Challenge 52 in 52; Chippenham Half Marathon #39/52

The weeks seem to be rolling by faster and faster at the moment. It feels like I’ve just finished one race and written a race report and I’m already at the next race. I suppose that’s what you get when you take on a challenge with weekly races. So next on the list was the Chippenham Half Marathon, another race I’d never done before and knew nothing about. After reading up about it and hearing from others, I was ready for another fast, flat race.

I always thought Chippenham wasn’t far from me in Banbury, until I looked at my route to get to the race. It wasn’t the furthest I’d travelled, but I either had to cut through the Cotswolds or go right round the houses (so to speak!) on the motorways. Either way, it was at least a 90 minute journey at 6.45am, I wasn’t looking forward to the 5.30am alarm!!!

Race day was upon me and it was still dark when I got up. Breakfast eaten, all prepared and on the move. I took the cross country route and arrived just before 8am for a 9.30am start, knowing I had a walk from the car park. I was one of the first to park up which I later found out, meant I was one of the furthest away. Arriving early doesn’t always have its advantages! I took a slow walk across the grass field to the race village, which soaked my trainers and socks with the morning dew. I had my pick of the portaloos and so much time to spare that I got my race top on and sat on a wall in the sunshine, enjoying watching the world go by and relaxing before it was time to race. As the time passed and the race village started to fill up slowly with more runners, I took the opportunity to hand in my bag at the baggage drop, then watch the warm up (more of a dance class than a warm up!). I waited around for the pre race brief before heading off for my own warm up. As I made my way to the start after my warm up, everyone from the race village was also starting to congregate by the start gantry in their desired time zone. I put myself near the front in the 1:30-1:45 zone and waited for the go while taking my usual start line photos.

After a countdown, we were off to the sound of a loud air horn. I could already tell this was going to be a fast race, not just because the special elite runner zone they had at the front, but by the amount of runners ahead of me who went off like a rocket! It was a great sight watching hundreds of runners powering down the main road together to clapping and cheering from the locals and families of the runners. It started with a very slight incline as we veered to the left, followed by a sharp turn to the right and down a nice decline towards the town centre which really picked up the pace and set it for the rest of the race. We ran under a railway bridge near Chippenham train station and continued over another bridge crossing the River Avon as we headed into the main High Street. The strong smell of bread and pastries from the local coffee shops was teasing as we passed, making our way up the slight incline through the High Street to the mile 1 marker (6:36). My watch beeped perfectly in time when passing it and still on a slight incline. The roads had little pockets of supporters as we made our way out of the High Street and along the main road with a few cars coming the other direction. Still lots of runners all over the road around me but gaps were starting to open up as the incline flattened before becoming a slight decline away from the town centre.

It was a long stretch of main road all the way to mile 2 with houses along both sides. The decline continued for the whole mile but it wasn’t massively noticeable. Some runners were starting to drop off their pace a little as I pushed on and overtook. Soon we passed the 2 mile marker (6:40) with another fast mile, just before taking a left turn away from the town and onto the country roads. No housing around us now, just fields on both sides. The pace was fast and I was feeling good! Could I maintain it?

The next mile was another long, straight country road with the only buildings around us being farms. The road was flat now and it stayed flat until much later in the race. Little groups were starting to break off together, running at similar speeds. By mile 3 (6:35) I’d definitely found a consistent speed and if I could hold it, it was going to be pretty quick time. At this stage my watch was hovering between a late 1:26 and early 1:27 predicted finish time. I always fade slightly towards the end, so it would more than likely be 1:27-1:28 if I maintained a similar pace. The first few miles always set the pace for the rest of the race, so I stuck with it. I was in the zone at this point with a small group of runners in front and a few just behind. I’m generally not good at running alongside people, I prefer to be on my own, either pushing away from runners or chasing them, I tend not to stay in a pack. This situation was perfect for me, with a lady and 3 guys around 15 yards in front, I kept working hard to slowly catch them. As we moved through the flat country roads, we took a couple of ‘s’ bends in the road before gradually veering to the left at mile 4 (6:37) for another consistent split. Bit by bit I was getting closer to them and it wasn’t long before I was on their shoulders and slowly moving past. A couple of them responded and went with me, a guy to my left who was hugging the edge of the road and the lady to my right. Both noticeably increased their pace to stay by my side and the guy actually pushed it enough to go back in front. I wasn’t going to change my pace to play cat and mouse, so I let him go. It didn’t last long before he dropped back again and I ended up passing him. We took a sharp right hand turn as we moved through a small village with just a few big houses. The lady stayed with me for a bit as I moved away from the group, but as we approached mile 5 she also dropped back behind me.

As I glanced at my watch when passing the mile 5 marker, my watch beeped perfectly in sync. It was an identical split to the last mile at 6:37. I was in another pocket of space between groups and moving along nicely. At around 5.5 miles we took another right turn on our way to mile 6 which is always my first milestone and generally a mile I like to gauge how I’m doing. If I’m there under 40 minutes I’m well on for a sub 1:30 time. Next we took a bend to the left in the road and made our way through a slightly larger village as mile 6 beeped (6:42) near enough in line with the mile marker again. It was just under 40 minutes on my watch, so it now put the sub 1:30 in my mind and gave me a target for the rest of the race. There was another group in front now, probably around 6-7 of them all running at a very similar pace to me. The gap wasn’t really closing and they sat around 20-30 yards ahead. If I remember correctly, there was a couple of ladies battling it out, one called Emma who was a Chippenham Harrier, I believe, due to the cheers from supporting team mates, who also kept meeting her at certain places with drinks bottles for the next few miles. There was also a few men, one in all black with a back to front cap on. I continued to keep my pace as the gap closed slightly, but not enough to catch them. After a long straight for the majority of the mile, we turned left not long before reaching mile 7 (6:38), back down below a 6:40 split.

As we headed towards mile 8 the scenery hadn’t really changed over the last few miles. Lots of farmland and fields all around the country lanes which was very pleasant, but no features that stood out in my mind about the route. My splits were really consistent until this point, so I was just hoping to hold pace until mile 10 and see how I was feeling then. I was gradually creeping closer to the group in front who were splitting up. By 7.5 miles we took another left turn and I was 5 yards behind the Chippenham Harrier runner, Emma, and two of the guys, including the one in the black cap. The rest of the group had moved on and scattered a little, ranging between 20-40 yards away. We took another left turn (as you can tell it was an anticlockwise loop!) just before mile 8 (6:34), which was a faster mile, obviously trying to catch the group in front. It meant I was now right behind Emma and the two other guys who were just in front of her.

Just after mile 8 we took a right then a left as I nestled into the back of the group. The pace was still quicker but I was feeling good. Half way through the mile we took a left followed by a quick right, like a chicane in the road, before another long straight to mile 9. As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of running next to people, so I stayed just behind the group until I felt strong enough or noticed them slowing, for me to make a move. At mile 9 (6:34), another faster split and identical to the last, I was still on their shoulder. The next mile had a few more kinks in the road, so not a long road ahead filled with a line of runners. First a right turn, then another a couple of minutes along the road, followed by a quick left and another right as we closed in on mile 10. As we hit mile 10 (6:37) and took a sharp left turn, the pace seemed to slow a little, so I took the chance to move forward and start overtaking the group. It wasn’t really noticeable to the eye, but the legs certainly knew we were on the start of a very slight incline. Maybe that is why the group slowed and it enabled me to pass them. My legs started to feel heavier and breathing was more erratic by now, which normally happens around 10 miles. I’d hit that point just under 1:07 though, which is my milestone for a sub 1:30, so all I needed to do was stay under a 7 min/mile. I didn’t have enough energy to kick away from the group, so I could here them just behind me. On the way to mile 11 it was another long stretch on a winding road ahead. We came to a nice village as mile 11 (6:44) beeped for the slowest mile yet.

Running through the village there were a few supporters cheering on the side of the road, including an unofficial water station with an older couple sat on the side of the road, with a camping table and some plastic cups filled with water. Probably welcomed by some as the temperature was rising, but I didn’t need one. My legs were fading though as we passed through the village and came to a left turn. It was only when a cyclist went past and said “well done, nearly at the top of the hill” that I realised it was still a slight incline. It was a little more noticeable to the eye now and definitely dragged on without being enough to trouble the pace too much. Towards the end of the road I overtook two older guys who seemed to be struggling a little, with Emma and the guy in the black cap shortly behind me. As we turned left and the marshal ushered us onto the pavement, I knew we were approaching the town again, as it was the first road in a while with a pavement. It was still slightly uphill and I seemed to lose my rhythm. One of the guys I’d just overtaken stayed a few yards behind as we ran through a water station and through a crowd of supporters on the side of the road. A marshal was stood stopping traffic for us to turn right and cross the road safely, heading towards the edge of a residential estate. Thankfully there was a little decline which helped me open up again and gain some distance from the guy behind. It was short lived as we turned left and in front of me was a slightly steeper incline. It wasn’t overly steep and not particularly long but it was noticeable to the eye. Fittingly the road was called Hill Corner Road. More locals lined the streets now, clapping and cheering us on as we started the small climb up the incline. OK, so this one hit my legs and my pace suffered as mile 12 beeped (7:00) for my slowest mile of the race and the only split to start with a 7!

I got to the top of the climb and had no energy left. My predicted time was showing a low 1:27 finish which would be my fastest of the challenge so far, so I was desperate to hold my pace to the end. Luckily at around 12.5 miles we took a left turn where a crowd of supporters stood cheering and the marshal said the words every runner loves to hear….”It’s all downhill to the finish from here”. They were right and a really nice decline followed just when my legs needed it. I powered down the hill for one last charge to the end and came to a right turn heavily supported again. Heading into the middle of the estate now, suddenly out of nowhere a guy came past my right shoulder, kicking to the finish. It was one I’d overtaken a couple of miles previous who saved some energy for the final mile. I tried to increase my pace and stay close behind him, which I did as we turned to the left. We then followed the road downhill as we passed the 13 mile marker (6:38) bang in time with my watch beeping and followed the road round to the right before another left turn. He was 10 yards in front but I was chasing hard. We were ushered to the right through an alley as my watch showed 13.1, so I expected the finish line as we entered the sports club playing field……but no! We turned left onto the field and had to run round the edge to the other side. I was trying to sprint but had nothing left as the guy in front kicked away. Suddenly the guy I overtook at mile 11 went past me with a final sprint as we turned to the right with the finish just 40-50 yards in front. I crossed the line at 13.22 miles on my watch! It was a long way from the 13 mile marker, meaning it wasn’t quite my fastest time of the challenge. I walked through, claimed my medal, t-shirt and goody bag before heading back home. Job done and half #39 completed!

