Thank you for visiting JustGiving and hearing about my latest challenge - In aid of Margaret Green Animal Rescue - Dorset
Carol's Year of Half Marathons - Yes a whole year of running half marathons - one a month for a year.
My timetable of half marathons starts on August 1st 2010 and ends August 2011 - your support is welcome in any shape or form, and why not come and run one of the half's with me?!
1st August 2010 - The Sturminster Newton Half - 1st August 2010
First one completed in 2.15 - hilly and friendly, and a big thank you to the locals who had their hose pipes on for us. Feel pretty shattered and think a little (a lot) more training is required before the next one.
September 2010 - New Forest Half - 26 September
Number 2 done in 2.06.36 - bit speedier and helped by all the birthday cake eaten yesterday. Perfect running day, dry, sunny and chilly. A big race, but lovely scenary, well organised and home in time for lunch!
October 2010 - Salisbury Half - 17th October
2.05 - getting faster. A fabulous run, lovely scenary, well organised and a beautiful Autumn day. Loved this run, definately on the list for next year - if I have the energy..
21st November 2010 - Gosport Half
2.07 and an old injury flare up - good old ITBand - hope to get it fixed before the December race. Shame as I was hoping for a PB, but such is life. Would not recommend running Gosport - the most boring route i've ever run! Most of the mileage was around a disused airfield, never again!!
December 2010 - Warminster Plain Crazy, 27th Dec
With Downton, my original half marathon, cancelled due to bad weather, I found this one to take it's place. I also managed to find a couple of willing teammates to run with me. A very very cold start - we were wrapped up in 5 layers wondering what we were doing. A very snowy run which made a rather bleak landscape rather beautiful. The run was around the army training plains of Salisbury taking in the forgotten village of Umber, and was nicely?! undulating.
We got to the finish to find it was 12.6 miles - instead of the 14 miles advertised, and so my lovely teammates insisted on running me around the car park to make up the distance to the full half marathon. Without them I would have struggled with this one - thank you Ally and Carole, you are stars (and Dave!).
Time somwhere around the 2.40 mark - but who's counting when we were having snowball fights, singalongs and slip sliding in the off road snowy plains.
January 15th 2011 - Special Bournemouth Joggers Half
I've not been able to find a January Half that I'm able to get to, so my wonderful running club have come to the rescue.
Today - 15th Jan - 20 BJ's gave up their saturday morning and run against strong winds to run a half marathon with me (Mac's half) - following the route of the Bournemouth Bay. Complete with supporters (Mum and Dad at mile 12!), and finishing tape and medal. Thank you so much to Carole for organising and to all the BJ's who supported me.
January half completed with love.
February 2011 - Blackmore Vale - 6th Feb
A rather windy day for this one. I'd forgotten how hilly it was, the final hill at the end is a killer but was very pleased to run all the way, no walking up hills for me. Lovely scenic route which made it interesting. Also delighted that my ITband didn't even give a wimper, so I'm hoping that for now at least, it's sorted for a while.
Time - 2.10 - pleased with this, but would like to start see my times getting quicker - maybe I can shave some minutes off at Bath and Bournemouth
March 2011 - Bath Half - 6th March
Lovely Bath - cold and sunny and a brilliant atmosphere. There was another Ipod ban (grrrrr), and I did sneak mine in, but didn't need to use it due to the great support and atmosphere. Very well organised this year and a decent goodie bag. I'll be back for this one again next year.
2.07 - and no injuries, so very pleased. But still wonder if I'll ever reach the heights of previous years and 2.01.
Home half next month..
April 2011 - Bournemouth Bay Half - 3rd April
Completed in sunshine in 2.09. Very enjoyable run, thank you Kerstin for running all the way with me, made for a very relaxed race. I reckon had we not chatted all the way around we could have knocked a few minutes off!! I treated myself to a choc chip ice cream enroute home - guilt free comfort food at its best.
Delighted to have finished another one injury free.
1st May 2011 - North Dorset Relay (2 laps)
Number 10 completed in scenic North Dorset. I ran 2 consequtive laps of a relay team as part of the North Dorset Marathon. I actually ran 13.6 miles - so a little over a half marathon, in 2.11, so very pleased. Wonderful support and a very friendly and well organised race.
The BJ cakes made by Clare were fantastic, and the support by Carole on her bike was fab.
Very glad I wasn't running the whole marathon though...
June - Saturday 18th June - Bourton on the Water
Well Humpfs Hilly Half lived up to it's reputation by being rather hilly. I loved the way the race signage gave you clues as to what was coming up including 'Get ready for the long haul' before a hill that went on for 2 milesl, and 'last hill honest' which was a relief. Beautiful scenery and a few showers during the race to cool me down.
I was unfortuately followed by one of the safety cars for the first 6 miles - which became very annoying. This resulted in the spectators thinking I was last (I wasn't!) so I got some big cheers en route - despite my yelling at them all that I really wasn't last! Eventually I cracked at mile 7 and asked one of the marshalls to suggest they follow someone else as I felt like I was running around the Grand Prix circuit - fortunately this worked and I was left to complete the run in peace and quiet with the sound of birdsong rather than a revving engine!
I ran up all the hills (honestly!) and came in at 2.07.28.
July - Swanage Saturday 16th
A wet windy and very very hilly race. Not a race to think about times. Very well organised but a shame that the race took in so many busy roads where single file was the only option to avoid being hit! Not a race I would do again for this reason.
Came in at 2.26 - and lovely running with Liz - so much nicer running these horrible hilly halfs in company.
I am definately running out of steam and my training since June has been tough - the legs and head have decided enough is enough, but one more to go and with club and friends support - I'll be there!
7th August 2011 - The Sturminster Newton Half - THE FINAL ONE!
All done - a slow one to end - somewhere around the 2.30 mark, but i just wanted to get around. Really struggled with running this month and ready for a rest.
A fantastic support from my fellow Bournemouth Joggers - a banner, cheers and picnic to end. Wonderful.
Not sure about the next challenge - the run/bike/kayak team race in january is already being planned - but for now, I am officially resting.
Thank you to everyone who donated and supported me this year.
I'm raising money for Margaret Green Animal Rescue in Dorset who do a wonderful job of rescuing and supporting our furry friends, and where would we be without them.
Your support in any shape or form is very welcome, why not come and run one of the half's with me??
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