13.1 miles is a long time to think about stuff!

Last Saturday I completed my first ever 13.1 mile run. It wasn’t an organised race but a training run with just me, my iPod, some gel packs and my runners.

According to my training plan I was only supposed to do 12 miles but I thought an extra 1.1 miles wouldn’t kill me and if I actually completed it then I’d have run a half marathon 6 weeks before my actual half marathon! Oh, did I mention I'm running the Cardiff Half Marathon?

I didn't think I had

I set off at about 9.30am and didn’t mind if it took me 3 hours to do it. I did tell my boyfriend my route so if I wasn’t back within 4 hours then he could come and rescue me.

Oh my hero! *swoons*

I may have been ‘redirected’ during my run as I hadn’t paid close enough attention to my planned route. My Pegasus pals will be shocked to hear this as I don’t regularly get lost on runs and have to use Google maps to find my way back to the route… nope, never done that before. Ok, maybe I have a few times but that’s what happens when I’m allowed out on my own!

Probably, yes.

It took me 2 hours, 34 minutes and 17 seconds to run 13.1 miles. I went through half a bottle of water, 2 gel packs and 44 songs on my iPod. At times I felt like I was flying and other times I felt like this...

Actually he's probably going faster!

I arrived at my boyfriend’s house and fell on the lounge floor, I let him peel my runners and socks off my feet – my body started aching as soon as I stopped running, it was agony and bliss at the same time. He then gave me my protein shake and a banana which I drank/ate while inspecting my latest blister… hello new friend, so pleased to meet you!

I really enjoyed the run (afterwards obviously!) and it took a while for it to sink in that I'd just run 13.1 miles. I had run 13.1 miles... for fun!

During my 13.1 miles of 'fun' I had a lot of time to think. I also have a mantra that I play on repeat in my head when the run gets really tough "will this pain ever stop, will this run ever end, I don’t want to do this anymore, this sucks, I want cake!" "I can do this, I am strong, I can do this!" Simple yet effective. I have grown up saying "I can't" or finding excusing that prevent me having to try as I was too afraid to fail. Becoming a runner has taught me so much about myself

• My mind is more powerful than I give it credit for... just need to apply the same to cake
• My body is strong and it's only getting stronger
• Failing isn't a bad thing, in fact it's a good thing as I learn from it and move on
• Never say never – I never thought I’d run ½ mile let alone 13.1 miles!

So with this in mind I have decided to stop calories counting and stressing about my weight so much, I have removed my weighing scales from the bathroom. I'm going to be aware of what I eat but not be so obsessed. My body is never going to be perfect. It will always have its not-so-toned bits and the white scars from stretch marks but it carried me through 13.1 miles last weekend so it's fucking strong and amazing. 

My body should be treated the way it deserves to be treated. It's never let me down and it keeps going on and on even when my brain is telling it to stop. It just doesn't listen. So now I'm going to start listening to my body. I'm going to feed it a healthy and balanced diet (most of the time anyway) and I'm going to exercise it even when I can't be bothered and would rather hold the sofa down instead. More importantly I'm going to reward it with treats and cake and not punish it and myself for indulging now and again. I'm sick of the guilt I feel every time I eat something 'naughty'. It's not naughty, its a reward and we both deserve it!

Top tip!!

Brecon 10 Mile Hilly Road Race

On Sunday morning I woke up and decided to run the Brecon 10 mile hilly road race. I had signed up for it but had a bad cough, was on anti-biotics and hadn't run for a week. My last run was my 10 mile trial run and I abandoned it after 6 1/2 miles as I felt so ill. Up until I woke up I thought I was going to give it a miss but no, I went against all common sense and decided it was a good idea to run!

I met my Pegasus pals at the athletics track in Brecon and we had time for a pre-race selfie.

Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

This was our view of the start line.

Lots of familiar faces... or backs of heads

We were quite close to the start line but we still nearly missed the start. One minute we were chatting away and then next people in front of us had started running so we quickly joined in.

Luckily for me, Garry decided to stick with me for the run. Running is so much more fun when you run with friends.

My running buddy Garry and the awesome Brecon views

I'd been warned to take photos on the way out as the way back was pretty much all uphill! The first 5 miles consisted of me thinking "I've got to run back up this hill!"

Runfie!

I have to admit, I was happy to be running and my cough seemed to disappear but the run was really hard work. Even the stunning views didn't seem to distract me from the pain.

Taken while running

Wait for us car!

The bridge around mile 6... or 7... or 8... I can't remember!

If it hadn't been for Garry, I would've given up at around mile 6 or 7. I ached from head to toe, it was hot and I just wanted to sit down for a second but Garry kept me going. He is a legend and I am so grateful that he stayed with me for the whole 10 miles.

Me and Garry

From about 9 miles onwards I could've fallen down at any step but something kept me on my feet. The race ended on the athletic track and I couldn't wait to get to the finish line.

Very nearly at the finish!

I usually end a run on a sprint finish but I had nothing left in me, if I tried to go faster I'm pretty sure I would just fall over and have to crawl to the end instead.

Exactly how I felt

When I stopped running I discovered a new fun thing called jelly legs. I had to walk from the finish line to the medal, t-shirt and water tent. I have no idea how I got there, all I wanted to do was this...

Let me lie down!

Somehow I got my medal, my t-shirt and a bottle of water then one of my Pegs gave me a banana which I scoffed it down like I hadn't eaten for a year then downed the bottle of water. I felt a bit better and started to remember my own name.

Tis me... Sara!

Me, my man and my new medal

Me and my Pegs... plus a photo bombing Les Croupier

T-shirt AND a medal!! Ka-ching!

Medal close up!

My aim was to complete the race within 2 hours. This would mean me doing 12 minute miles and I thought that was achievable if I could just keep going. Well I actually completed it in 1 hour 52 mins and 55 seconds which is an average pace of 11:14 minute miles!!

Now races aren't all about time, medals and t-shirts, they are about other things too like 'how many calories did I burn off so how much food can I now eat?' Priorities people!

1215 calories burnt off... where's the cake?!

Yup!

On the way home my lovely man took me to McDonalds for my post race treat! He is a god!

McDonalds quarter pounder meal and a McFlurry... heaven!

I came away from the race in pretty good condition considering I hadn't run more than 8 miles total for a couple of weeks but I did pick up a couple of war wounds.

War wound 1

War wound 2

I decided that the McDonalds wasn't enough of a treat so ended the day with a bottle of Asti and a chocolate cornetto whilst cwtched up on the sofa with my man... bliss!

Post race treat number 2

Here are the provisional results...

273 out of 285 runners!

I am really happy with coming 273 out of 285 especially as I had prepared myself to either come last or to not finish at all.

My main reason for running the Brecon 10 was to see if my training was on track for the Cardiff Half Marathon (have I mentioned that I'm running a half marathon?!). I thought that if I could do 10 miles of hilly road racing with 2 months left before the half then I could definitely complete 13.1 miles of flatness in Cardiff.

But completing the Brecon 10 mile was about so much more than my half marathon training schedule. It made me realise that I can push myself to the point of collapse and still remain standing (well wobbling!). It made me ache from head to toe but I am loving the pain, it hasn't dented my buzz and I can't wait to get my runners on again. I have accomplished so much more than I ever thought I was capable of and I'm so damn proud of myself.

For those of you who have read some of my older blogs, you know exactly what my struggle with low self-esteem has been. When I started this journey I had no idea who I was or what I could do with my life. It's been an emotional 10 months but I wouldn't change a second of it.

*high 5s self*