So you want to run a half marathon…

Our very special Pram Fitness mum (Gillian) will be running the New York Marathon in just a few short weeks.

In the latest instalment of Gillian’s running journey she explains why running a half marathon is so much fun…

I’m not really sure I ever wanted to run a half marathon, until I actually decided I was going to run a half marathon. Looking back, it was probably a bit of peer pressure. My sister was doing it, my friends were doing it … and I guess I figured it’d be a pretty cool thing to achieve. So, at some stage, I decided it was going to be my fitness goal once Jonah was born. Fast forward to July 2015; I ran my very first half, the Gold Coast Half Marathon, in 2 hours + 17 minutes. And I LOVED it.

As part of my current training regime, I have signed up to three half marathons this year; the Great Ocean Road half (23km) was in May. The Gold Coast half was this weekend just gone, and the Sydney Blackmores half is in September.

If you’re contemplating signing up yourself, I say go for it! Here are a few reasons why:

Your goal keeps you accountable

It is so great having a big goal to work towards … especially when you need an extra kick to get out of bed on a cold winter’s morn. The reality of a 21km goal definitely keeps you accountable to yourself! Even when I haven’t felt like running out the door for a mid-week interval session, or getting up early on a Sunday for my long run – I just think about my goal, and how great it’s going to feel on the day when I’m fit, strong and prepared.

The atmosphere is amazing

I’ve now completed the Goldie half twice, and it’s safe to say it won’t be my last time. The atmosphere is so amazing, with happy, healthy and fit people roaming everywhere. Along the course, everyone is chatting, encouraging each other, and cheering the leaders as they sprint back past at a ridiculously fast pace. And it definitely helps that the weather is awesome – it’s a lovely mid-winter break from wintry Sydney.   But I also found the Great Ocean Road half to be so much fun – lots of people lined the route (particularly the last few km), called out our names printed on our bibs, and cheered us as we ran past. Although the weather was brisk, the scenery was second to none – what a privilege to run along the GOR with no cars! I’m confident that other halves will be just as fun, with the same exciting, inclusive, and healthy lifestyle focus.

You’ll feel the fittest you’ve ever been

The thing about running is that there is nowhere to hide. In a good way! It forces you to push your boundaries and it is because of this that you’ll begin to see incremental improvements to your overall fitness; particularly if you’re combining it with other training (like 1:1 PT, or Pram Fitness sessions). I’ve constantly surprised myself with how great I feel after completing a training run … and as time passes, I am proud to watch my fitness improve exponentially.

You get to join the Half Marathon finishers club

It’s an elite club because, let’s face it, not everyone has the fitness or willpower to run 21km at pace, without stopping. You’ll get a finisher’s medal, and bragging rights on social media. Totes worth it! But – be careful, it’s a wee bit addictive!

By Gillian