GULP just entered my first half marathon

Wow, well done Julia that is absolutely brilliant and what a great time too. 

How is everyone elses training coming along???  My 2 mile hill training didnt go quite according to plan yesterday... It was soooooooooo cold and absolutely tippling down and there was no way on earth I could convince myself that going out in it was a good idea.  Weather permitting, I'll do it tonight before combat class instead *fingers crossed for a lapse in the rain*.   I got up to running 7mile before my 10K race but that was on the flat (training, not the race as I found out on the day) and I'm incorporating more hills this time, hence starting back at the beginning.

Thanks you all so much for your congratulations, I can feel another tear in my eye............

I feel ok today but yesterday afternoon i could hardly walk, and getting up the stairs........!

Around mile 9 i could feel my leg muscles starting to hurt a bit but i think you turn into a sort of robot, it was like, my legs had been going back and forth so many times i couldn't stop them and my puff was absolutely fine. Up till sunday i'd only ever run 8.5 miles before but it was not nearly so bad as i thought so i will now concentrate on trying to get a bit quicker and just enjoying the day when it comes.

CazSoul the weather has been horrific here today, we have had floods and all sorts. At the gym where i work all the storm drains flooded thro our toilet plumbing and we had bog roll (used) all over the car park  Hope you "got a window" of dryness.

Tracey it looks like you have definitely got the racing bug judging by your race entries! (34!) Does Brentwood have any fearsome hills that I should worry about? I'm hoping Mr T will be on driving and supporting duties so i can leave the car parking thing to him

Julia, just be careful not to go too mad or you might injure yourself. 

The course at Brentwood's not too bad.  Nothing too awful.  First mile or so is downhill so you really need to be careful not to get too carried away - you will pay for it later!  The downhill start of course means an uphill finish tho!

I have eased back a bit Ultra Kaz, just a couple of gentle jogs with my 14yo daughter (who i'm hoping will get the bug too) and walking to work and back. I don't think I need to do the 13 miles again for a while, i just wanted to know if i could do it! I'm going to try and speed up a bit now, intervals and all that

Macca, the stairs were definitely a killer but I recovered remarkably quickly considering, the human body is a wonderful thing! I'm hoping for some good cheering crowds to keep up my motivation on the day, I work at a gym and people keep telling me they will come and cheer me on hurrah

Saltpot, I know everyone says it but SERIOUSLY YOU WILL BE FINE. The key to it is your speed, if you are trying a longer run then go R.......E.......A......L............L....Y    S..............L...................O...........W....L......Y, slow enough to not get out of puff if you can, if you run to music then try and go between 140-150 bpm. Podrunner has some good stuff, you can get it on i-tunes store or google it, it's all free.

And remember, it's ok to walk some as well, if you tell yourself you are 'allowed' then you're more likely not to.

And remember, i am 46, i still weigh 12.12 and up till feb i had never run before. In fact before feb and for most of my life i weighed 16 odd stone so if i can then you really really can

And April is AGES away.

Thats really good advice Julia, think thats deffo where I'm going wrong on my hill runs... My pace is all over the shop and therefore tiring me out really quickly.  I even had perfect pace music on my mp3 the other night but I couldnt seem to get my mind in gear to settle down and focus on the music...   Rebel Yell by Billy Idol is really good btw.

Hi there, saw this thread and it seems right up my street. I have taken the plunge and entered the Wokingham half in Feb which will be my first ever race. I have been running a few months now and am up to 10k. I aim to do a 7 miler tomorrow all be it veeeerryy sllloooooowwwwly.

My intention is to increase my log run by a mile each week - well, we'll see best laid intentions and all that.

I may do a 10K before Feb just to get the racing experience, can't seem to find one around the Thames Valley area though - any one know of one? 

MTP - Have you used the events search on here???  There is a good chance you will have to travel but with any luck you'll be able to find one within 20mile radius or so.  You might find it harder to increase by a mile each week as you get to higher mileage but dont be disheartened it all takes time. 

Good luck & well done on what you've achieved already.

Thanks CazSoul and Susiebe, I think I will sign up for the Reading half this weekend (if I'm not too late), should be good. My long runs are slow at the mo - I always seem to have plenty in the tank at the end which I guess is a good sign.

Just had a look at the events, like the look of the Andy Rreading 10K but am in London then so can't unfortunately. Hope the running goes well, shall let you know if I manage the 7 this weekend - it's a hilly course which I gues will stand me in good stead. Keep plodding.

Oh god, oh god, oh god!!!  Will someone please shout at me, I was meant to be going out for a short easy run tonight before I go to the gym to meet my friend but I've got home and thought "stuff it I cant be ar*ed, I'll run on the dreadmill instead"  I think I've lost my running mojo...   Oh god, oh god, oh god!!!! Its only 5 months until my 1st ever half and I cant even complete a 3mile hill run without a walk just lately... Whats gone wrong???  Am I broken?? 

Please please please let my long slow run this weekend go according to plan.   As Mr CS is off to the football on Saturday I thought I'd take advantage of the situation and go out to run as far as my legs will run, no plan, no time limit, nothing...just run...