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Splits (miles):

1 – 6:36

2 – 6:40

3 – 6:35

4 – 6:37

5 – 6:37

6 – 6:42

7 – 6:38

8 – 6:34

9 – 6:34

10 – 6:37

11 – 6:44

12 – 7:00

13 – 6:38

Time – 1:27:55

Position – 94/1036

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4.5/5 – This was a well organised event on the whole and as far as I could see, there were no major issues. Race numbers were sent out with information about race day, all of which was on the website for everyone to see. Emails were sent out too but they generally pointed to the website rather than give too much information. Both the information sent out and that on the website was thorough with a course map to view as well. With numbers sent out in advance, there was no need to register on the day but as parking was a 10 minute walk across a school playing field, a little time is needed to get to the race village. The parking is free but as it’s on a field, be prepared for your feet to get wet walking across the grass if the weather hasn’t been kind. Once at the race village there were around 20 portaloos and 3-4 men’s urinals, so queues were minimal or non existent if you get there as early as me. Just round the corner in the race village by the main sports club, there were lots of stalls selling food & drink, cakes, sports clothing, trainers etc and a few things for the younger ones like a bouncy castle and slide. There was also the baggage drop and massage as well as the main registration tent for those entering on the day. It was a nice area which filled up around race time. The baggage drop was nice and easy, you just had to fill in a tag, put it on your bag and hand it in. Unlike Maidenhead the previous week, I walked over after the race and by the time I’d got to the table, my bag was there waiting for me thanks to the efficient team who obviously had a good system in place. The start was a short walk away on the main road, but the finish was in the race village itself. On the course there were direction arrows and mile markers throughout and marshals at all junctions, who were very smiley and encouraging. There were also a couple of portaloos out there too if needed. Drinks stations were approximately every 3 miles and they were handing out water sachets which are like a gel outer layer which can be pierced to drink the water or eaten as they are made of seaweed. They are also biodegradable so they were doing their bit for the environment with limited waste. Unfortunately the marshals were having difficulty handing these out from what I could see, many of them bursting or being difficult to take as the faster runners grabbed for them as they passed. Dangling them under the hand by two fingers would have been better than holding them in the palm, but I guess that’s a learning curve. Generally everything was smooth and no noticeable problems.

Route: 4/5 – One bonus about the route compared to the previous week was it was one big loop…….hallelujah!! It was actually pretty pleasant too. It started with the town centre with plenty of support through the main streets and worked its way out to the countryside with picturesque views over the countryside and through small villages. Unfortunately it wasn’t on closed roads for the whole race, so there were moving cars on the route, some driving very impatiently through the narrow country roads. On the whole, most were very cautious though. Other than a slight gradual incline between mile 11 and 12, the route was pretty flat throughout making it very fast. Similar to Maidenhead, that enticed a lot of fast runners to turn up and go for good times, the winner completing it in 1:06 I believe…….slightly quicker than me 😉. The incline at mile 11 was quite draining but the nice downhill finish for the last mile was fantastic. I did make the course slightly long though and after seeing the 13 mile marker thinking I was on for my fastest time of the year, the last 0.1 mile actually lasted 0.22 of a mile. I know GPS will never be 100% accurate but mine is normally pretty close to the mark. Anyway, a nice route and well worth a bash at a fast time.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4.5/5 – I was pleasantly surprised for this one after the previous week. Some big event firms charge a lot and give very little whereas the events run by local running clubs seem to make much more of an effort for their runners. This was certainly the case by the Chippenham Harriers. After finishing we received a nice sized, chunky, solid and decent look medal…..good start! We then wandered through further to collect a banana and cup of water (standard), before moving on further to collect a very nice long sleeve tech t-shirt. It was different, unique and comfortable material as well as being a nice design. OK so it was black and probably not an ideal colour for running in the dark, which I guess it was aimed at being long sleeved, so slightly strange colour choice, but I liked it. After that we walked on to be given a draw string bag and a water bottle by the sponsors, so we went away with all three. A nice reward after completing a race.

Price: 4/5 – For £28 (£25 affiliated), it’s not a bad price at all for all the gifts and the race as a whole. It was a lot more at Maidenhead the previous week for far less, so good value for money really. It’s still not the cheapest I’ve come across by any means, but sometimes a few extra £’s to receive a lot more is worth it.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 4-4.5/5. It was a nice event, well run and a pleasant route. I’d definitely recommend and do it again. I think the only thing that it suffers with really in comparison to some of my favourite events this year like Southampton half, was the lack of support out on the route. Being a lot of countryside meant only the odd junction where a few people gathered to clap and cheer. Not a negative comment about the event or anything they can really change, but a shame really as with a little more atmosphere it could be a brilliant event.

Next on my list is the Richmond Runfest Half Marathon for half #40, a real favourite of mine and one I’ve done for the last 5 years. This race held my PB of 1:27:31 in 2015 until I broke it in February 2018. I used to live down the road and I know the area well. The whole event is great, the atmosphere is fantastic and the route very scenic. Add all that to some nice medals over the last 5 years making me return to complete the set (pie) this year. I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Maidenhead Half Marathon #38/52

Next up was the Maidenhead Half Marathon for my 35th half marathon race and my 38th half marathon of the year. I heard this one was fast and flat which was like music to my ears after some of the hills at Portishead the previous week. I’d had a good week away in Weymouth leading up to this one, so a lot of early morning training runs and way too much food (again!!!) made me feel a little jaded and definitely not in form for anything too quick. Luckily, I had the perfect reason for taking it a bit more steady. I’d chatted to a running buddy from my online running club who was also going to be there and wanted to get a sub 1:35 finish. With a 1:37 PB, this would be taking a good chunk off his time, so I said I’d be happy to pace him. It was a sensible move and nice to practice a bit of pacing again as I’ll be doing it officially in December at the Milton Keynes Winter Half.

After a late night on the Saturday, we didn’t arrive in Maidenhead in our motorhome until close to 1am on the way back from Weymouth, so after parking up, I didn’t get much sleep before it was time to rise and prepare. If truth be told, I could have pressed snooze a million times and stayed in bed, but that’s all part of the challenge. I got up, got prepared and made my way to Maidenhead Football Club where race HQ and registration was. I picked up my number, pinned it to my vest, used the facilities and then sat back on the terraces basking in the sun while I waited for my buddy to arrive. Once I’d handed my bag in and found Darren, we made our way to the start to find a good spot in the right time zone, so we wouldn’t get caught up at the start of the race. We were literally packed in like sardines in a can, no space to move and still more people trying to climb over the barriers to get in around us.

After a short countdown, we were off and although the initial start was a little slow to get going due to the numbers, it was surprising how quickly it filtered out and how fast the pace was around us. The pace needed to be 7:15 or under every mile to achieve the 1:35 Darren was going for, so as long as we stayed around that I was happy. Darren had other ideas and for the first 6-8 miles, it was debatable whether he even needed a pacer, dragging me along at sub 7 minute pace. He was into his stride and looking strong right from the off. Unfortunately there were a couple of pinch points within the first mile and sheer weight of traffic slowed everyone down making the first split a little slower than the mile deserved. We started with a loop around the main town turning left, left and left again to bring us back past the start, then weaved our way away from the town centre turning left then right and left then right again. The main pinch point came as we had to slow to go through a tunnel under the main road (A4), where everyone had to put the brakes on. We exited into a path on the edge of a park shortly before the mile 1 marker. Back to a nice pace again and moving along nicely, both of us chatting away. Mile 1 beeped (7:19) with a much slower split than expected after seeing the pace in the 6’s on my watch for the majority of the mile. Still, just over target and now the pace was consistent with plenty of space around us.

Another left, right and left took us along the road parallel with the River Thames and other than the decline/incline under the A4, the route had been completely flat to this point. As we maintained a sub 7 min/mile pace, we were starting to overtake runners who had started fast and now slowed their pace. Darren was looking comfortable at that pace and after asking him how he felt, he was more than happy to maintain it for as long as he could, so that’s what we did. As the road split and we veered to the left away from the River Thames, the second mile beeped at a faster split (6:58) which reflected the overall pace a lot better. We continued to push forward and overtake more runners around us as we ran along the main road. It was amazing how many runners were in front and clearly being a fast, flat course, it had enticed a lot of very good, fast club runners. Normally at this stage the field would have filtered out but we were still amongst big groups of runners. As we approached 2.5 miles, we spotted the mile 8 marker and I made a joke about how far we were up on time for 8 miles, and that it would be an unbeatable PB. It was then that I realised, it was probably a two lap route……damn it! Not a fan of laps, I generally like to only see the same scenery the once! Oh well, back to the job in hand and as we moved along this road which barely had a bend in it for the last mile and a half, we had left the built up town centre and were travelling out into more countryside with fields all around us. We were now coming up to the 3 mile marker and as we passed it (6:58) with an identical split to the last, we had already built up a bit of a bumper for the time we should have hit 3 miles. I always see that as a positive as it gives you some time to play with later on when the legs fade and it gets tough. Darren was in the zone and I was actually letting him take the pace while he had the energy to do so.

Still a long way to go but everything was going to plan for the moment. We were starting to approach some more housing as we passed the 9 mile marker (the thought of that second lap was teasing!) and took a left turn through Cookham, then another left turn at the end of the village as we met the main road. We turned onto a path through a grass field alongside the main road, with the mile 4 marker in sight shortly ahead. Still cruising along we hit mile 4 (6:56) with a slightly quicker split as we crossed a flat bridge over a stream…..more seconds in the bank to save for later! The path then rejoined the edge of the main road as we pushed on to mile 5, running off the path and on the road. We took another left turn just before seeing the mile 10 marker and again I joked about being only 3 miles from the end. We now had a group of runners around us who were all travelling at a similar speed. As we moved along the road we came to a bridge that we went under and when coming out the other side, we were directed onto a grass verge again, cutting across the corner to rejoin the road. Soon we were at mile 5 (7:04) with a slightly slower split, but still well up on the 7:15 pace we needed. So far so good!

After mile 5 we had a long stretch of road, moving away from the residential area of Cookham, with fields either side. As we went past the 11 mile marker, there was a slight downhill patch as we approached the next residential area. We took a left turn straight into the centre of North Town and over a railway bridge, probably the only bit of incline on the course. We followed the road until we hit mile 6 (6:56) with another sub 7 split. We were now 1 minute 17 seconds under the 7:15 target time for 6 miles. That meant Darren could run the next 7 miles at 7:25 pace if he wanted to and still get the sub 1:35 he was looking for. As you can tell, while I run I do maths equations in my head, working out finishing times at certain paces so I know what I need to do. It’s also a way of keeping me focused and taking my mind off the run so the miles pass quicker. Everyone has their way of passing the time in races, this is mine.

