My first half marathon!!

Last weekend, I completed something I never thought I would - my first ever half marathon. I can finally tick this years New Years Resolution off the list. The event was the Ranleigh Half Marathon in Richmond and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience in every sense of the word.

I was so eager (and slightly nervous) that I arrived at the venue by 6:45 AM, despite the race not starting until 8:30 AM. Looking back that was definitely a bit too early!

The weather was already warm when we started, and by 11 AM the temperature had climbed to 21* which made the race feel even more challenging. The heat certainly took a toll, especially in the latter stages of the run, but I made the most of the water stations - not just to drink from, but to tip the water over my head in a desperate but surprisingly effective attempt to keep cool. Turns out it seemed to be the unofficial hydration technique of the day with others also.

Despite the heat, the course was absolutely stunning. We ran alongside beautiful stretches of river and under shaded woodland canopies that offered some much needed shelter from the sun. The scenery provided a welcome distraction from the effort and kept my spirits high during the tougher miles.

When I finally crossed the finish line my time was 1 hour and 57 minutes - I was thrilled! I couldn’t be happier for my first half, the sense of achievement and relief were huge.

After the race, the Collingwood crew gathered to celebrate with well-earned ice-creams. And in classic Collingwood tradition, Rupert kept the winning streak alive with yet another bottle of prosecco. There was a great atmosphere among the team and sharing that moment with fellow club members made the experience even more rewarding.

It was challenging, inspiring, and full of the kind of memories that make running such a fulfilling journey.

Here’s to many more races ahead - hopefully slightly cooler ones!

Ailsa