The Story Of The Half

The Story Of The Half

You will have seen in a recent post that I did the Half Dram (Dundee Half Marathon) recently. It's a strange one, training had, to say the least, been disrupted. So I went into the event telling myself that a sub 1:40 time was going to the target (running at just over 7:36 min miles on average) and that I would be really happy going sub 1:35 as a stretch target. For context I have a PB time of somewhere around 1:26 which I ran when I was marathon training.

I messed up. My chip time was 1hr 30mins and 33secs...

I have extremely mixed emotions about it. On the one hand sitting back, I am really proud of that time. All things considered I didn't train anywhere near enough for the event so to know that I have that in my locker, despite that, is great. It also shows how training for CrossFit consistently has put me in a position where I am still able to compete a longer distance event with relative success. On a personal note that's really satisfying. I have said before how I would like to be the person who can say yes to everything for as long as I can so to have said yes to a half marathon and complete it with minimal training is a good indicator that i'm on track with the goal (I have to admit I only thought about that point now and it has put a massive smile on my face. The reason I write this blog is, in large, to help me reflect). On the other hand, now knowing I was that close to going sub 1:30, it's pretty frustrating to know that even with a little bit more focus on running I probably could have dipped under it. Alas, back to what I said after Hyrox, you get what you train for.

You often hear about people 'getting the bug' for something and that once they have done an event snd their motivation goes up and up. I have never really been like that, for me by the time an event is done I'm usually ready for a break and ready for it to be done. This feels a bit different though. I was feeling pretty down about my fitness in the lead up to the event. Where as after it I feel like I have had a shot of motivation to jump back on track after a more challenging period with it (once my body has recovered). I probably wouldn't have if I had run a more comfortable 1:40.

All in all I think the moral, well maybe timely reminders, of the story are two fold:

1. Consistently doing CrossFit Training, with the odd additional piece added in, is going to keep you fit enough to take on most challenges (or should I say keep you prepared for the unknown and unknowable).
   

2. Doing things we didn't think we are capable of is amazing. As coaches we have the task of helping people achieve things that they didn't think or don't believe that they are capable of and that is something that is worth its weight in gold.

Andy

P.S. I do not recommend running a half marathon on minimal training, my body was in pieces afterwards!