Just before 6.5 miles we passed the 12 mile marker and I was now so jealous that this wasn’t my second lap, I hated knowing we had to do it all again! We took another left turn to cut across town and rejoin the same route just before the 2 mile marker, where we’d start our second lap. As we followed the road, we approached the 7 mile marker. I took a look at my watch as it beeped (6:58) with a sub 7 split again. I’d already done the maths and was telling Darren we were over 90 seconds up on the 1:35 finish time and my watch was predicting a late 1:32 finish at that pace. A man in front turned to ask Darren what time he was going for and when Darren replied “1:35” he kind of laughed and said “well you’re well on for that!”. As we went to pass him he stayed with us but he didn’t last long, puffing and panting more and more before dropping back behind us. Darren was still looking comfortable and I didn’t need to urge him on at any point so far. We followed the road to the end where we hit a ‘T’ junction, turning left and joining the same route as the first lap. We had joined where the road split away from the River Thames, so everything was now looking familiar. Unfortunately there was an ambulance in the middle of the road attending to someone who looked like they’d had a fall. Not a nice sight or something you want to see, but you can only hope they are OK. We passed the ambulance and continued to push towards mile 8. It was at this point I could just sense Darren was starting to feel it a bit. He was a yard behind my shoulder rather than next to me, he was looking more tired and the pace was dropping slightly. I asked how he was feeling and he told me he was starting to “feel it a bit”. Mile 8 beeped (7:03) a few seconds after and although slower, he was still under the 7:15 pace and with every mile he did that, he had more time to play with later in the race. I told him just that and we just kept going, ticking off each mile at a time.

Between mile 8 and 9 we moved away from the houses again and into the more rural area, passing the 3 mile marker on the way. This time round we were on the final lap, so no need to look at the higher mile markers in envy. We passed a few more runners who were in a group but as our pace was slowing down, we didn’t get far in front, in fact we sat around 20 yards ahead but the gap didn’t increase. As we hit mile 9 (7.10), it was obvious the legs were fading and the next 4 miles were going to be a battle. Still under our target split but I could tell that wasn’t going to last. We approached the houses of Cookham again with a left into the village and a left out of it at the far end. The runners behind were now catching us again which was a sign that our pace had dropped. We were now back on the path through the grass verge on the side of the road and passing the 4 mile marker as we crossed the flat bridge for the second time……it was like déjà vu!!! Rejoining the road as the path and road met, a couple of the group behind had caught up and started to pass us. We took a left turn and saw the mile 10 marker in front as we then came across the tail runners on their first lap. We went past them as mile 10 beeped (7:16) and just 5km to go!!! This was only the second mile over our target of 7:15, but now the pace was dropping, it was going to keep dropping.

Now my job as a pacer was going to be tested and I kept trying to talk to Darren to keep him focused and pushing forwards without losing too much speed. I told him he had around 1 minute 45s to play with, so effectively he could run the last 3.1 miles at a 7:45-7:50 pace and still hit his target. He replied by telling me to push on and go alone as he needed to slow down, to which I refused and told him I wasn’t interested in a time for me, I was there to get him under 1:35. So we slowed down a little and I kept encouraging, trying to stay around a 7:30 min/mile pace which he seemed he could manage. A few grimaces and a bit of heavy breathing was creeping in as more runners started to overtake. We weren’t interested in beating them, it was all about the time! Darren was now hanging on to my shoulder, technique looking a bit less composed as we passed the 5 mile marker on the way to mile 11. We ran under the railway bridge and took another left on our way out of the residential area again. We came up to a water station that we hadn’t even needed on the first lap, but this time Darren needed to rehydrate, so I let him cross my path to grab a drink. Other runners in front did the same as they slowed down, also struggling a bit. It gave Darren a boost as he picked up the pace again to move past them as mile 11 beeped (7:27). It was the slowest mile yet but the time gained in the first 8 miles was more than enough to cater for a few slower miles. Just 2 miles to go!

Now approaching the houses and the slight decline into North Town again and I made a point to mention the decline so Darren could use it to let his legs go a bit. We were now passing more back runners and walkers as we turned left and passed the mile 6 marker. I felt a little sorry for them knowing they had another lap to do and I knew how I felt at that stage, so I gave a little encouragement to a few as we passed them. Things were now speeding up around us as runners could sense the final mile. A few more passed us before mile 12 (7:29) came and went. It was another mile just under 7:30, so he was holding on well but the pace was telling now. Technique was gone and sheer determination and grit filled Darren’s face. I continued to encourage and talk to him, telling him that he could do the last mile in 8:15 and still get under 1:35, but to hold on if he could. My watch was showing a late 1:33 predicted finish time, so I kept trying to push him to break 1:34.

Shortly after mile 12 we came to a roundabout that we’d turned left at earlier in the race at the end of the first lap, to rejoin the same loop for the second lap. This time we ran straight across and with less than a mile to go, the end was near. Darren was working extremely hard to maintain his pace as others were speeding up around us, making a final push to the finish. At roughly 12.5 miles we were ushered right by a marshal into Kidwells Park where we followed the path across to the other side. We took a bend to the left and followed the line of runners in front, out of the park to the A4, where we had to go under the tunnel. With a handful of runners around us, all trying o take the tight ‘U’ turns in and out of the tunnel together on both sides, the pace slowed and we had to regain the rhythm at the other side. Others continued to power past us now with less than 600m to go. We took the final left bend onto the main High Street where the crowds built as we got closer to the finish. The atmosphere was growing with clapping and cheers of encouragement as we pushed as hard as we could to the end.

Just after mile 13 beeped (7:28) we took the final turn to the right with another runner coming up the inside of us. I was encouraging Darren, pushing him to give it everything he had left to the finish, knowing the sub 1:35 was his and the sub 1:34 was also in range. The guy on the inside also gave some encouragement as he passed and pushed away, but Darren had enough for one last kick as the finish line was in sight just 100m in front. He pumped his arms and powered along the straight with me right next to him, clapping and egging him on. As we approached the line, I took my foot off the gas to finish just behind him, letting him enjoy the achievement of hitting his target.

He’d done it and the last sprint was just enough to see a finish time in the 1:33’s too, a truly epic achievement and well deserved. We walked through to claim our medals and then stood still for a minute or two to let Darren catch his breath. He’d given it everything in those last few miles and was looking slightly wobbly. Once he had recovered, I congratulated him and took the usual finish selfie with our medals. Another half completed and a successful day of pacing.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 3/5 – On the whole the organisation and facilities were pretty good but the whole event was majorly overshadowed by one big mistake and the saying ‘If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!’ comes to mind. Starting with the information, the emails had all the information needed, from times to addresses of car parks etc. The website is a little basic but again had all the information needed. I hadn’t seen a map of the route beforehand, hence not knowing it was 2 laps, but that’s probably because I didn’t search for it and I wasn’t visible when scrolling through the website or emails. Registration was done on the day and seemed simple and efficient, but then I was nice and early again. There wasn’t parking on sight but a few car parks nearby which were a short walk away and free for the day. The race village was at Maidenhead Football club which obviously had their toilets available but also a large number of portaloos. Again, I was there early enough to use them before the queues built up, which ended up being huge. I’m not sure why, I know queues are inevitable at peak times before the race, but with the amount of toilets available, I was surprised the queue was so big. The space near the baggage drop, toilets and registration was only small and part of the football club terracing, so it did get very congested. The baggage drop was easy when handing them in but not so easy getting them back, I’ll come to that at the end. Once by the start, there were signs for predicted finish times, but again it was quite narrow at the front and got very crowded. If you want to get near the front, get there early! Once on the course there were mile markers and direction arrows at every junction, as well as marshals who were encouraging as always. There were a couple of drink stations on the course, which you passed twice for the two lap course. All was pretty good until this point. Then the fun began (said with sarcasm) as we went to pick up our bags. On our way back to the baggage drop we found ourselves joining the longest queue I’ve ever seen to collect the bags. Considering we finished in the top 25%, we’d expect to get our bags pretty quick. Unfortunately we were told they changed their baggage system from previous years and it simply didn’t work. The queue was nearly back to the finish line, some 200-300m away. Everyone in the queue was getting fed up and was tired after a long race. Luckily the sun was out which stopped us getting too cold but after nearly an hour of waiting, I was starting to shiver. Finally I got my bag and walked back to my car over an hour after finishing. Although most of the event ran very smoothly it only takes one thing going wrong that can put you off and I’m afraid the baggage drop did that for me.

Route: 3.5/5 – It’s not often I don’t really take in the route, but as I was pacing Darren, my mind was occupied talking rather than looking around. That probably helped me get through the two laps to be honest, as I’m generally not a big fan of laps. Having said that, I didn’t need to look around much to appreciate how flat it was. The distinct lack of hills made a nice change BUT that can also be a challenge in itself. I sometimes find that long, straight, flat roads make it hard mentally being able to see all the runners into the distance, as well as trying to stay at the same pace. The odd incline/decline can break up a run and make it pass quicker. As long as you can maintain your speed on a flat route, it does make it fast, so lots of PB potential. That means it’s popular with the fast club runners, so don’t be surprised if you’re further down the results than normal, unless of course you’re one of those speedy ones! As for scenery, it was pleasant enough with a little variety from the residential areas around Maidenhead, to the more country feel from the roads outside of the town. For a short period there was also some nice views over the River Thames on the first lap. Unfortunately, seeing everything twice isn’t as appealing on the second lap, it doesn’t make the scenery any nicer!

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 3/5 – Credit where credit is due, the medal is pretty nice. It’s not huge but it’s a decent size, pretty thick and solid, and a good design. The colours stand out, a mixture or pink, purples and red blended in to give it a snazzy look to both the medal and ribbon. Definitely one of the nicer medals this year.

Unfortunately that’s pretty much all that we got, there was no t-shirt or goody bag, just a cup of water and a banana. There was a company there giving out a bag of epsom salts to all finishers and if you ‘liked’ their Facebook page, a free shower gel too, which was a nice little gift for the tired legs, but that’s as good as it got.

Price: 3/5 –For £34 (£32 affiliated), it’s certainly one of the more expensive half marathons I’ve entered this year. Although the medal was nice, with little else to show for it, I’m not sure it’s worth over £30 entry unless a t-shirt is thrown in with the deal. Also, with such a huge problem with the baggage and a complete waste of an hour after the race, it’s probably not one I’d do again at that price, even if it is flat.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 3/5. The route was OK and the medal pretty nice, but for the price I’ve come across better events that I’d prefer to enter in the future.

Next on my list is the Chippenham Half Marathon which I’ve not done before. It claims it’s fast and flat, much like this one, so let’s wait and see!

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Portishead Half Marathon #37/52

Another road trip to Weymouth in the motorhome for a family holiday, but not before a quick stop in Portishead on the first day, for a mere 13.1 miles to complete half marathon #37 (race #34) of the year. OK, so this was always going to be a tough one mentally for me because of the date. The whole reason I do these challenges is in memory of my dad who passed away with cancer, well Saturday 24th August just so happened to be his birthday and on Saturday it would have been his 70th birthday. I still miss him every day and for a few days a year that pain inside is stronger.

On Saturday I ran with a heavy heart which weighed me down. I wasn’t looking forward to it and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, but he was with me and as the paragraph tattooed on my inner arm says, which you may well know from the poem ‘Footprints’…..

