I thought I'd document my path to my first ever half marathon. A few years ago when I first took up running, even just me going out for that first ever run, was such a huge hurdle for me. Just doing those 1 minutes jogging intervals was a real struggle. Then I reached that golden 5km mark. What a huge sense of achievement I felt. It is amazing what you can do if you start at the start and take one step and then another.
Now it's time to take the next step. I'm going to enter my first half marathon. It's in New Zealand in February 2018. The Buller Gorge Marathon on the West Coast of the South Island is one of the most scenic events around. And it happens to be very close to where my family lives. So I thought, if I am going to do an event like that, I'm going to do the most picturesque one I can find!
How long is a half marathon?
13.1 miles or 21 km. That's quite a lot more than what I usually run! But given that 2 years or so ago I couldn't run 100 meters, why wouldn't 21 km be possible? The only thing in my way is me!
So how do you train for a half marathon?
Well, I wouldn't recommend training for one right out of the blocks. If you've never run before, you should probably start out with 5k as you first goal. If you do too much running (more than 3 times a week to start), you might injure yourself pretty quickly.
The next thing is to get some help, whether it is an app or a coach or even a running buddy, someone you can report to or train with to help you on your way.
That's where I'm at for now. I feel excited about taking part in an event like this and since it is my first "race" (trying not to scream and run out of the room after typing THAT word - talk about a lot of baggage having always been last on cross country day at school). I know I can do it if I try. I'm commited to putting one foot in front of the other (literally!) to get myself to the 21km goal next February. There will be at least one friendly face with me at the start line on race day, so it will be great!
S