First attempt at a Half Marathon by RachOsb

So the end of the New York holiday went well, we even squeezed in another run on our last day. 7km up to Central Park and back.

However... we back to school (as teachers!) the morning we landed

So the last week I've been struggling with jetlag, the shock of getting up for work after the summer holidays and a comeplete disorganisation!  Finally pulled myself together to head out for a run tonight.  Completed 30 mins fairly fast and with several up-hill sections.  I even found a vineyard and stumbled across some outdoor exercise classes.

I used to do the British Military Fitness classes in London, which I loved so I'm really excited about these - I'm all signed up for my free taster session

Plan for the weekend - 8 miles!!!

Hope all your training is going well!!

So the training plan hasn't really being going well, but I have been out a couple of times in the last two weeks and I've really enjoyed them

Run 1: The First Date

OK, so not a conventional first date, but now he's seen me hot and sweaty  We ran across Epsom Downs and he was impressed apparently !! We ran for about 40 mins and he reckoned we ran at about 9mins/mile.  He bought me lunch after and I got a second date out of it, so the plan must have worked! I'll keep you posted on future dates...

Run 2: Hudson River

So now I'm on holiday with a friend, R, visiting New York. I used to live here and we're crashing with friends.  R has just been signed up to a half marathon in March so we decided to go running.  We went to an outdoor yoga class in Central Park first, which was awesome, did a spot of rock climbing then headed out for a 4K run.  We run at a similar pace so I think we'll set up a regular running time when we get back.  Always easier to motivate yourself with someone else!!   We ran along the Hudson River and had to dodge lots of dog walkers!

Run 3: Central Park

We made a small mistake by eating a bagel just before running, but we still kept up a good pace. We covered 5K in 30 mins, which is the pace I want to keep over the half marathon.  It's good fun round the running track in Central Park, and now it's time to play hunt the insect bites! The temperature has dropped slightly and it's definitely less humid than the other day, so a good running temperature

All in all enjoying the running at the moment, and despite not having kept to the plan in the last two weeks I'm feeling confident about the Cardiff half

I once again managed to schedule a dance practise on the same day as a run, but feeling proud as I did both !!

Dance practise went well, the run not so much...

I was supposed to be doing a 40 min run, planned my route out, but when I got about half way round the path ran out , so had improvise.  This saw me run up-hill for about 2 miles on a very over-grown path, needless to say I ended up walking... Still, I was out for a total of 56 minutes, walking 15 of them and I covered 5 miles exactly. So not that bad!

Hope everyone is having a good time and not overheating in this weather :)

I headed off this morning to the local park to complete my first long run of the training.

Fabulous route, takes you past roman walls, a roman bath, the cathedral and the lake, so lots to see and keep you entertained as you run

I was aiming to run 4.5 miles in 45 minutes. Didn't factor in three rather long steady climbs that appeared in the middle.  But overall thought I did well I think if the route had been flat I would have been in my goal time.  I slowed to a walk twice, once at the top of the 2nd hill and once in the middle of the 3rd hill, but caught my breath and set off again.

Total Distance: 4.5 miles

Mile 1: 10:12 (first steady climb included, didn't slow down)

Mile 2: 10:30 (second steady climb, slowed to walk for 30secs before starting mile 3)

Mile 3: 9:30 (NO steady climb! But you could have guessed that from the split!)

Mile 4: 10: 30 (third steady climb, slowed to walk for 30 secs in the middle)

Last half mile: 4:56 (No hill, equivalent to 9:52 split, and managed to increase pace at end)

Total Time: 46:18

Pre-run snack: toast and honey, thinking porridge might be better... about an hour before the run

Post-run snack: Spanish omlette and salad