Southend Half Marathon 2024

It’s been three days. I have the full use of my legs now. It’s time to write about my experience.

On Sunday, I took part in the Southend Half Marathon. I want to start off by saying what a wonderful thing it is to have an event like this on my doorstep. It was really well organised and those involved are to be applauded.
Like everyone else, I was brokenhearted to hear that someone passed away while taking part in the event. To put yourself forward to help others, and then to lose your life, is an awful thing. I hope their family are getting the support they deserve in the face of a tragic loss. It’s awful to lose someone suddenly and so unexpectedly on what should have been a winning day for them.

I signed up with a week to go before the race. I had been training but it hadn’t been without challenges. I’ve had issues with my knees for a long time and a visit to the osteopath, stretching exercises, gel insoles, new running shoes and a massage gun were helping me on the way.

It was on the day I setup my JustGiving page that the pain started in my ankle. I hobbled around the flat for a couple of days, in two minds about dropping out or pulling the fundraising page down. People gave very generously. At the time of writing I have raised over £250 for Havens Hospices.
This is a charity close to my heart. I have friends who I know rely on their services and more have since contacted me to tell me of their connection to the charity. It’s a truly great cause.

By Sunday, my ankle was improved but not right. I wrapped it up and endeavored to carry on through the race as best I could. I would run for as long as I could, worried about doing further damage that wouldn’t benefit anyone in the long term.

On the day, my ankle held. I think the ankle support I bought, plus the support of the crowds, saw me through much of it. I am proud to say that I completed the Half in 1hr 48mins. It’s not a personal best but I didn’t think it would be given my injury and the crowded opening of the race. It wasn’t until I was halfway round that I started to feel the space open up a little and could give myself the pacing that I knew I was capable of.

As a personal challenge, this seemed like something I had to do. I’m really proud of the time I put into my training and the support that I had in doing so. I couldn’t have done it without E, who was there, not just through training and injuries, but on the day too. I got to see her and our Herb three times while running.

Here’s to the next challenge.