English Half Marathon Race Day 2012
English Half Marathon Pre Race Day 2012
After running the 2011 English Half Marathon I was truly hooked by the running bug. Since then I've had many highs and quite a few lows. Training for 2012 has been hard and add to the mix I'd become a little obsessed with beating my previous years time so found myself pushing harder than ever to break through my P.B time.
Just to recap on how I was bitten by the bug.
Not that long ago, about 2 years in fact I decided a life style change was in order. Four stone over weight (at least) with no self confidence and looking back on things I had absolutely no ambition to do anything but eat, drink and smoke.
I used to run night clubs which meant getting caught up in the trappings of a late night lifestyle, far to many parties and subsequent hangover. Although my time at the last position ended not out of choice but by the state of the economy I had already decided in my head I wanted out, the timing couldn't of been better.
Out of work I decided to use my time to make some much needed life style changes with the hope it would put me physically and mentally in a different place. I could of never known then just how much it would change me into the person I am today.
Nature for me had always been a massive passion but I'd never been out there and embraced it. The journey I started two years ago started with getting out of the house and getting some much needed fresh air. I walked and a walked turned into a bike ride, a bike ride turned into a small jog and before I knew it I was feeling the benefit from just a few small changes. I'd started to shed weight, feel positive about life and look forwards to feeling the buzz that I was changing things for the better.
So for me it progressed naturally. From one month to the next I started to improve my fitness level and with that came a positive change with every other aspect of my life.
Fast forward the clocks from my first race in 2011 and with six months to go before the 2012 half marathon I'm training really hard. Learning as I went along, constantly reading running blogs, checking on the latest diets and nutrition advice. Basically working really hard to put in a personal best time.
One of the best things I ever did was to start putting in some serious cycling miles and train more on my core fitness. Running mile after mile is great but it can become un-productive unless you supplements it with other activities and I'm not a ultra marathon runner so exclusively running can become really boring.
For six months prior to the race I put my training focus on my all round fitness including something that needed a major tweak, my diet. The balance of everything paid off.
I'm pleased to say that I finished the 2012 English Half Marathon in a time of 1 hour and 42 minutes, taking 4 minutes off my 2011 time.
The race this year was again another amazing experience. On a personal level I pushed myself harder then I ever thought possible and still crossed the line smiling. From an event point of view it was very well organised, well marshaled and supported by many hundreds of spectators.
The next big one for me is the Greater Manchester Marathon in April 2013. I'm currently putting together a training plan, preparation preventing poor performance (so they say).
I hope you liked the videos at the beginning of this blog. I filmed them both using my Go Pro HD camera. It's a sports camera so I had a good harness that strapped it to my chest for race day. Nice and light it didn't make life any harder over the 13.01 miles.
Thanks for reading this blog, if you haven't already check out my other blogs and subscribe for updates.
Last but not least. Get out there and give running a go. In fact just get out there. Walk, cycle, run or do something that involves more than your normal routine because you never know where it may lead.
Tony