On Saturday, he carried me to the finish and boy did I need him.It was a later start than normal, a lot later……..4.30pm, so it enabled me to sleep until I needed to for a change, but as we stayed in our motorhome just down the road by the seafront, the noise from passing cars soon woke me up. It wasn’t a great night sleep and I was dozing lightly anyway, as daylight woke me. I took a quick photo out of the window when I woke, to see the amazing sky as if my dad had come to visit me. It reminded me of the sky that we were blessed with the morning he passed away, not long after sunrise. The pink glow was warming but didn’t help much when trying to go back to sleep. My mind was too awake then!

Eventually I was wide awake and the sun was beating through the windows, making Lola (motorhome) very hot and uncomfortable, so I got up and got ready. I took the dog for a walk with my son and decided to walk to the race village, roughly half a mile away. As we arrived, the 401 event team were starting to set up. I bumped into the main man himself and inspirational runner, Ben Smith, who ran 401 marathons in 401 days for an amazing charity to raise awareness for his anti-bullying campaign. I introduced myself and thanked him for his support for my challenge. A real nice guy who was happy to talk and help anyone, so a huge thank you to Ben and the 401 team.

We wandered back and grabbed the rest of the family before returning later to pick up my race number. By this time it was around 25 degrees and rising, so the heat was going to be a real issue. I spent the rest of the afternoon staying out of the sun and hydrating, ready for my hottest race of the year. As 3pm came round, my wife and kids had gone to use the outdoor swimming pool as I wandered to the race village to prepare for the race. A little early and no where to hide from the sun, I did my best to stay in the shade behind the portaloos (pleasant!) and keep sipping my water. Just 20 minutes before the start I went for a short warm up to loosen off the legs, before heading back and joining the crowd ready to start the race. I bumped into a few fellow Lonely Goat RC members and had a chat (and a selfie!) before setting off.

After a slight delay due to a couple of marshals going home and not being at their marshal points, once the team had extra marshals put in place, we were off! The first mile and a half were a bit up and down, starting with a stride uphill across the grass away from the start gantry and onto the main road. The climb got steeper on the road for 200m or so before a sharp left turn and making our way back down under some tree cover alongside the race village. A nice flat stretch through the woods led us onto the edge of a housing estate where we turned right and up another short incline, before turning left into the estate and back on the decline as mile 1 beeped (6:55). Considering the 27 degree heat and a couple of inclines, it was a pretty fast start. I was moving along nicely, already in a pocket of space with a male and female runner shortly in front as we weaved through the estate, gradually dropping back down towards the marina. A sharp left turn and a bend to the right around Jubilee Park led us straight to the marina where we took a left, then a right across a small bridge to the other side. It was already very warm and the water was looking inviting. The view over the marina was stunning and for the next few miles at least, the course was flat.

As we ran alongside the edge of the marina and turned right when the marina reached the estuary, we came to a path leading into a housing estate. I had two female runners in front and a guy just behind them as we reached mile 2 (6:35). The downhill to the marina made it a fast mile but the sweat was already starting to pour in the beaming sunshine. Luckily a few big buildings and apartment blocks gave us some shade for short periods but it wasn’t enough. I could tell everyone was already feeling the heat and it was draining enough to make the pace start to drop. As we turned to the right into the housing estate, I’d already gone past the guy in front and one of the women. The second woman was within touching distance too, so I followed her line and closed in bit by bit. I noticed the runners in front were crossing the grass verges to follow the direction arrows rather than follow the paths, but as there were no instructions beforehand or from marshals to stick to the path or road, I followed everyone else. I’d now caught and gone past the next lady and had a bit of a gap between me and another woman, who also had two men in orange vests around 30-40 yards in front of her too. As we weaved through the little streets of the housing estate, we passed the first water station where I gave the lady permission to throw water in my face. She did it perfectly with a cheer from her friend and it was a pleasant, cold splash that my overheating head needed. We continued to follow the curves in the streets, cutting across small greens and through little alleyways before we took a left turn where the organiser, Mr 401 (Ben), was stood marshaling and encouraging as we turned onto a trail path just before mile 3 (6:48). My legs were feeling heavy and I was working too hard in the sun. I was feeling more tired than I should at this stage of the race and wasn’t sure how long I could hold this pace. For now I kept pushing, trying to catch the lady in front as I followed her, darting through the alleys, between houses and across more grass verges. Soon we reached mile 4 (6:49) and the gap was closing, but I’d noticed the mile markers were coming up short compared to that on my watch. I was starting to wonder whether that was the GPS struggling with all the twists and turns through the buildings, bushes and alleys, or if the line we were taking across the grass was shortening the route. I started to hug the paths and roads (where possible!) more, in case we were taking the wrong line. As the woman in front continued to cut corners, it meant catching her was more difficult for obvious reasons. I concentrated more on the correct line and as the heat was getting to me, I slowed my pace too, to make sure it was more sustainable. Soon we’d done a loop of the path round the outside of the estate and were back into the middle, rejoining the same roads we’d previously run on, but in the opposite direction. We now had runners coming the other way which was a bit chaotic. They didn’t seem to know which line to take, just like us, and we were all weaving from one side of the road/path to the other, trying not to bump into each other. It was more noticeable now how much the woman in front was cutting corners, as I tried my best to follow the paths but stay within reach of her. I was torn between whether I should be sticking to the paths or going across the grass. Just before leaving the estate, we passed through the water station again, this time no splash for me as the lady was too busy pouring drinks for the runners heading the opposite way.

As we reached mile 5 (7:05) heading back to the marina, my pace had slowed, partly intentionally and partly because of the slowing down for tight bends. The lady in front was now on the heels of the two guys in orange and I was getting closer to them all. We passed the apartment blocks again and the shade they gave was welcomed, as well as the shouts of encouragement and cheers from the balconies. A few ‘well dones’ from the tail runners before we hit the marina again. I was too hot and bothered to take photos, so I didn’t grab many during the race. This was the first one just before we turned left into the marina.

As we approached the marina again there were no more grass verges or corners to cut across, so my pace was now good enough to close in on the three runners in front. The lady had now overtaken the two men in orange tops and I was just yards behind. As we weaved our way along the main path around the marina, through the crowds who gathered outside the restaurants and bars, we were now one group. The woman in front leading me and the two guys in orange as I worked my way past them as we came to mile 6 (7:03) at the end of the marina. I was now just a few metres behind the lady as we left the marina but with more grass verges and opportunities to cut corners, she took them as I kept to the paths. This enabled her to move away slightly and the two guys behind to catch up with me again. Maybe I was too honest or maybe we were supposed to take the shortest path but it didn’t sit right with me. Shortly after we came to a main road where a marshal waited by a zebra crossing. The lady darted across, cutting the corner again as the marshal shouted that we had to cross at the crossing. A bit late for her but we all crossed where we should have. We immediately started an incline at the other side of the road and my legs soon let me know how tired they felt in the heat. It was becoming tough and the lady in front started to open a gap up the incline. I felt like I was going backwards and was expecting the two guys behind to go past me again. I took a glance over my shoulder and to my surprise I’d opened a gap too. It took the pressure off a little as the gaps continued to open in front and behind as we made our way back towards the coastline. It wasn’t long before we reached the next water station and this time I was desperate for a drink. As a no cup race, I took my reusable cup out of my flip belt to get it filled with water. A quick guzzle of fluid and a splash over my head and I was on my way again. This was where the route completely changed and the hard work began. We entered a grass field that approached the coastal path and the gap in front was much larger as the lady hadn’t stopped for a drink. The grass was sapping on the legs as mile 7 beeped (7:15) much slower than previous miles and well past the mile marker.Now entering the narrow coastal path with bushes either side, trees overhead and some uneven, rocky paths. Much of the path had ups and down and twists and turns making it slow and intricate. I could no longer see the lady in front through all the twists and turns and the guys behind had disappeared too. I was all alone and just concentrating on keeping my footing on the uneven path. It was a struggle to keep my pace up and I was now battling my mind which was giving in to the heat and the heavy legs. I passed the mile 8 marker at around 7.7 miles on my watch, shortly before reaching the stunning views at Black Nore Lighthouse.

I had no energy to be taking photos but I couldn’t miss this opportunity, it really was a great view. Not long after passing it, mile 8 beeped (7:59) on my watch, with by far my slowest mile. My mind was now just solely thinking about finishing. My legs were moving slower every minute and the energy was sapping out of me. It was draining trying to follow the narrow paths through bushes and brambles either side of me which whipped across my legs. Trying not to trip or lose my footing on the uneven ground was a priority. After speaking with Ben, the organiser, I knew a hill was coming at some point, which he classed as ‘brutal’, but I didn’t know when. These little ups and downs along the coastal path seemed bad enough so I was hoping he meant them. At around 8.5 miles we went in from the sea edge and across a small grass area where we were directed along the road and back through the trees to the right onto the coastal path. I continued to move between the trees and bushes and across the rock paths until I passed the mile 9 marker. My watch was still way behind and after another 0.4 of a mile it beeped for mile 9 (8:13) as I turned to the left away from the sea edge. The last mile was slow and my legs showed no sign of getting faster. What made it worse was the hill that stood in front of me between the fence to my left and the thick bushes on my right. With all good intentions I started the climb trying to run but although my mind was saying yes, my body said definitely not, as I lasted 10 yards before dropping to a walk. It was a long uphill stretch and I could see no one in front. I tried power walking but even that was a drag. My hands were on my thighs trying to push myself up the hill. It was steep, it was nasty, it was never ending!!! As I got near the top (so I thought!) to some steps, I looked back to check for any runners behind. There was no sign of the guys in orange, so my position was safe for now.

The steps were a thigh burner and my heart rate was through the roof as I kept climbing to the top. As I went round the corner, after an effort to break into a jog, followed by a short walk, unbelievably there were more! This lot seemed steeper if that was possible and the photos didn’t do them justice.

This was becoming exactly what Ben said……BRUTAL! I kept walking until I came to a concrete path and could see the road ahead with some marshals and a water station. I broke into the slowest of jogs still climbing up to the water station, where I stopped to soak my head and drink two cups full of water. I could have stopped there and then at 9.5 miles but the fact I was now back on the road and it looked like I’d conquered the hill, made me believe again. Suddenly footsteps came from behind me and one of the guys in orange stopped at the water station too. That was the kick up the bum that I needed, so I started to run hoping he would stop for a while for a drink. I veered down the road to the left feeling much better and finally running again, then as I turned to the right the view was devastating as the road started to climb again……YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!!! The climb continued and as much as I tried to run it, my legs had nothing as it got steeper, turning to the left. Fittingly the road was called Charlecomb Rise and I had to walk again. It started to flatten near the top as it reached a main road, so I broke into the jog again, being ushered to my left by a marshal and along the path of the road. Finally, some flat tarmac! Even better, it started to go back downhill which was a blessing as my legs needed a break. Shortly after I passed the mile 10 marker and turned left again, but the distance still well short on my watch. I had a glance over my shoulder and had a nice gap again but not as long as it was. A couple of minutes later on a nice downhill stretch, my watch beeped for mile 10 (10:25) with one of the slowest miles of this year’s challenge. Luckily the downhill continued with a stunning view to the sea in the distance.

