It was two days before my 28th birthday, and I sat in a hotel room in Wellington (NZ) thinking ‘bloody heck I’m nearly thirty!’
I started to think about all the things I was sure I would have achieved before thirty, and realised the time was slowly running out.
Despite never having run a day in my life, I had always been sure I would run a marathon before turning thirty. No idea why I assumed this life event would happen with no intervention from me, I just thought it would.
Now my birthday is in March, and two of the major marathons in the South East of England both occur in April (London and Brighton). Again, I always just assumed one of these would be the marathon I would run. So basically, to achieve my goal of running a marathon before thirty, I would have to run in 2017! Eeek!
Anyway, I mulled it over for a bit before deciding: ‘yes, I’m going to run the 2017 Brighton Marathon’. I decided on Brighton as you can be get a guaranteed place (unlike London where it’s balloted and you don’t find out whether your in or not until October!)
I told my boyfriend, who told me I was mad, and that he did not believe I could do it! Slowly I convinced him I was determined to try, and eventually even persuaded him to sign up too (at least he’d run before).
So we managed to sign up from the other side of the world, but had the small barrier of being in the midst of a rtw trip, meaning we couldn’t actually start running (due to the lack of running gear and no space/money to pick this up on route). Therefore we waited until our return to the UK to start training.
It’s going to be a long slog to the marathon, but I’m pretty determined to succeed. I decided to formulate a hierarchy of goals for the challenge:
1) Complete the marathon
2) Run all the way (no walking breaks)
3) Finish in under 5 hours
Basically I want to complete goal number one as a priority, and the other two are optional.
I will keep you all updated on my progress.
Wish me luck!
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Wow!! You are my hero! Congratulations on such determinations. Keep us posted!!!
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Thank you! I’ll definitely keep you updated 🙂
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I am so happy for you!!! And wish you good luck, but I am afraid you do not need it.
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Thank you! And yes any luck is greatly appreciated! 🙂
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I also decided this February to run half marathon, and I must tell that I was not prepared, but I managed to run 21 km and was really happy at the end. So, since you are training already I believe that you will have a good result!! Have a nice run and don’t forget to share about the experience!!
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Congratulations on completing the half marathon – excellent accomplishment! 😊 Will definitely keep you updated on my progress
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I just ran the San Diego Marathon, and it was definitely a challenge. I competed in D1 xc and track and my best advice to you is to take it easy the first half of the marathon. If you feel good going through mile 8, don’t push it. Keep your pace. You can always push hard miles 20-26 but if you’re dead at mile 20 those last 6 miles could be the hardest 6 of your running career. BEST OF LUCK!
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Thank you for the tips! As a newbie I need all the advice I can get 🙂
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That’s brilliant, good on you for your making it your goal before 30! All the best with the training 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I’m really hoping I achieve my goal, and at the very least I’ll know I’ve tried!
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It’s an awesome goal! Good luck!! I’m sure you will succeed 😀
This makes me want to try and run a marathon myself too 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂 maybe you should sign up for one too!
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i just entered the lottery for the London Marathon! Who knows, I may be running my first next year too. I just trained and ran my first half marathon….at 46, I’m a late starter on distance running but you’ve got to have goals, right? 🙂
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Congratulations on the half marathon – a wonderful accomplishment! 😊 And fingers crossed you get picked forLondon!
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Wow! Great story and awesome confidence!
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Congratulations and keep running. I did my first at 40. I have since switched to road cycling.
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Thank you! And congratulations for completing a marathon 🙂 hopefully I can say the same next year
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Chuffed right along with you! My husband ran a half marathon in Texas last year and he was so happy going on about how he kept running even in the rain and finished. Wish you the best!
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Thank you! 🙂 I think I can cope with running in the rain – it’s pretty much the only weather we have in England 😂 Ha ha
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That’s awesome. I ran my first marathon last year and am back into training. The best part is that you have given yourself lots of time to slowly increase your running so I’m sure you’ll do just fine!! You rock.
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Congratulations on completing your first marathon and good luck with the next! And thank you for your comforting words. Fingers crossed all goes well 🙂
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Hi! I like your hierarchy of goals. The first marathon is the hardest. One lesson I learned the hard way, don’t run out of the gate at a high speed. Start slow, pace, pace, pace, and you will make it! Congratulations on your pursuit to become a marathoner. It’s addictive, and you’ll come back for more!
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Thank you. I didn’t want to get caught up in trying to go fast and end up with an injury from over training so I thought the hierarchy of goals would help with that. I really just want to finish! 🙂 thank you for the tips and support!
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Very smart!! Good luck!
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AMAZING!!!! What an inspirational post! Good luck. All the best.
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Thank you 🙂
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Good luck and thank you for your inspiration 🙂
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Thank you 😊
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Good luck! Brighton is an awesome marathon, the support at the finish is insane and inspiring
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Thank you! And yes I’ve heard the atmosphere is amazing at Brighton 🙂
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I remember beginning my journey to the first marathon. I predict you will run more as an addiction compels you to better your times… Oh, and thanks for visiting my site. Please come again soon!
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I suspect you might be right – my favourite person to compete against is myself! 😃
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Congratulations! I loved the post I love running so it is something I am really willing to do as well!
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Thank you 🙂
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Wow good luck! Always wanted to run a marathon myself too, maybe by the end of this year. Looking forward to read your updates!
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Thank you. And good luck for your marathon goals too 🙂
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Omg…this could me writing this! I’m less than a year from 30 and it sounds terrifying. Send good vibes your direction! Good luck!!! 😀
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Oh loads of luck. Completing a marathon is one of my life goals 😊
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