I did it! I completed my first half marathon on November 24th 2012. It has been on my things-to-do since a long time, but couldn't do it due to numerous reasons. This year I wanted to do one, I was confident I will do it, until in May I found out that I had to undergo yet another knee surgery ( 4th knee surgery on the same knee). I was sad, as last time it took almost 8 weeks or more to learn to walk. I couldn't do much though, I had to undergo the surgery. I took physical therapy very seriously this time, as I have realised that in a knee surgery, more than the surgery the therapy is very important. I was lucky enough to have a very good therapist. It took me 6 week to start walking, once I was one my feet, I told my therapist that I planned to do the half marathon in January (Initial plan was to do PF Chang's half marathon in AZ). She said it is doable and that I should do the exercises she has recommended, that I should listen to my knee and that I should aim on completing the half marathon and not worry about it.
With the tips she had given, I set off on my adventure:-) sometime around the last week of June. I started walking 15 mins per day for a week. I used to put a timer for 15 mins and the moment it was up used to stop walking. Then ice my knee and do my strength exercises. The walks used to be very slow, my knee used to hurt a little. But slowly slowly as I continued to exercise, the hurting stopped. I then increased my walk to 20 mins per day for a week. I continued increasing 5 mins every week. till I reached 40 mins. I used to do 20 mins a mile and I kept at that pace. In August for the first time I did one hour walk and did 3 miles, it made me very happy. But soon after, I found out we will be moving to CA, so got busy with packing, shifting etc all the moving mess and couldn't walk for 2-3 weeks.
I started training again during the midweek of September. Started with 3 miles, and I used to walk 5 days a week. Come October and I slowly started to increase my miles. The below was my training schedule:
One day long walk (every week a mile more than the previous week, started with 4 miles)
3 days - 3 mile walk
3 - 4 days - strength training.
Times when my knee used to hurt or swell, I used to take off from walking for an extra day, till my knee settled down. Once I did 9 miles, my husband encouraged me to register for a half marathon in November 24th. He having done 4 half marathons, felt that I could complete it. I didn't have that courage it, but still i registered. The week before the half marathon I did 10 miles:-), this gave me confidence that I could do it. However a day later, my knee was hurting I wasn't sure why, I got little tensed. Kept doing my therapy and didn't walk for 3 days. when it felt better, I walked 4 miles that week and my leg didn't hurt.
The day before half marathon had everything ready. My goal was to finish the half marathon, and I didn't think of anything else.
On the day, I was excited as it was my first ( how many firsts does one have, you might do it again, but the excitement is not the same. ). The race started and I was walking at my own pace. Initially I was the last one, literally last, but that didn't bother me as finishing was my goal. Kept my pace, after 11 miles, my knee started to hurt. (I guess since I had practice for 10 miles only). I had to reduce my pace and walk, I knew that I am going to finish it, 13 miles was not far away so I walked slow and did finish it. Oh the feeling, it was so great. I did it. 6 months after my surgery, I walked a half marathon. It boosted my confidence. I was so happy and so thankful. My husband has been a big support all the while, as much as he worries about my knee, he encourages me too. Thanks to him for all the love, care and support. Thanks to my therapist. Thanks to my friends for all the motivation.
To all the others who plan to walk/run a half marathon, if I can do it you can too. Practice is all that it needs.
With the tips she had given, I set off on my adventure:-) sometime around the last week of June. I started walking 15 mins per day for a week. I used to put a timer for 15 mins and the moment it was up used to stop walking. Then ice my knee and do my strength exercises. The walks used to be very slow, my knee used to hurt a little. But slowly slowly as I continued to exercise, the hurting stopped. I then increased my walk to 20 mins per day for a week. I continued increasing 5 mins every week. till I reached 40 mins. I used to do 20 mins a mile and I kept at that pace. In August for the first time I did one hour walk and did 3 miles, it made me very happy. But soon after, I found out we will be moving to CA, so got busy with packing, shifting etc all the moving mess and couldn't walk for 2-3 weeks.
I started training again during the midweek of September. Started with 3 miles, and I used to walk 5 days a week. Come October and I slowly started to increase my miles. The below was my training schedule:
One day long walk (every week a mile more than the previous week, started with 4 miles)
3 days - 3 mile walk
3 - 4 days - strength training.
Times when my knee used to hurt or swell, I used to take off from walking for an extra day, till my knee settled down. Once I did 9 miles, my husband encouraged me to register for a half marathon in November 24th. He having done 4 half marathons, felt that I could complete it. I didn't have that courage it, but still i registered. The week before the half marathon I did 10 miles:-), this gave me confidence that I could do it. However a day later, my knee was hurting I wasn't sure why, I got little tensed. Kept doing my therapy and didn't walk for 3 days. when it felt better, I walked 4 miles that week and my leg didn't hurt.
The day before half marathon had everything ready. My goal was to finish the half marathon, and I didn't think of anything else.
On the day, I was excited as it was my first ( how many firsts does one have, you might do it again, but the excitement is not the same. ). The race started and I was walking at my own pace. Initially I was the last one, literally last, but that didn't bother me as finishing was my goal. Kept my pace, after 11 miles, my knee started to hurt. (I guess since I had practice for 10 miles only). I had to reduce my pace and walk, I knew that I am going to finish it, 13 miles was not far away so I walked slow and did finish it. Oh the feeling, it was so great. I did it. 6 months after my surgery, I walked a half marathon. It boosted my confidence. I was so happy and so thankful. My husband has been a big support all the while, as much as he worries about my knee, he encourages me too. Thanks to him for all the love, care and support. Thanks to my therapist. Thanks to my friends for all the motivation.
To all the others who plan to walk/run a half marathon, if I can do it you can too. Practice is all that it needs.
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