EDF Half Marathon

[Annabella]

Back in the summer I made something of a stupid decision:

26th July 2009:
It’s a warm afternoon and we’re sitting outside The Exchange in the smokers’ shelter drinking our third beer of the day. In between demonstrating yoga positions and praising the qualities of the Mild, Liane and I had the following conversation:
“You know, I’d really like to do a half marathon”
“Yea, me too. I’ve just never got round to bothering”
Running Man chips in “Well, do one then, I’ll help you train”

And that was it, the decision had been made. We were going to compete in the Birmingham Half Marathon in October. We went back to supping beer and listening to the rain hammering down on the plastic roof.

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From then, I have been training and it's felt like running has taken over my life (sort of... I've definitely slipped a few times in favour of a curry and beer, or a bottle of wine, or a night out with the girlies!)

This weekend is the Birmingham EDF Half Marathon. It'll be the furthest I have ever run in my life and, to be honest, I'm ever so slightly scared. I work in Birmingham, so every day as I drive in I see the banners and signs and it makes me feel quite sick.

Still, if I finish, it'll be a big achievement for me. My target is to finish within 2 and a half hours.

So, the point of this post? Other than the opportunity to open myself up to some humiliation, is to spam my 'justgiving' page for anyone feeling really generous (I'm not after huge donations, anything would be great) and wish anyone else running on Sunday the best of luck!

https://www.justgiving.com/Ann-Perry/
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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Catalyst]

Good luck!

I've entered "The GRIM challenge" which is only 8 miles, but you have to go through waist deep puddles and crawl under cargo nets through mud....in the middle of december
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[Annabella]

I just watched "Run Fat Boy Run" for inspiration... Now I feel sick.


Still, it I turn up tomorrow I'll have achieved my drunken target of beating Paula Radcliffe*



*She has pulled out of the race as she has tonsillitis
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Alexio]

Ah, good luck to you. I ran my first half marathon in 2007 I think, did it in 1:53. The furthest I had run before that in my training was only 10.5 miles so I thought I did pretty good (especially seeming as the hastings half marathon is half uphill as well)!

I'm so unbelievably lazy now though... there's no way you can get me back out on that road to train Haven't trained since I got a motorbike.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[JonB]

Good luck Ann. I am going to attempt 13 miles for the first time tomorrow, but not in a race.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[colin1]

Good luck, dont feel sick about it though, enjoy it, if this means walking the last bit, so be it.

I had a brush with goal related physical activity the other day.

Dudley tesco, had a bloke collecting money for army folk using an old exercise bike. I have no interest in giving money to legalised murderers, but I couldnt resist the challenge of winning a bottle of whisky for cycling the furthest in a minute.

I started off at a brisk sprint rate, but quickly tired, and was struggling to keep up much pace near the end. I came second out of the 10 names on the sheet so far, but the guy who was in first, was way further. Was fun tho, although I did struggle to walk through the car park to my motorbike.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Banned]

Went out today in leather sandals and big new winter coat, 100 m along the road i run into BK, cue xl bacon double cheesburger maxed out meal with shake .. 7 quid .. wtf !

[colin1]

bit cold for sandals, surely ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Banned]

It was a mild spell, or more to the point BK less than a 100 m away ! ...

[Ariel Badger]

Anna's valuables will be in safe hands. My grandaughter is one of the people looking after phones, purses and car keys.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[MattHirst]

It seems i have been put in for doing the Para's 10 next year. Few lads at work have done it for the past few years so them + me and a few other unfit people are going to 'train' (run to the pub instead of walk ) and do it for charity next year. (we've got just short of 12 month to do so)
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[Shaun]

Hope you achieved your target miss.

Clicky

[Fisty]

Howd you get on? The medal features Matthew Boulton showing two gentlemen his massive cock.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[the grim reaper]

I did the Saltash half marathon, many years ago, which is one of the hardest in Britain, due to the ridiculous route which takes it up two of the steepest hills I know, anywhere. I can't remember my time but it was over two hours for definite.

Since then I prefer cycling but I still have a hankering to do the big one and finish the London marathon.

Clicky

Cheers

Grim
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Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[Annabella]

It's a fantastically bling medal - they're HUGE! I like that the date of the event is on it too

I was really quite disappointed with my time, I finished in 2 hours and 27 minutes - I know I could have done better as I caned the last three miles and made up loads of places. Still, it's somewhere to start from and a target to beat next time*!


*Which may happen if I forget the pain I felt whilst running
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[colin1]

You beat your target though, so that cant be bad.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[the grim reaper]

Well done, even though you missed your time you still finished it. The Saltash one was a bastard, because they managed to create a route that goes up both of the hills circled, the lower one is one where you start to worry about your brakes whilst driving down it. The road just never appears, it looks like you're driving off a cliff.

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b176/paul3011/Trematon.jpg

Cheers

Grim
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Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[Alexio]

That's a fantastic time, you should be happy with it

Because.... if you keep on training now you're at this level of fitness you'll easily get down below 2 hours within months from now.
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?