The downhill helped me speed up slightly but my legs were like jelly and I was overheating. With the majority of mile 11 downhill and some cheers from a few locals on the edge of the road, I managed to pass the 11 mile marker at a much better pace. Next was a slight incline before a sharp left turn towards the coastline and down a steep road. My legs felt out of control but it didn’t last long as I turned right and right again, to go back up the same hill on the next parallel road. I continued to run for as far as I could until my legs had to walk. Nearer the top some children were waiting, cheering me up the hill, so I ran the last section thanks to their support. At the top I turned left onto the main road and left again shortly after to do exactly the same again. These up and down housing blocks were horrendous. This time my watch beeped at the bottom of the hill for mile 11 (7:55) with a much faster split…..thankfully. Going back up the other way, my wheels well and truly fell off. I had to walk the whole thing, it was too steep and my legs didn’t want to know. As I reached the top to turn left again, the guy in orange behind caught me and overtook, after running the whole thing. Luckily it had hit his legs and as soon as I started to run again, I went past him but not by much. I was just about hanging on now and after he got his breath back, it wasn’t long before he was overtaking again and moving away from me. I wanted to respond but I was beaten, suffering and at this point a little wobbly and lightheaded. I even considered just walking from this point to the end but my stubbornness wouldn’t let me.

We worked our way along the main road which was pretty flat, but every little incline felt like a hill. My pace was non existent as the guy in front kept moving away and I faded more and more, as we passed the mile 12 marker. Finally, another much needed downhill across the grass field we had crossed earlier, on our way to the coastal path. It helped me keep running….slowly and I knew a water station was up ahead. As I exited the field and turned right up a slight incline to the water station, my watched beeped for mile 12 (8:57) almost half a mile behind the mile marker. I stopped for a couple more cups of water before starting again, turning left down a hill and onto the promenade. This gave the guy in front time to open a big gap and he was too far ahead to catch within the last mile. I could see the Portishead Lido in the distance at the other end of the promenade. Behind it and up the hill was the race village, so I knew I was nearly done. My watch showed the time at 1:33 something, so I was pushing to get under 1:38 (roughly a 7:30 min/mile average). The flat promenade seemed like it went on forever and as I approached the Lido and start of the last incline to the race village, I ran past the 13 mile marker which only showed just over 12.5 miles on my watch. I knew the course was coming up short on my watch and I was glad the punishment was nearly over. With less than 400m to go, I nearly walked the final incline until I saw my son up ahead. He’d jumped out from the steps (walkway) to the finish to run with me. I couldn’t show him my weakness, so I gave everything I had left to make it up the incline without walking and turned left into the field, then the downhill to the finish line. He ran by my side, urging me on until my daughter ran out too, grabbed my hand and joined us both. They have no idea how much they helped get me to the end…

It was an emotional one for me on my dad’s birthday and I’m sure this weighed me down a little too, but as my tattoo says, he certainly carried me when I needed it. I claimed my medal, shoved some food and water in my face and immediately collapsed in the nearest shade I could find.

Another half completed and definitely one of the toughest to date. So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4/5 – Firstly the information sent out via emails was fantastic. Daily emails the week before the race left every question answered. I didn’t see anything over social media though. A course map and gradient was available too, but after seeing that I was already fearing the hills, so it’s sometimes best not to know! There was no parking at the race village but plenty of free parking in the nearby streets as long as you got there early enough. Registration was done on the day and this was simple, so no problem there. The race village had some food trailers, somewhere to get hot and cold drinks and also an ice cream van, as well as the usual sponsors gazebos. Around 10-15 portaloos were available and as each race was only a few hundred people staggered over the weekend, I never saw any big queues for them. Lastly, out on the course the marshals were great, encouraging and stopped traffic when needed as it wasn’t on closed roads. Unfortunately, although there were direction arrows at all main junctions, some weren’t overly clear and due to the nature of the route through a housing estate, it meant running on roads, across grass verges, through walkways etc. It was unclear whether we needed to follow the paths, roads or whatever and it seemed like all the runners in front were cutting big chunks off corners. We also ended up running straight at the back runners through the estate as no clear instructions were given as to which side of the road, paths we should be running. A little more instruction is needed I think. Other than that, it was a pretty well organised event and even the organiser rushed out to the course to marshal when a marshal went walkabouts………a nice touch and respect to him for that.

Route: 4/5 – On paper it was a stunning route, taking in the gorgeous marina and some beautiful views over the sea along the coastal path but it had it’s negative points too. The first 6 miles were pretty flat around a housing estate and ended up rejoining the same route meaning runners were running straight at each other. Direction arrows were all over the place so runners were cutting across grass verges, diving across roads and after following the people in front, the GPS distance ended up a lot less than the distance markers. I guess the coastal path didn’t help the GPS but to end at just 12.69 miles suggests it’s more than a GPS issue as I’ve never come up that short before. Also, the stunning views from the coastal path on the second half of the route meant some narrow, overgrown paths on some rocky, rugged terrain, along with some monster inclines which were pretty much impossible to run……or pointless when walking was just as quick! When I should have been enjoying the views, I was too busy trying to stay on my feet and not crumble under my jelly legs. It was a real challenge and definitely a race of two halves. With only one finisher getting under 1:30 (just!), the tough course speaks for itself.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 3/5 – Starting with the medal, it’s smart, it’s a good size and certainly a good bit of bling. Very chunky and a cool spinning lighthouse in the middle. A nice reward for a tough race. Unfortunately, unless paying extra, there was no t-shirt but if you did pay, the t-shirt looked quite nice, but is it worth paying more for? Lastly, no goody bag either, just a reusable cup which was given before the race for the cup-less water stations, some water at the end and some biscuits. At least the medal was worth the effort and I’m glad I got that as I’d have been a tad disappointed if I’d have got another tea towel.

Price: 3.5/5 – At £29, it’s slightly more expensive than a lot of the races I’ve come across this year, but certainly not the highest price. With just a medal and a reusable cup to show for my efforts, it doesn’t give much in the way of rewards. Having said that, if you enter all 4 races for the 26.2 mile challenge over the weekend, at just £60 you walk away with 4 nice medals and more rewards, I believe. I think I’d be more inclined to do that in future years.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 3.5/5. It has great potential and is a lovely place for a weekend of races. A few tweaks here and there and I could easily have given it a 4.5. It’s a new event after just a couple of years, so still learning and I think they will master it in a year or two. Although I struggled with the course on a hot day, I’d still like to go back and do all 4 races next year. Call me mad, but I like a challenge so I’ve been told!

Next on my list is the Maidenhead Half Marathon and after such a brutal race at Portishead, I’m looking forward to a fast, flat half marathon which has been voted one of the best in the country for PB potential. About time I had a flat race!

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon #36/52

Another week closer to the final goal and I need to say thank you to so many of you for donating to my challenge and helping me hit my fundraising target already, a whopping £1300 online donations have been made through my just giving page. I am truly touched by everyone’s generosity and support, and I know that in the grand scheme of things, although this isn’t a huge amount for Macmillan compared to what is needed on a daily basis, together we’ve made a difference, even if it is just a small one…….so thank you all.

A week and 4 runs later and I’m back at the start line for the next half marathon at Kimbolton Castle. Having never done it before, in fact, never even heard of Kimbolton Castle before, I had no idea what the area was like or the route. Having read the description, the term ‘undulating’ always concerns me a little as it tends to mean hilly, written by someone with a bad sense of humour! Anyway, I’ve conquered enough ‘undulating’ courses this year, so what’s one more.

An early start on Sunday, up at 6am and in the car by 7:15am. I was joined at this one by my running buddy, Richard, who decided to add another half to his yearly total too. Nice and early arrival to register and use the ‘facilities’ before the crowds, then all that was left to do was warm up and complete another 13.1 miles. With the warm up done, we made our way to the start line by the arch at the front of the castle and waited to get going.

After the pre race brief we huddled in the arch and off we went to the sound of a loud whistle. A bit of a tight squeeze through the arch but it immediately opened up into a wide road and gaps appeared instantly, meaning no need to sit behind anyone until I could pass, I was straight into my stride with Richard next to me. Travelling nicely, slightly downhill through Kimbolton main street away from the castle, we found a good rhythm. A few spots of rain started to fall, which was amazing because out of the 36 half marathons, this was the first bit of rain I’d had……quite lucky really, but that was soon to change. We were just behind the 1:30 pacer who was chatting to another guy next to him. That was my bench mark, to get in front of him and stay there if possible.

It wasn’t long before we passed the 1:30 pacer as the rain got heavier and heavier and the sky became all one colour……a dull grey. I think the weather gods realised it had not rained on me in a race yet and they decided to throw buckets of it down to make up for it. It was coming down sideways and at such a rate that I was completely soaked through within 5 minutes and my vest and shorts were sticking to my body. We kept on pushing and ignored the weather, after all, it was the same for everyone. Mile 1 passed (6:43) as we approached Tilbrook along the main road. It wasn’t a closed road race, so there were cars going past us hesitantly from time to time, using the other side of the road. It was still early in the race and everyone was finding their pace, so there were runners overtaking and some dropping back slightly, with little groups forming. Just after the first mile we passed through Tilbrook and continued along the main road. Some amazing locals were outside their houses, cheering from under their umbrellas, stood in the rain. According to the gradient chart, we were still on a gradual incline, but I certainly didn’t notice it, nor did my pace as we ran through mile 2 (6:40) with a slightly faster split. The gap had increased between us and the 1:30 pacer after two fast miles, but they were obviously a little too fast for Richard as he told me he was slowing down. He dropped back and let me push on at the same pace. Half way through the mile we took a left turn off the main road towards Lower Dean.

Apparently we were still gradually uphill but I was feeling strong and maintaining my pace without a problem. In a nice gap now between runners, mile 3 beeped (6:41) with a 3rd split all within 4 seconds of each other. Staying very consistent as we made our way along the next country road, with fields either side, we then passed the first water station. On a wet day like it was, I wasn’t going to be needing water, so I ran straight through, eyes firmly on the runners in front. I gradually caught up with a couple and passed them in the middle of the road, with one more just in front. We then took a left turn onto the High Street of Upper Dean as I caught the next runner in a dark blue and black top. As I ran alongside he looked across and said “Good running fella”, so I replied “You too!” as I ran stride for stride next to him. There were a couple of inclines at this point that were a little more noticeable and after a few hundred yards of him staying by my side, I could hear his breathing getting heavier up the inclines and he eventually dropped back, letting me go. We veered round to the right and then to the left at mile 4 (6:39) as we made our way through the main street of Upper Dean with houses both sides of the street. A few more locals were out cheering and clapping as the rain continued to come down. It wasn’t as heavy now, in fact it was starting to calm down, but the puddles of water across the road told the story about how much had fallen in a short period. As we passed through the village, we took another right turn up another slightly steeper incline and away from the houses back into the countryside. Soon we had fields all around us again before turning to the left onto a long straight. First a gradual incline as I was closing in on a female runner in front, followed by a slight downhill section to mile 5 (6:39). Neither changed my pace, with another consistent split as I passed the female runner and pulled away on the downhill.

