Truly worth it: running the half marathon

Me with fellow JMU Journalism runner Liam Deveney at the start (pic: Vegard Grott) Finished with my medal

If you had told me when I started university that I’d be
running a half marathon in my third year, I would have
told you politely that you were crazy.

But, as I write, I am nursing my feet after the longest run
I have ever completed.

Since I can remember, I have always been active and
either played sports or attended a gym, but I have also always been a party animal. This, not surprisingly, reversed the effects of any exercise I did and kept my fitness at a very average level.

A year ago I contemplated running 5km for Cancer Research in the Race for Life, but thought I’d never be able to do it. But, my friend was convinced I could achieve something and spurred me on to join him in the 13.1 mile Liverpool Half Marathon.

As you may imagine, this was a bit more than I’d bargained for.

I stepped up to the challenge and preparation started in January, though before I knew it an old injury began to plague my training and I was forfeiting longer runs.

With a rather painful right knee, I eventually had to stop altogether and my half marathon debut was in jeopardy. But, I’d paid for my entry and had my sponsorship form through the post, so I was adamant I wouldn’t give up.

And that I didn’t, finding myself at the start line this morning, feeling sick from carbohydrates and excited from the caffeine, I was ready to roll!

Despite beginning the marathon full of energy, the first 10 minutes were the hardest. Knowing that I had around two hours of continuous running ahead of me, kicked off with a cruel uphill climb, it made the thought of giving up rather appealing.

My friend also disappeared out of sight pretty much instantly, which left me running alone and without the stopwatch on his wrist to judge my target time of 115 minutes.

However, the lucky thing was I had both of our Lucozade energy gels in my pocket, so I was one up on him on the glucose front. This proved immensely beneficial an hour and a half in.

The endurance of 13 miles wasn’t easy, and at times I wondered if I’d make it.

People passed me constantly who were a lot older, younger, fatter and thinner and it really put into perspective what people can do when they put their minds to it.

I remember seeing the 8 mile sign and couldn’t believe that I had got that far, even at that stage I had beaten anything I had done before and it felt quite amazing.

The wind picked up along the last three miles by the Mersey and it was a battle to keep my pace. However, I finished at a sprint from the adrenaline of seeing the finish line and thankfully didn’t collapse when I got there.

At 2 hours 12 minutes, I was slower than I’d hoped, but I didn’t care, I’d done it!

I hobbled home with my supportive friends and had the longest, hottest shower, I have had for years.

Truly worth it.