It's gonna be a long, slow half marathon for me...I can't find time to run anymore! As long as no one expects me to set any land speed records, I reckon I can live with it...
As long as you have your mind wrapped around the time that you can accomplish safely, you'll be happy with your outcome....Remember, over half the world will be sitting on their duffs while you are out there putting 13.1 behind you.
I just finished the Mercedes half in 3:00, 40 minutes slower than my former personal worst. I hadn't trained and I took the hippocratic oath before starting....FIRST DO NO HARM!
Birmingham is one big hill, this was my fourth Mercedes so I knew what I was up against. My first three miles were great (maybe too great) then we got to the hills. At mile 8 my calves started cramping so I kept walking and stretching. I knew I was going to walk a lot of it but never thought it would be the second half of it. At mile 12 my toes were cramping and I wondered if I would finish at all. Not finishing wasn't an option so I pushed on. Within 8 blocks of the finish I came upon my old coach. I fell in with her and she said "It is so wonderful to be here today" I told her about my failure to do well and she said, "It is the most beautiful day we have ever had for this race. It is a glorious gift to just be here and experience this and feel that sun." She was running with one of her trainees, a young man with cerebral palsy who was doing his first half. I "let them" pass me and spent the last 8 blocks appreciating the fact that I was able to be out there in the sun with so many friends putting 13.1 miles behind me.