Slowly picking off runners now, I could see the next group in front, with 4-5 runners. It looked like 4 men with a female runner just in front. They were my next target and I stayed at pace to gradually close the gap. Just after 5.5 miles we took a sharp left turn on to the next road and immediately in front I could see runners in the distance going up what looked like a double hill. Until this point the uphill/downhill sections had been minimal and most certainly weren’t even noticeable, but this one was. It didn’t look particularly nice but as always on a hill, it gives me the chance to use my strength and catch/overtake those in front. The climb started pretty much straight away after the turn, building up to the first climb. I was getting closer to the group as the main climb got steeper and all of a sudden I pulled alongside them as I maintained a good pace up the first section. It flattened slightly in the middle, enabling us to catch our breath and then went again for a steeper section. I pulled away on this one with two of the group trying to go with me, as I passed the lady in front of the group as well. Mile 6 beeped (6:42) on the way up and it was the first time the course had taken my lungs and really got my heart rate up. It took me a little time to get my rhythm back at the top and calm my breathing down, but as we took a right turn onto a nice downhill section, that certainly helped. We’d passed another water station that I didn’t use and I was now ahead of the group but still hearing footsteps behind, with another guy shortly in front. With all the effort going into the first major incline, I hadn’t even noticed it had stopped raining. I’m not sure when that had happened but until that point I couldn’t get my phone out to take any photos. Absolutely drenched through with my trainers squelching, I didn’t want to risk it just yet, so the photos had to wait.

The sky was starting to get lighter now and even a hint of sun trying to creep through as the decline got me back on track at a faster pace. A long stretch downhill all the way to mile 7 (6:35) for my fastest mile of the race so far. The road continued on a decline to the end at roughly 7.5 miles where we took a left turn and it started to flatten out slightly. It was still downhill, but barely noticeable now. At this point I’d caught the tall guy in front in a dark t-shirt and was playing cat and mouse with him as I overtook, only for him to go back past shortly after, before I caught him again. As mile 8 passed (6:37), footsteps behind were getting closer as two guys from the same running club in purple/blue tops, came powering past us both. They were flying and I wasn’t going to try to keep up with them, considering I was already at a 6:40 pace. I stayed consistent and kept playing cat and mouse with the tall guy in the dark t-shirt. The slight decline continued as we approached and weaved through the village of Swineshead to more pleasant weather now. The sun was creeping out but the big puddles across the road were there to stay! I finally managed to creep away from the tall guy as we left the village onto a slightly steeper incline as we turned to the right, before veering back to the left. The two guys in front were pulling away and had overtaken a lady who I was closing in on. The short incline helped me get closer to her and at the top I caught her before dropping back down to mile 9 (6:34) for my fastest mile of the entire race. As we passed mile 9, another water station sat at the bottom of a little incline. I ran straight through as the guy in front stopped for a drink. He started up again as I ran through, giving way to me, joining just behind. I noticed my watch had just crossed the hour, showing 1:00:16 after mile 9, so I knew I was well up on a sub 1:30 finish time with 9 very consistent splits. My watch had me at a low 1:27 predicted finish time, so I was going strong. I powered up the next incline and down the decline that followed on the long, stretch to mile 10 (6:39). The road narrowed just before mile 10 and it became busier with cars trying to pass. Some were patient, some not so much as they ploughed through the puddles close to the runners. I had about 5 runners in front all staggered at similar distance apart. The closest was around 30-40 metres away, so not close enough to catch just yet. Shortly after mile 10 we had a right turn onto a small country lane. A thoughtful driver behind me could see I needed to turn, so let me cross in front of his car. I waved to thank them as I took the right turn right through a huge puddle that covered the turning. At this point it was the first time the weather was kind enough to consider a photo, so I took the opportunity to get my phone out, wipe down the wet lens and take a snap.

I had no idea at the time what was happening behind but the guy in yellow was soon to make an appearance. As we approached the small village of Pertenhall I could see a huge pool of water covering the road in front. The guy in front went straight through the middle and his ankles disappeared into it. I considered my line as I got closer, thinking the edge might be shallower…..I was wrong and as light as I could tip toe through, it gave my feet a good soaking. They were well and truly squelching now! Into the village a marshal ushered me to the left and up a short, steeper incline whilst giving some encouragement. I was closing in on the runner in front slightly who faded up the incline. We took another left as we made our way round the village and back towards the main road. I caught up with the guy in front and passed him as he was struggling a little. Not far in front were two runners in a black top and grey top running together. A short decline got me closer to them as we veered to the right at mile 11 (6:40). They were around 10 metres ahead as we went past some marshals just after mile 11 who encouraged us telling us we didn’t have far to go. It was then that I looked up and noticed the hill in front of us. It started to gradually climb, building up to it and as I got closer I could see runners going behind the trees to the left up the hill. I was closing in on the two guys in front as the steeper part of the hill really started and my pace dropped. I was now just a few metres behind them as their pace dropped too and we all veered to the left up the main part of the hill. It wasn’t huge but steep enough to hit the legs and lungs, and at this stage in the race, it was enough to make it difficult. I started to fade and the gap opened between us as we got to the top. It took some time to catch my breath and get my pace back up but the immediate decline again helped me from struggling to the end. With 1.5 miles to go I worked hard to get my legs moving down the hill but the guys in front pulled away again. At this stage I was just happy to try to hold my pace after the hill, so catching them wasn’t a priority. As the gap increased, I heard someone coming up alongside and as I glanced to my right, the guy in the yellow t-shirt (background of the photo above) looked at me and said….

“Come on Mike, we can catch those two in front!”

As he laughed and wasted no time in moving in on them. I laughed back and replied…

“I’ll jump on your back and you can catch them for both of us!”

We both laughed and within seconds he was overtaking them and powering past. They were still 20-30 metres ahead and maintaining the gap. At mile 12 (6:54), the slowest of the race not surprisingly, the decline levelled out and then started a slight incline back towards the race village. The mile markers had been well out since approximately mile 7, so by this point the mile 12 marker was only 11.7 miles on my watch. I was wondering if the course would be short or if the mile markers were just put out wrong. I could hear a lot of noise to the left behind some trees and I then realised we were close to the finish, coming in from the other direction and round the back of the castle grounds. At just after 12.5 miles we turned to the left and the two guys in front were passing another running in a purple top who was fading fast. Another left turn into the castle grounds as I looked at my watch, which showed 12.75 miles, and I was alongside the guy in purple. I could see the finish and was positive it was going to be well short. It then dawned on me as the path veered to the right that we were going to circle the main school and come back to the finish, a thought that somehow made my legs feel like they were carrying lead. I passed the guy in purple, both encouraging each other, and made my way round the path of the school with the two guys still 20 metres in front. Past the front of the school and onto the grass as mile 13 beeped (6:36) with a faster than expected split. I was giving it all I had left as I made my way onto the finish straight, hoping to get under 1:28.

The guys in front were out of reach as much as I tried, so I concentrated on the clock above the finish gantry hoping to see 1:27 something as I finished. Suddenly, without warning, through the cheers I heard a stampede of feet to my side as the guy in purple that I’d overtaken, had a sprint finish with another guy who had obviously caught up. I wasn’t bothered at that point and didn’t respond as they passed me with just yards to go.

I crossed the line, stopped my garmin and checked the clock for my time.

Absolutely chuffed to see my fastest time of the year and rightfully exhausted after 13 very consistent, fast miles. I claimed my medal, took my selfie and waited for Richard to cross the line around 5 minutes after me.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4.5/5 – A very well organised event that had thought about pretty much everything. Firstly the pre race email was thorough, detailed and supplied all the links needed for the course map, results, photographs etc. Not so much on social media before the day but the website and email covered it all, so no biggie. On arrival there was a huge field with free parking just a 5 minute walk from the race village. Numbers weren’t sent out, so registration was done on the day. With clear labelled areas (a-z for surnames) registering was effortless and finisher t-shirts were given out too. Not actually a fan of getting them before as I’ve not earnt it yet, but it saves grabbing them when sweaty after I suppose. Didn’t seem to be any big queues but I was there early enough to avoid it anyway. Pins and pens were provided to fill in and attach your number to your top. Baggage drop was simple too, just fill in a label with your race number and hand your bag in. There was a row of portaloos, not lots, maybe 12-15, which had no queue if needed early enough, but the inevitable queue built up 15-30 minutes before the start and got quite big. There was also a mens urinal which is always a good idea in my opinion and saves the portaloos queue getting even bigger or men finding a bush!!! In the race village by the finish, there was a food trailer serving hot food and hot/cold drinks as well, so spectators were happy while they waited. Out on the course marshals were at all main junctions and considering the terrible weather, they were very encouraging and showed the correct way, even though there were arrows which were easy to follow too. The mile markers were out compared to the GPS watch for the second half of the race by quite a bit, which threw me off a little but no major issue when you have a GPS watch. There were water stations every 3 miles which I didn’t use but seemed to have water bottles available and bins after to drop litter. Another bonus was the free photos which were shared on their social media after the event. Also, provisional finish times could be printed upon request which is always a nice touch.

On the whole, very smooth, well organised event.

Route: 4/5 – After reading the dreaded word ‘undulating’ beforehand, I feared the worst for this one but was pleasantly surprised. It was a narrow start with a bit of hustle and bustle under the arch at the front entrance, but the wide road straight after meant no real congestion caused. It wasn’t a closed road course, so you had to beware of motorists, some very respectful and some not so much, so staying left was a good idea. As it was mainly on country roads, no roads were overly busy or too much of a problem with cars anyway. It also meant there were some nice cross country views between the fields and some stunning little villages too. Recently, undulating has meant hilly or rolling hills, so I was half expecting that, but to be fair, the majority of the route seemed pretty flat with just a few ups and downs that were barely noticeable along the way. It did have a two tiered hill at mile 6 and a steeper one at mile 11 but the long, downhills certainly made up for it. In my opinion it was a pretty fast route as long as you can conquer the two hills which weren’t overly big. It wasn’t a particularly technical route, so no twists and not many turns, meaning lots of long roads and all tarmac…..and a few puddles of course! The finish was a bit of a mental killer going so close to the finish gantry and looping round the main building before actually finishing, but it was a pretty nice finish with a view of the stunning castle in the background for the finish photos. The last 200m were all on grass which is always a bit draining on the legs but at least it wasn’t too far. Definitely one I’d do again and enjoyed at the time.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 3.5/5 – Two out of three isn’t bad but no goody bag at this one, just a bottle of water and a banana at the finish. Medals were given out and they were quite neat. A little on the small side but a nice design of the castle building.

