Half-way there

I'm officially half way there! It’s actually quite hard to believe, but I ran a half-marathon last Sunday, completing over thirteen miles - yes, thirteen miles!

When I started off training in October, thirteen miles seemed a long way. 

But to be honest, I still can’t imagine doubling it for the full marathon. Another thirteen miles seems a long, long distance but I have to keep reminding myself that ten weeks ago, I couldn’t run thirteen miles. Now that’s done. 

Everyone keeps asking if it was tough, and of course it was, but not as bad as you think. Once you starting running and get into it you just keep going. 

The worst thing is that it can get quite boring. I definitely need more songs on my iPod, as I listened it twice over on the thirteen miles.

And of course, there is a bit of pain involved. Every now and then your body says ‘I can’t do this’. And you have to tell yourself to keep going. 

I did my thirteen miles on my own, so I missed running with the group. But I did it, and that’s what important. And of course you do get a great buzz when you manage to complete it. Then, the pain is forgotten and you feel on top of the world. 

Although I have to admit I pretty much fell back into bed after doing it, and slept for a few hours. 

So I’m now back on track with training, and actually I did pretty well over Christmas. 

Despite all the festivities, I managed to keep to the training schedule and I even did a four-mile run on Christmas morning and again on St Stephen’s Day. 

I never thought when I started off that I would be so committed, but I missed training so much when I was injured that I didn’t want to fall behind anymore. 

I have to admit I missed my 12 mile run on Saturday before Christmas, as I went out the night before. 

But I rescheduled and went on Sunday instead - so that’s commitment for you. 

It’s weird, but I don’t honestly feel any fitter. But I suppose I must be. 

And any weight-loss has been wiped out by the Christmas festivities.  On the plus side, I pretty much ate everything I wanted over the holidays as I ran it off - that’s my defence anyway. 

I probably have toned up a bit since I started, and running is definitely part of my life now which was the aim of the programme. 

Now I just have to complete 26.2 miles. I get a lot of moments of panic when I say this, especially as the marathon is getting closer and closer. 

March 16th is not that far away. I’m very afraid of getting more injuries which would set me back again. I can’t afford to take any more time off from training so fingers crossed that all goes well from here on out. 

New Year’s Eve has upset my training this week, and my mother who is accompanying me on this marathon training, is celebrating her birthday this weekend too. It’ll will further put training in jeopardy, but from next week on, it’s head down and ten full weeks of training to get ready for D-Day. 

Well at least I have a New Year’s resolution to run a marathon.