Around 10 years ago, single and childless, I idly professed my intent to run a half marathon “one day”… then life got in the way and that day never happened. Fast forward to October 2020 and I took up running once more and gave myself a 12 month goal to run that ever elusive half marathon. For a really long time it felt like it would be impossible, I struggled with my own self doubt, and that annoying little voice that tells you to stop, but I kept persisting. I met up with the South Australia RMA crew and went on social runs, then ran a few 10km events, and suddenly the idea of running 21.1km didn’t seem so far away after all. With 6 weeks to go until the Adelaide Marathon Festival, I made a deal with myself that if I could run for 15km, then I would sign up for the Adelaide half marathon that very day. And so I did.

Six weeks later I was really regretting that decision. What was I thinking?? I couldn’t believe I would be able to run 21kms. But it was too late to back out now.

Race day arrived, and after a pretty wet winter here in Adelaide the forecast was clear skies and we were gifted the most stunning late winter day you could ask for. I left home at 6am and spent the 30minute drive to the start thinking about anything except the race I was about to run. As I passed a few road closures, and saw my first glimpse of the course, the nerves really started to set in. I met up with the rest of the RMA girls. Everyone was in good spirits and excited to get out there. They kept telling me I’d be fine, however I was feeling very anxious by this point. With 15 minutes to go – group shot done, and time for a last minute toilet break, (I swear I picked the slowest toilet line in the universe), my anxiety was peaking as the start time approached, and I was still in line. I heard the gun fire and then the elite runners were off…! and I was finally dashing to the start line. I heard someone yell “Good Luck Leigh!” from the direction of the RMA tent and I smiled, but I was so focused on getting there and getting going that there was no more time to be nervous.

Rage Against the Machine’s “Guerrilla Radio” was blasting in my ears and I was off. 

 

 

After first few hundred metres we hit a hill. Despite looking at the map, I’d stupidly thought the course was flat. It was not! (At least it wasn’t a long hill). I cruised along War Memorial Drive and passed the golf course, and it was as I approached Montefiore Rd that I saw runners heading back in the other direction, and the true ‘loopy’ nature of the course became apparent. Multiple times throughout the race I’d pass runners heading in the other direction as the course looped out and back all through the parklands. It was great to see familiar RMA faces with lots of waves smiles and cheers for each other as we passed. Seriously, the South Australia RMA crew are the best! I was feeling pretty comfortable as I turned to run past Adelaide Oval,  waved to the Course Marshall who was a mum from my daughters kindy (honestly Adelaide, you’re such a small town), and then headed back towards Morphett St to run over the hill bridge and loop back. I took my first gel around 7km, (later than I had originally planned). I’d gone in with a 5/10/15km plan, same as training, but at the last minute decided to take one before starting, and then at 7km… and then there was no clear plan after that. You know how they say “Don’t do anything different on race day?” Well, DON’T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT ON RACE DAY!! 

Back along War Memorial Drive once again, I just ticked over the 8km mark, and the first of the marathoners overtook me like he had wings in his feet. This guy was 29ish kms in and flying like he’d just started. Amazing! I ran along the Torrens River, just as I had plenty of times before, and enjoyed the comfort of knowing where I was and some of what was to come. I felt comfortable and pretty confident that I was on track to finish well. It was around 11km that things stared to go wrong for me.

That annoying little voice popped up to remind me that I was only half way there, that there was still such a long way to go. And despite writing YES YOU CAN in black texta on my arm, I started to think that, maybe, I couldn’t. I pushed on and ran through the roundabout next to the zoo and along the road next to Uni Loop. This section was the last of the out-and-back loops, and the last time I’d see any fellow RMA’s until the finish line. I didn’t realise until later how much those smiles and waves, those faces I recognised as they passed me, helped keep me going. The last half of the race was a lot more lonely. It was at the 13km mark that the tears came. I was tired and struggling, shuffling along sobbing, and hoping that no-one was too close behind me. God forbid someone hear me CRYING. It was at this point that my tired brain realised I should have another gel, I probably should have had one a while ago. I really struggled to find a way forward, I felt lost and unable to cope. I wanted to to stop. Then salvation came in the form of another runner – a woman in front of me had been doing run-walk-run intervals for much of the course as we leap frogged each other. I stuck behind her for a few km’s copying her intervals as we ran along Hackney and Botatnic Roads towards the Botanic Gardens, and felt like Dory from “Finding Nemo” -just keep swimming, just keep moving forward anyway I could. The Course Marshall at the Botanic Gate was yelling “only 4kms to go!” to us all as we passed, and I heard later he even ran a few metres with some people to cheer them on, and I was finally in the home stretch.

 

I was now out of the gardens and back down into Linear park and the last 3kms. I was so tired. I took my last gel and I shuffled along. Where on earth was that stupid finish line? I just wanted to stop running. I swore I was never going to do anything so stupid as run a half marathon again. Honestly, 21km is a REALLY LONG WAY. The last few kms are a blur until I passed through the tunnel and I could see Bonython Park, and the finish line just up ahead. UP A BLOODY HILL. Seriously? A hill?! Now?

I was exhausted, but was not giving in now, so I pushed my way up that hill and as I rounded a corner I saw my husband and daughters. Best sight ever. I couldn’t help but start smiling as I heard them screaming and yelling my name, and it spurned me on. My daughters ran out onto the course, we high-5’d and I was still smiling as I continued on. Then I heard the cheers of the RMA crew and it was such a wonderful thing to hear. 100m to go and more RMA’s cheering me. The finish line is in sight, my arms were in the air and I did it! I ran a half marathon. And survived. And despite my mid-race (and lets be honest, post-race) statements that I will never do another one, a week later I’m thinking that perhaps I maybe, might, possibly, most likely will…..

 

 

 

By Leigh Heath.