The t-shirt was given beforehand and again was pretty smart but basic. Simple design on a white, tech material. I’ve seen better but always nice to get a finishers t-shirt and preferable over a tea towel!!!

Price: 4/5 – At just £22 (£20 affiliated), that puts this event at the lower end of the price scale for half marathons. I’ve had some as low as £12-14 but they are generally more basic local club events, and some as high as £35 this year, which are much bigger in comparison. For a nice sized, well organised event, offering a decent route and a finishers t-shirt and medal, I think it’s well worth the entry fee. I’ve been given far less at less organised events charging me £5-10 more. Very good value for money!

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 4/5. I’d definitely recommend the event if you want a well run event without the huge numbers some other events bring in. Its organisation is good, it’s an enjoyable route and a decent event from start to finish.

Next on my list is the Portishead Half Marathon, which is part of the 401 challenge events. I will be taking part in it on the way down to Weymouth again for another Summer holiday break for the week.

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Burnham Beeches Half Marathon #35/52

A week after coming back from holiday and as they say, you’re only as good as your last race, so as that finished badly, I had a point to prove……not to anyone else, but to myself! The next half to stand in my way was the Burnham Beeches Half Marathon and as I’d not done it before, I had no idea what to expect. I had been told by my good friend Giles who ran with me at Sturminster last week, that it was a nice race, so I was looking forward to putting things right.

A week of better food, more sleep and some good training and I was ready to go. With no race number and registration on the day, I was up early (5:45am!) to head down to Burnham Beeches for the next half. I found my parking spot in a residential street and wandered to race HQ to register, pin my number to my vest and prepare for the race. With a large amount of fellow Lonely Goat RC members at this race, I wasn’t standing alone for long and after doing all the necessary preparations and bag drop, the last hour disappeared as I chatted to a big group of runners I’d not met before, and some familiar faces from past races. I also had a surprise visit from my good friend Giles, who came to wish me luck. Being near to his home, he ran 8 miles to meet me, which worked perfectly for his scheduled 16 mile marathon training run that day.

After a quick photo and best Goat salute from the herd, the fun was over and we all went off for our own warm ups and preparations for the serious job in hand, completing the race. After my warm up I found my spot close to the start and noticed I was amongst a lot of runners who possibly didn’t look like they should be that far forward. I don’t like to judge but my suspicions were right when we started the race and I found myself nearly tripping over much slower runners within the first 50 yards. I immediately ducked out to the edge by the tape and worked my way up the inside until I was amongst a group who were travelling at a similar speed. It took the first loop of the grass field before I found that spot, but it did mean a wide line and right in front of the photographer……always a bonus when they’re free!

After leaving the school playing fields, we ran onto the wide main road through the Beeches, where there was plenty of room to manoeuvre and find my zone. I overtook another group and it wasn’t long before I was moving along nicely at around a 6:50 min/mile pace on a gentle decline which helped the slow start turn into a much faster mile. After the first half a mile the road started to rise gradually but at this stage on fresh legs it didn’t cause a problem. It flattened out towards the end of the mile as we continued through the trees through mile 1 (6:48) before another slight incline into the second mile. The road narrowed and the tree cover became thicker. I noticed my garmin pace seemed erratic, jumping from one side of a 7 min/mile to the other, even though my actual pace seemed to stay the same. As we continued to make our way between the trees, we took a turn to the left followed by another gradual incline. A decline came straight after but each incline was longer, meaning we were on the rise, so I was expecting a nice decline at some point. As we reached mile 2 (6:48) the course flattened for a short period before a sharp right turn on a downhill section, then we went on an incline again. This time it was slightly steeper and other than a flatter part in the middle, it climbed all the way to mile 3 (6:57) after a left turn. I’d noticed the mile 2 and 3 markers seemed to be well out compared to my garmin, then I remembered the race director mention GPS being out due to the tree cover. This also explained my erratic pace on my watch too, so it made it difficult to pace myself. I decided to ignore my watch and go by how I felt instead. If I was heavily out of breath and panting, I was too fast, but if I felt comfortable I was slightly too slow, so I found a zone in between.

Once out of the thick tree cover after mile 3, we hit the long downhill section that I was hoping for after lots of little inclines. It helped me pick up the speed through to mile 4 as I chased down a group in front of me. I had a nice gap behind as I ran past a row of beautiful houses on my left and took my first couple of photos.

The 4 runners in front were a good target as I closed in at mile 4 (6:36), after a quicker downhill section. The decline continued, helping me close the gap on a long straight(ish) road, before a double left turn just before mile 5 (6:36), which was another fast mile. It levelled out before we came across the steepest incline on the course. It didn’t last long but it certainly took the breath away. I was now right behind the group of runners and I used the hill to my advantage, moving past two of them as they slowed down on their way to the top. At the top the next two runners were yards in front but the steep decline that followed helped them move away from me again on the way to mile 6. As soon as we dropped down, we were heading back up with another steeper climb just before we passed mile 6 (6:47), which continued all the way to the end of the first lap at around 6.5 miles. I caught the next two runners and then moved on to overtake another as I approached a photographer at the end of the lap, who was there to see me still looking strong at this stage.

As I followed the road round to the left into lap 2, past a big crowd of spectators either side of the road and a water station, I waved and thanked them for the cheers as I passed. Half way through the race and I’d now made a nice gap behind and was in pursuit of the next runner in front in all black. I knew what I had to deal with on the second lap and I used the first slight downhill section to move closer as we reached mile 7 (7:00), which was slower due to the longer incline at the end of the lap. I remembered the first 3 miles were gradually uphill with the odd decline thrown in there, so I tried to stay close and maintain the same pace as him.

He was also chasing down a runner in front as we reached mile 8 (6:58). The trees were thicker overhead again as my GPS started to play up like it did early in the first lap. I ignored my watch pacing and just kept trying to get closer to the guy in front. As we hit a downhill section shortly after mile 8, I was now a couple of yards behind the runner in front, who was also just behind the guy in blue in the photo above. We took a sharp right turn, well they did and I slowed down and took more of an arc (joys of bad knees!), meaning they increased the gap a little. It wasn’t long before we were back on the climb for the next incline and that was where I closed in again, stride for stride just a couple of yards behind. He knew I was there as he increased his speed every time I got close, trying not to let me pass. This time I did pass though, I was stronger up the incline and stepped a few yards in front as mile 9 beeped (6:58) as we turned to the left.

Between mile 9 and 10 I was working hard to get closer to the next runner in Blue, still hearing footsteps behind me from the short stride of the man in black who I’d just passed. It was slightly flatter at this point and we were all running at a similar pace, no change in order. My legs were starting to feel heavy and I was working very hard. My watch was showing a late 1:29 predicted finish time, but due to the GPS issues, I wasn’t sure how accurate this was, so I kept pushing to try to keep it below 1:30. Another left turn not long before we hit mile 10 (6:42) and a nice, long decline. Unfortunately my knees aren’t a fan of declines, especially when tired, so although I was pushing my pace, it wasn’t as fast as the guy in blue ahead who opened the gap, or the guy in black behind as I heard his footsteps getting closer before he went past and also opened a gap. How do people run so fast downhill? Suddenly, from out of nowhere, I heard more footsteps and a guy in a white top came flying past like he was kicking for the finish. I realised he was one of the group of 4 that I overtook late in the first lap and he was using the decline as a slingshot to a fast finish. Too quick for me as he passed me and the guy in black in front. It was around this time that we started to pass the tail runners of the 10k race that started after us. Just the odd runner every so often, which became more and more as we got closer to the end.

We continued to push down the hill but my legs didn’t have much energy left. I tried staying within touching distance of the three guys in front but the gap opened as the mile went on. It flattened before two left turns, as we went through mile 11 (6:45) just after the second turn. I knew what was coming ahead, another steeper incline followed by a decline, then a longer incline to the finish. It was going to be tough so I mustered all the energy I had at the first steeper incline and used it to just keep going. I closed the gap on the guy in black and the other two in front (in blue and white tops) also faded. It gave me hope as I tried again to catch them but the decline followed as we turned to the right and we all know what happens there, they eased away again. We started the final incline towards the finish just before mile 12 and my legs were well and truly finished, struggling to hold pace. The incline was tough but I was hanging in there, not worrying about the guys in front anymore, just concentrating on finishing the race as strong as I could. My watch was still hovering at a 1:29/1:30 predicted finish time, so sub 1:30 was my target. At mile 12 (7:00) I saw some fellow Lonely Goat members in front running the 10k, so as I passed I gave them a cheer and took the opportunity of a quick picture.

I kept moving forwards, knowing I had roughly a mile to go. I was passing more and more 10k runners towards the end of the lap and the support was building, telling me I was close to the final bend into the finish field. It was then that I saw the photographer again and as I was on my own, I tried a little jump and heel flick like I did successfully at the Cider Frolic a couple of weeks back. Not so lucky this time as he caught me either taking off or landing…….I’ll let you decide!

As I passed him, the crowds at the final bend were just ahead. They cheered as I veered to my right, then left into the school grounds. My watch showed 12.75 miles, so I then knew it was coming up short after the GPS played up. It also showed 1:27:05 when I checked, so I knew a 1:30 was a definite. I pushed down the grass field and around the bend to my left, but had to come back up the field to finish the job. I was trying to kick but I could only maintain my pace as I came to the finish line and glad to cross it under 1:30.

No wonder why the last few miles felt tough, I was much faster than my watch was telling me……cheeky garmin! I gathered my breath, claimed my medal and goodies then took the usual post race selfie.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4/5 – Generally a well organised and popular event. Emails were thorough and plenty of information sent out on social media too, including road closures for local residents. A course map was also available and all of the information was on the website too. Registration was done on the day and although it seemed a little chaotic at times, I was there early enough to avoid any queueing, so no problem for me. They were even thoughtful enough to give me number 52 to go with my challenge, which I thought was really supportive and a nice touch by the organisers.

