I recently ran a half marathon...ask me anything

How long have you been running for?

What time did you run it in?

Did you have to pee?

I started the NHS Couch to 5k plan in January, and it just snowballed from there. Nine months ago I couldn't run for a straight minute.

2hrs 26mins...not the best time in the world, but I ran the whole way, never walked at any point, so I'm happy with that. My excuse is that I'm 5ft 1 and my legs are tiny, I can't go any faster!

Did you eat the sweets/oranges the crowds were handing out at the side of the road?

Do you think you trained enough?

No! I really thought I would have to as I had to pee during all my long runs in training, but on the day I didn't need to go at all.

Which charity? How much did you raise?

No, I never seen any of that really, apart from a cute little boy giving away all his haribo. I drank at every water station though, it was so hot!

I think so, I trained as much as I could have. I signed up with only 10 weeks to go, downloaded a 10 week training plan, and stuck to it. I could do a better time if I done another one, but in the time I had, I don't think I could have done any more.

I didn't run for charity, not on this occasion. I plan to at some point though.

Did you hit 'the wall'? How far in?

Awwwwww.

Nine miles in I stumbled on a pothole and tweaked something in my left knee. I was in a fair bit of pain frm that point onwards, and by the finish line my hip was sore as I had been running a bit funny to take the pressure off my sore knee. I would say that was my wall, at around the 11 mile marker I seriously considered walking.

Did you put Vaseline on your nipples?

Ha ha - no, but my H did! It's not really an issue for ladies, as long as you have a good sports bra then nothing moves, but with men their top rubs against their nipples. I did however get a nasty friction burn on the inside of my upper arm, as there was a loose thread on my top that I was unuaware of, and so by the time I finished the skin was all broken and sore.

What trainers did you wear?

The brand name was Saucony, not sure of the 'model' as such. I go to a sepcialist sports shop for my trainers since having physio for shin splints a few years back, so the trainers are usually only known by people who run a lot; they don't really sell Nike, New Balance, Adidas, etc.

Do you think literally anyone could achieve this? I can't run for more than about 10 seconds! Would you recommend it to people?

One hundred thousand per cent yes! I would never have believed it, but now I convert people wherever I can. Start with this, stick to the plan, trust the plan, and be amazed: /live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-plus-running-podcasts/

Would you consider running a marathon now?

Absolutely, I will run a marathon before I'm 30, it's on my bucketlist now.

Did you train outdoors or in a gym - what is your preference, gym running or outdoor running and why?

I am considering doing this. I currently cant run for longer than about 3 minutes.

Did you lose weight when training?

I started the couch to 5k programme on the treadmill, which worked best for me, I didn't like the idea of running outdoors, I don't know why. Then we went on honeymoon and we ran outside in the mornings, when we came back, I couln't get back in to the treadmill, the stuffiness of the gym, the lack of fresh air, the people, everything, I hated it, so I started to run outside. Outside I feel more free, I can let my mind wander, and I feel more relaxed. I think starting on the treadmill helped me to get going, but it wouldn't have held my interest in the longer term.

I honestly could not run for more than thirty seconds when I started, anyone can do it.

I didn't lose any weight when training, but was a size 10/9 stone when I started. I did, however, notice my calorie intake increase quite a lot, and a lot of crappy foods too, but never gained a pound, so I guess if I had been heavier when I started i would have probably lost weight.

Are you going to run another half marathon?

The beauty of a 2:30 finish time is that you have loads of room to improve. You should be able to knock :15 without much effort at all.

I had the same running background as you when I started a Couch to 5k programme in March last year and did a half marathon six months later. I definitely agree that it's the perfect way for non-runners to learn how to run.

CRASHING

Yes anyone can, I got two of my clients to run with me last year. Neither trained at all, one was drug addict the other an alcoholic. They both ran the entire way.

I honestly don't know. Now that I've done it, I can't say that I definitely would again. I might, or I might just progress to marathon, it depends on whether any friends run it next year and what my situation is at that point.

Are you mad?

Most definitely!