Sheffield Half Marathon

marcus@cryos.net (Marcus D. Hanwell) — Mon, 21 May 2007 12:48:00 +0100

Yesterday I completed my first half marathon. I took part in the Sheffield Half Marathon. Due to lots of different reasons my training leading up to the half marathon did not go at all to plan. I think I only managed to get in three or four decent runs in the six weeks leading up to the event and had considered pulling out.

It was really tough and I ended up coming in at just under 2:30 which was a little disappointing. I am glad I did it, aching quite a bit and can't wait to get back into training and try for a better time at some point in the future. Quite a few friends also competed and it was an amazing atmosphere to run with a course that had somewhere in the region of 5000 competitors.

Dronfield 10 km Race

marcus@cryos.net (Marcus D. Hanwell) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:59:00 +0000

A week or two ago Stuart (work colleague) and I entered the Dronfield 10K and no Sunday I ran it. For the first 4 km it was going pretty well and I was keeping to a fairly good pace of about 5 minutes to 5.5 minutes a km. Then came a really big hill that took a lot out of me, after that came some gradual hills that seemed to go on forever and by the 5 km mark I was ready to give up and had a massive stitch that I just couldn't shift.

I hadn't seen Stuart since the first kilometre, he was off in front somewhere. I seriously thought about pulling out as I hit 6 km and went past the start line and on to the second lap. Somehow I managed to keep going an convinced myself that I could do it. All the way round I was thinking I really need to train harder and more consistently if I am going to complete the Sheffield Half Marathon this year.

I was pleased I made it round but disappointed in my time which was a little over an hour. Too much time in front of a computer drinking coffee and not enough in the gym or hitting the pavement! I also need to stop letting so much junk food creep back into my diet, which is really easy to do when I am so stressed with completing my thesis...

Anyway I am glad I finished it, but I really want to get leaner and fitter before the half marathon. Stuart got a really good time I think and he was really pleased with himself. My muscles are still aching today but I am sure I will be back out running by Wedesday and am already looking for another race to push me on.

For now it is back to the thesis...

Marcus D. Hanwell's Blog - Health & Fitness

Sheffield Half Marathon

Dronfield 10 km Race