This wasn’t my first run.
It was my 44th.
But 21.1km? That was a first.
At SCORE Marathon 2024, I was taking on a distance I had never completed. I wanted to see whether I could make it all the way to the finish line.
And I did.
Although my legs had quite a lot to say about it along the way. 😂
The Start Was Good
I started at around six minutes per kilometre.
I was keeping my pace, and things were going well. There was a long way to go, but I was happy with the start.
There was one thing I hadn’t given enough attention to that morning, though.
Breakfast.
Milk and one banana.
That was all I’d had before heading out for my first half marathon.
Looking back, I wish I’d thought more carefully about my preparation. I was ready to attempt 21.1km, but breakfast had received considerably less planning. 😂🍌
Around 8–10km
Somewhere between eight and ten kilometres, the pain started.
I slowed down a little.
The run was beginning to feel harder, and I still had more than half the distance ahead of me.
At a water station, I managed to take a quick rest before continuing.
That good start suddenly felt quite far away.
I still wanted to finish, but I was discovering what this distance actually felt like. It was one thing to sign up for a half marathon. It was another to be out there, feeling every kilometre.
So I adjusted my pace and carried on.
Then Came 15km
By 15km, my legs felt like they were giving up.
I slowed down again.
Fifteen kilometres completed. Another 6.1km to go.
At that point, even the extra hundred metres felt a little personal. 😂
I reached another water station, ate a banana and had a hydration drink.
I took that pause.
Then I started running again.
I wish I could describe those final kilometres with something more impressive, but what I remember is very simple.
I pushed myself.
I gave it everything I had.
I wanted to complete what I had started.
The pace I’d been keeping earlier wasn’t my priority anymore. I was thinking about reaching the finish.
My legs were tired. I was tired.
Those last kilometres took a lot out of me.
All 21.1km
When I finally crossed the finish line, I felt everything at once.
Pain. Exhaustion. Relief.
But more than anything, joy.
I had completed my first half marathon. 🏅
At the start, finishing was something I hoped I could do. Now I had actually done it.
All 21.1km.
I could finally stop pushing and take in that feeling.
I was hurting, but I was happy. Proud too.
I knew how difficult parts of that run had been for me. I remembered slowing down, resting at the water stations and starting again when the finish still felt far away.
Now I was there.
And yes, my legs probably had a few complaints to submit. 😂
Fair enough. They had done quite a lot that day.
What I Remember Most
My first half marathon wasn’t a smooth run from beginning to end.
There was a good start. Then pain, slower kilometres and breaks along the way.
I wish I’d prepared some things better, especially breakfast. That belongs in the story too.
But when I look back, the feeling that stays with me most is the joy of completing the journey.
This was my 44th run.
My first 21.1km.
And a finish line I’ll always be happy I crossed. ❤️
Just here.
— Thana, Beyond The Horizon 🌅
