As some of you may know I've been training for the last few months for my first Half Marathon, it's been touch and go whether I would be able to participate, colds, work, injuries and life in general have all taken their toll but I'm geared up and ready to go, on Sunday. Only problem is I've been slack with the fund raising. I'm running for the Local Hospital Charity, for Poole (Dorset) Hospital.

It would be really appreciated if you guys would donate even a quid to this good cause and make it all worth while. Donations are easy by following the link below, you can even donate by PayPal.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephen-crowhurst

Thanks again for your support.

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by Stephen

Good luck mate, hope all goes well on Sunday.

Good luck!

Good luck Stephen :clover::thumbup1:

Good luck!

 

Thanks mate, your donation is really appreciated.

Good luck Steve - and duly donated, my friend....

 

....But in return, we want pics. Before and after...:wink:

Go for it mate, this Sunday be Z32 Bolt again :) :thumbup1:

Many thanks Tom and Richard we're doing really well now. Don't worry I'll make sure there are pictures of my sweaty face :lol:

good luck mate, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy it

Upto £50 now, cheers for the support guys even the good wishes help.

Hi Stephen, just donated. Hope all cylinders are firing in harmony, best of luck on the day for both you and the weather ! :clover::thumbup1:

 

Regards

Nadeem

Hi Stephen, just donated. Hope all cylinders are firing in harmony, best of luck on the day for both you and the weather ! :clover::thumbup1:

 

Regards

Nadeem

 

Just seen, thank you very much, very kind of you.

We're at £110 now guys! Nerves are setting in.

Just seen this, best of luck for tomorrow Stephen, break a leg! [emoji1322]

 

I don’t like the term “half” marathon as it dulls down the achievement in my opinion. It’s not half of anything, it’s a tough run of its own and hats off to you for giving it a stab. My wife is running a 10 mile race tomorrow so I’ll be giving you a virtual cheer from sunny Essex when cheering them lot!

 

I’ve run a couple of half marathons myself now and have always said I’d never run any further. However, having been bullied by the wife to apply for the London marathon ballot, I conceded and entered knowing that the odds were in my favour of not getting in! But wouldn’t ya know it, I only got bloody accepted didn’t I, doh! I guess if there’s a punishing marathon that’s worth enduring, London must be up there?

 

Good luck dude [emoji41]

Cheers Joel. You will be fine I'm sure, I've applied the ethos the whole way if I can run a distance strong I can double it... you've done the halves. Good luck to Mrs P today and thanks for your donation.

I set out to hit £100 these last few days and we've hit £135, the vast majority of that has been from this club! That really does sum up this club and show why it's not "just a forum".

Well it's done! 1.53.47 pictures later but shower and food now.

Very good time Stephen, well done [emoji106]

Well the full story.

I woke up this morning coughing my guts up having got my daughters cold, with my final training run on Tuesday leaving me in agnogy in my shins this was a real blow to my confidence but the show must go on as they say. Up at 6am to do all things I have to get done each morning and at 7.15 my dad (staying over ATM) gave me a lift down to the start line.

The start line a mixture of feelings, firstly my mates who I started this journey will had all long given up leaving me the last stubborn one standing, alone in the starting pen. Coughing my guts up I realise I'm missing the safety pins for my number, the marshal was uninterested but thankfully a woman lent me two. At this stage I'm confused, the mixture of people around me is as diverse as you could get in terms of psychal health.

That first mile I was just praying that my leg pain didn't reappear. After three miles I decided I was in the clear, no pain and the heavy breathing had cleared my throat and started to up the pace. I just stuck to the plan aiming for 8 and a half minutes per mile. Then I hit it, the first proper hill. That's when things turned, people started dropping like flies. That next mile I sailed along, enjoying the flat ground. And before I knew it I was half way. I could see the end now at the other end of the bay, except the corse turned and headed back the way we came. I took this picture on the first pier, sweaty isn't even close.

My legs started to wear with three miles left, that second pier which I forgot was coming was a serious blow, I'd seen the finish line and then run away from it adding another half a mile. That last mile was painful. Not as painful as the woman in front of me who shat herself, I'm not speaking metaphorically the poor love finished that race splattered in her own shit. I don't if was the crowd, the adrenaline or the though of getting a worst time that someone chafffing in her own mess, maybe it was just a desire to not be down wind :lol: but the last quarter of a mile I gave everything.

Stoping was pretty good, the blood returned and tbh it's really like being hungover. I grabbed my medal and that next hour I crashed. I felt sick, I couldn't trust a fart and I went white. Thankfully a seriously unhealthy dinner replenished the sugars and now I feel ok actually. Tomorrow I expect it to ache.

For anyone thinking of doing one, do it, it wasn't wall to wall gym freaks, there were some seriously for people but there was a chap in his late 70s who power walked it and a lady in a wheel chair both deserved every mile.

13.1 miles and 1.53.47 hours later I won't be running a mile for the next fortnight and that's no bad thing :lol: I think I do a milder challenge next time. Anyone for Tough mudder haha.

Well done bud a great time aswell for your first half marathon

Well done Steve - and great photos mate.....:thumbup:

 

You should be proud of yourself....:cool:

Good to hear you smashed it Stephen :clap:

Hope you don't ache too much tomorrow, but given what you achieved, its worth it.

well done, im a seasoned runner now but i hate halfs, im more a mud and hill person, they are menatlly challenging and to getunder the 2 hours for your first is great

 

massive well done from me

Well done! You have got me thinking now. wonder if I could do it next year...

Of corse you could. You don't have to set a world record, the personal achievement is where it's at. Little tip though take the next day off, I really struggled to get up at 4am this morning.

Well done mate :)