I completed a half marathon.
1 hour, 53 minutes.
This was my second half marathon.
My first half marathon was 15 years ago.
At that time, I got a time of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
15 years later I am 10 minutes faster.
My goal was to be under 2 hours.
I am proud of myself for being faster even though I’m older.
In January, I registered for the event, as a way to organise my mind and body for 2024.
I started training about 4 months ago, running 2/3 times per week.
I asked ChatGPT for a training schedule which it accurately created.
I researched marathon strategies: Positive Spilt, Negative Split, Even Spilt.
I decided on the ‘Even Split’ strategy – running the entire race at the same pace.
I discovered I needed to run 5.4 minutes per 1 km, in order to be under 2 hours.
On the day, I ran steady with the 2 hour pace runners.
I tried hard to conserve my energy and not use it all up at the start.
A half marathon requires so much self-discipline.
In the second half I stayed with a runner running a good pace and in the last 5K I ran faster to the finish.
The half-marathon was a lot of fun, and the training I put in has made my body fitter and healthier.
Benefits of doing the half-marathon:
Reuniting with an old friend who introduced me to ParkRun
Discovering ParkRun, a 5K fun run every Saturday morning – a global community (54 locations in New Zealand).
Training with my close friend – running on the weekends and catching up
Becoming healthier from regular exercise 6 months prior to the event
My body feeling better at work.
Joining an athletics group and learning techniques from experienced professionals
Learning about diet and food for my body
Highlights of the half-marathon:
Morning sunrise over the beach
Seeing a positive one-armed man ahead of me on the half-marathon
Seeing a bright asian woman leading the women in the full marathon
Early start on race day, watching my breakfast
Fun - energy of the people all participating in one event
Achieving my goal of being under 2 hours.
Running together with the 2 hour pace runners (they are amazing, my hat comes off to them - keeping the same pace for the people)
The training was harder than the race
Although it looks all positive – there were some very difficult training days:
The day I forgot my phone, couldn’t find the athletics running track, running in a rugby field miles from home at night, and then it pouring down with rain.
The 12K run 3 weeks prior to the event that exhausted me and made me doubt myself – I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it to 21K.
Running in the rain
Running sick
Sacrificing the night before, so I could be fresh on the big day
Running a half marathon was a lot of fun and I now think I can do a full marathon, something that previously scared me, but now I think is achievable.
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