Burn baby, burn

My first half marathon in the year, I’d decided to test myself to see how unfit I’d become over the holidays – why I decided I needed a test after having a very lazy Christmas I’m not really sure, I guess I was hoping that the dancing on New Years counted for something…

Hurtling back down the Glen to the finish line at Camps Bay High school, making sure I didn’t catch a speed wobble on the way, it felt like I’d been on the road for hours. Fighting the urge to walk onto the field towards the time keepers (this is apparently very uncool) I almost choked on my “free” (we pay for the privilege of putting our bodies through this kind of torture) cup of coke to discover that I’d run this race in 2 hours and 4 minutes.

To take a few steps back, I was never a runner to begin with, opting for long jump and javelin at school in the compulsory sport events (this is comical given that I am on the very side of short), I had never imagined that I would find myself running, let alone running races with the hopes of qualifying for the Comrades!!

Standing at the end of the race, basking in self-pride, I caught myself thinking, “I could do this distance again if I really wanted to”, which is apparently a sign that you are ready for a full marathon. Mmmm, perhaps I should have waited to come off the endorphin high before I signed up for that full marathon…

Can you relate? Share your story in the comment box below.