop for wasting his time because I 'wasn't really a runner'. Then bought a really expensive pair because he was lovely and I was wasting his time. I think given I lost the use of my left leg last year (entirely, couldn't even lift in the hospital bed and cried for a day) that it's hard to believe I'm even attempting this stuff. 
Ugh, sorry for the flowery emotional ramble. I blame endorphins. And champagne. And now I want pancakes. 

Ummm... I think running a half marathon makes you a runner, especially with a time like that!!! Congrats on a great race! It sounds beautiful!

[sassystace]

Great recap and super time! Not too many of us get to run by castles on a daily basis!

[sadlebred]

Congratulations!

[chw57]

It sounds like such a pretty race. Great job!!

[wanderlustmom]

Awesome time! I stayed in Conwy in 2000 and loved exploring the area. Beautiful.

[runaways]

Congrats on a great first half! I would say you are definitely a real runner.

[clseale]

The races I go into doing my own thing, with the idea that I have nothing to lose, and nothing to do but run, are the races I always wind up doing best in. Sounds like you went in with a great mindset today, and you totally killed it. Sounds like a beautiful race. Congrats on an awesome half!

[kams]

Great job!! I don't think there's any disputing you as a "real" runner!

[Deleted]

Awesome job!!

[cinco]

Congratulations!

[lovesherheels]

What a fantastic experience! Congratulations on your half!

[emuni04]

Great job! The course sounds beautiful

[shauni27]

holy crap,you are FAST! That is an AMAZING half marathon time, cannot believe it was your first! Congratulations!

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone, I think it will take a while before I really feel like a runner and not a complete fraud. Thanks for all the kind words.

[kellifsu]

Congratulations!!