Starting out with the legendary Kathleen Powers!...
"My inspiration for running this was that I had talked some friends into doing other races with me and I guess I owed them this one. I trained by doing my normal running and then adding a couple of extra miles when I had a little extra time. The furthest I ever got was 9.5 miles. When I hit 7 miles during the race I felt great and thought that finishing was going to be easy but then I hit a wall at mile 9 and took a few longer water breaks. My attention span was also about done and I ran out of things to think about and realized how bad my legs and feet were hurting. It was a great feeling when I crossed the finish line and called my husband to let him know that I had beaten my goal time (and that of a friend of ours who was giving me a hard time). I wasn't too sore afterwards. I need to get back out on the road because I had already signed up for a 10k in 2 weeks and a sprint tri in June."
And then there's the adorable Catherine "Tink" Pacifici :)...
"I was inspired to do a 1/2 because it seemed like the perfect goal: achievable but impossible at the same time! I used the "add-a-mile-a-week" plan! I faced sore knees continuously and then general laziness, both of which I conquered. One with massage therapy and exercises and the other with sheer will. The race itself was the most schizophrenic experience of my life. One part of me said, "Quit! You'll never finish!" and the other said, "Come on! just 5 more miles!" The latter won. Funny, it was the mile markers and the sheer emotion that I felt every time I passed one. As I hit double digits (10) it hit that I was going to finish and buy my 13.1 sticker for my car! I got completely choked up at mile 12, like crying. By the time I crossed the finish line, I just hugged the guy handing out waters. One of the most proud, painful moments of my life. Now I am SORE! Proud. Amazed. 16 months ago I had never even run a mile without walking. And now 13.1 are under my belt!!! I want to go for speed and work on my 10K. I will do another 1/2, but for now will just savor the glory of the Princess!"
And finally my precious niece-to-be Kayz Harold!...
"I decided 2 do it as my friend at the running club wanted support to do it as she is doing the London marathon!! At first I said no way I never thought I could do it....but then I thought yes I can do this!! Training was going well and consisted of 6ish miles twice a week which I was going 2 increase until the 1/2!! Then beautiful England gave us a bad winter with lots if snow and I got flu!! I was then unfit and told myself 2 give up trying!! I went back to the club and was very disappointed in my lack of fitness...but the 2 partners would not let me give in....so I pushed hard and in roughly 6 weeks got most of my fitness back! The furthest I ran before was about 10.5 miles. During the race I felt great...atmosphere was amazing...good weather...but then after 6 miles of running head on into the wind I was getting tired....then 8 miles hit n I was mentally and physically struggling!! I was given a Carbs gel which I felt helped but not sure if was just a mental push!! At 10 miles I wanted to stop, my legs were seizing up..but I was not giving in now...3.2 more miles left!!! And I did it...., I did walk bits but I ran over the line and the emotions ran wild!! I cried!! Then I was handed my medal and I was over the moon!!! The first thing I said was never again...but after 30 mins recovery I was left feeling sad that it was all over and wondering when I can do it again!!! Crazy!!!! 2 days later and my legs are still killing me!! I also raised 110 pounds for the charity go 4 it...they help provide specialist equipment to get disabled people up to the age of 26 into sports...some even go to those in the Paralympics London 2012!! When the sponsor pack came in the post that gave me a good push x"
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!!!!!!
Kayz, you did amazingly well! It was very windy up on the prom in Blackpool... lots of seasoned runners struggled. I always told you you were strong!
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