Parking was more of an issue, especially if you weren’t one of the lucky first few entrants to get VIP parking in the school grounds where race HQ was. There were other car parks (pay and display) a 10-20 minute walk away but being on the route, parking in any of these car parks meant having to wait until the race had finished and roads opened before being able to leave. I luckily did my homework and parked on the residential streets to the east of the course which was a 5-10 minute walk away but allowed me to leave when I wanted as it wasn’t on the route. I’d advise getting there early enough to do this if you think about entering. Also, make sure you park respectfully and think of the local residents before leaving your car somewhere dangerous or blocking a drive. Once at HQ, there was plenty of portaloos which I used early, so again no problems, but I guess the inevitable queues built up just before the race. They also had male urinals to help with the queues too. By HQ there was also a food stall for spectators and a stall selling running gear. Lastly, in the school grounds changing facilities were available and an outdoor swimming pool too, for anyone who fancied a dip after the race……not something I’ve seen before! Shame it wasn’t warmer, otherwise I’d have dived straight in. On the route there were marshals dotted around the course at all main junctions and arrows to show the way, although the route was easy to follow. The marshals were energetic and encouraging which is always good. They also had a water station half way round the lap (10km lap) and at the end of the lap, so water was available approximately every 3 miles. The icing on the cake was the local photographer who was taking photos which were released for free, always a nice gift compared to the extortionate prices some charge for race photos, so well done to the team and photographer for offering that. A nice event and very smooth.

Route: 4/5 – The route was by no means flat, it certainly had a few ups and downs but I’d class it as undulating rather than hilly. OK so it had a couple of steeper inclines but they weren’t particularly long, although they felt much longer on the second lap!!! I suppose that was the only thing I didn’t like, was the two laps. After doing the first lap, it can be mentally tough knowing what hills/inclines you have to do again, so I’m not a fan of laps over a longer distance. The 10k (1 lap) certainly had the better deal! Having said that, it was a pleasant road run through Burnham Beeches, meaning it was quiet and picturesque through some lovely wooded areas and some stunning houses to dream of living in one day when you make your millions (wink, wink). The trees also offered shade all the way round except for the grass loop at the start and finish, and it shielded us from the strong winds which was a bonus. The roads were completely closed so no worry about traffic and although there were some inclines, there were some great declines too, allowing you to really open up your speed at times. Definitely not the fastest course but with some nice declines it has potential to be reasonably fast if you can cope with the inclines.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4/5 – After last week’s tea towel, I was pleasantly surprised with this week’s rewards. To start with they gave a nice, solid medal at the end which had a good design and different coloured ribbons for the half and 10k races. Next they also gave a t-shirt which is starting to become less normal at races. This wasn’t any normal tech t-shirt though! Not only was it a decent looking t-shirt with a nice design, it’s a bright yellow colour which can be worn on a training run on those dark winter nights. Also, the names of the first 1000 entrants (so I’ve been told!) have been written in small print on the back to make a big red heart…….a really nice touch and very unique. Lastly, there wasn’t a goody bag, but they did give a few treats like the usual water, banana, and then the more popular coco pop breakfast bars and different flavoured packets of crisps, which all seemed to go down well. Definitely a handful of nice rewards for my efforts.

Price: 4.5/5 – At £27 (£25 affiliated), I think this is a very reasonable price for this event. Not the cheapest and the likes of Sturminster last week at £12-£14, but goodies cost money and they certainly give them. They also don’t cross into the more expensive category over £30, so for a nice t-shirt with the entrants names on the back, a decent medal and a good quality course/race, plus a few food treats at the end, it’s well worth the money in my opinion.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 4/5. A very well run event, a nice course (albeit two laps!) and some lovely rewards. Definitely one I’d look at doing again in the future.

Next on my list is the Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon. Another race I’ve not done before but I’ve heard good things, so I’m hoping for another nice race for half #35

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Sturminster Newton Half Marathon #34/52

Well, a week on, a great holiday on the south coast and a lot of bad food consumed could only mean one thing……trouble! I’d been out training most mornings but I actually over compensated for the food sins and ended up doing too much. An accumulation of the above and the weather made for an interesting end to the next half marathon.

Unfortunately, unbeknown to me, it seems like I’ve nearly maxed out the photo storage allowance for my blog…..I didn’t even know I had a limit! As you know, I love a race selfie and I document everything with a photo, so it was no surprise really, but that does mean my future race reports will now just be a lot of words and not many, if any photos……I better crack a joke or two instead then!

‘What do you get when you run behind a car?’

Exhausted!

OK, I’ll stick to the race report!!!

So, lucky for me I found a spot to park our motorhome and sleep just minutes from the registration of the Sturminster Newton Half Marathon and with a 10.30am start, I actually got a bit of a lay in…..well, until 8am which is a few hours more than most Sunday’s I’ve had this year! I got up, registered and was good to go. No pressure when they give you this number though….

The down side to the later start is the heat, which was increasing as the morning went on. It was a warm, sunny morning but what made it difficult was the humidity. There was no wind and it felt like there was no air to breath, very stuffy and within minutes on the move, the body was sweating a lot. Not great when you’re losing valuable salts and water out of your body that quick, during a half marathon.

As the race start time approached, I met up with a couple of running friends, Artur and Giles, and a few fellow Lonely Goat RC members before having a warm up down to the start, which was just over half a mile away. Giles and I waited for the go, ready to complete another half marathon for the challenge.

A quick countdown and off we went at brake neck speed on a nice downslope for the first few hundred metres. I’d been told it was the first championship race of the season, so all the local running clubs had come out in force, bringing some speedy runners along. It certainly made for a fast start and even with a slight incline after leaving Sturminster Newton, towards the end of the first mile, we still clocked a 6:38 for mile 1. Still alongside Giles, going into mile 2 we hit a short, steep incline through the country lanes, where Giles decided to power up. Being 6ft 4, when he opens his stride he has too much for me, so I left him to it but soon caught him again at the top when it flattened out. It took the breath away a little and as the steep incline turned into more of a gradual incline, Giles dropped back as I past him. I thought he’d just get back to pace and stay by me but that was the last I saw of him and we ran the rest of the race at our own pace. I continued to kick on as the road turned into a steady decline through mile 2 (6:43) and into mile 3. A long stretch of runners up ahead but I was more interested in the tank driving along the road in the opposite direction…

Seeing me taking a photo, they gave me a wave as they passed. My eyes then focused on the Lonely Goat member in front. I was pretty sure I knew who it was, so I kept my pace up, to gradually catch up with them. By 2.5 miles I pulled alongside Jason and said hi, before running with him for a few miles and having a good chat.

We were running at a good pace around a 6:40-6:45, giving a predicted finish time in the 1:28’s on my watch. All was good as mile 3 passed (6:38) and the main ups and downs had passed. The next few miles were generally flatter, no real hills or noticeable climbs, but there was a very slight, gradual incline, just enough to slow the pace. We had a long straight to mile 4 as Jason and I chatted just behind another guy, who eventually dropped back behind us and joined in the conversation for a few minutes. We were all starting to notice just how hot it was getting as mile 4 passed (6:54) and the road continued slightly uphill as we took a sharp right turn towards Margaret Marsh. Again another long, straight drag to mile 5 as we went past the second water station. This time they had wet sponges which were so inviting, so I grabbed one and soaked my head and neck to cool me down. I’m not sure it was a good idea soaking myself and making my vest feel a lot heavier on my shoulders. At this point I was just ahead of Jason to grab a sponge and a gap started to appear between us. I kept moving forwards increasing the gap and closing in on the next runner in a light blue top.

At mile 5 (6:48) there were a couple of slightly steeper climbs for a short period as we took another right turn and I caught up with the guy in blue. As I went past he wished me luck for my challenge and asked what it was, so I took my foot off the gas, dropped back and explained it to him. We chatted for the next couple of minutes until I moved away again as we veered to the left towards mile 6, still going slightly uphill. The heat and the gradual incline was making it difficult to maintain pace as we hit mile 6 (6:45) and turned left. I was working hard now with a big gap in front of me to the next runner in red. A nice gap had appeared behind as I found myself in a pocket of space between runners through the hedges of the country lanes. Heading towards mile 7 the gradual climb turned into one a little steeper and I was noticing I was now working way harder at this stage than I normally would be. I tried forgetting about it and relaxing, grabbing sponges and a quick sip of water at the water stations as I passed. The heat was getting to me and a mixture of sweat and water from the sponges was pouring from my elbows and face. I managed to hold my pace to mile 7 (6:46) as I continued to chase the runner in front. Luckily a decline followed going into mile 8 as we took another left turn. There was now a long straight for a couple of miles where I could see all the runners in front. Some were fading, giving me hope that it wasn’t just me, so I kept working and reeled them in slowly. At mile 8 (6:48) I had caught a few of them and gradually passed them one by one as the decline turned into an incline.

This course wasn’t exactly hilly, but the long, gradual undulations, along with the heat, were sapping my legs and energy levels. Even with a nice decline to follow, my legs were suffering now and mile 9 passed with a much slower 6:58.

That was the first point where my technique started to wobble and I began to doubt myself. I was now taking on a lot of water at the water stations, which I rarely do and it wasn’t helping, I was overheating very quickly. Just after mile 9 we took a left turn and continued to go downhill all the way to mile 10 (6:45). The decline was much needed to keep my pace at a reasonable level and stop my body from giving in. Straight after mile 10, the course started an incline again and there was no hiding it any more, I was struggling. I was working so hard to keep the runners I’d overtaken behind me as they were catching me again, despite a big gap less than a mile ago. I turned to my right as we hit a welcomed flat section, but not for long enough and an incline followed all the way to mile 11 (7:04) and it was steeper now. It was then that I heard footsteps behind me and as I had somehow caught another runner in front who was struggling more than me, a runner from behind passed me comfortably. We took another short decline before a steeper incline which lasted all the way to mile 12 (7:22) and kept going towards mile 13. I took a glance over my shoulder as another runner passed me and I could see Jason not far behind. I put my hand up to acknowledge him as he closed in on me. He was getting stronger as I had hit the wall and as he passed shortly after the other runner, my mind and body was broken enough that I had to walk. My legs just couldn’t cope with another incline, so I took a breather for 15-20 seconds as I walked, before getting on the move again. My legs were like jelly now and they had no pace left, watching the runners in front just moving away easily. I had just over half a mile to go and was dreaming of the finish with every step. We approached a nice road with high trees overhead, giving us some needed shade as the photographer took some shots of me struggling, as another runner passed me. He encouraged me telling me it was all downhill at the end of the road, so I put my head down and gave it all I had to get to that point. We took a left turn onto the main road with around 400m to go and he was right, the road had a nice decline all the way to the finish. I pushed every last bit of effort from my legs to power down the hill passing mile 13 (7:36) shortly before turning left into the finish straight across the grassy school field. The sight of the finish line was heaven and as I tried to kick to finish the job, my daughter ran out to greet me for the final 50 metres. My legs were so wobbly I struggled to shorten my stride to take her hand and nearly dragged her off her feet as we met.

It was nice to have an excuse to slow down and cross the line with her holding my hand, before I bent double in sheer exhaustion.

My daughter searched for my medal as normal, hoping to steal it for her own neck, only to be given a tea towel. She wasn’t quite so interested in that, so she used it to wipe my sweaty arms which gave me a good giggle to end a pretty horrendous last few miles. I’d not felt that bad at the end of a race in a long time and the week of rubbish food, too many miles and too much sun had definitely taken their toll, BUT, the job was done and it was another half completed. I joined my family and met up with Jason and Andy (head goat) as we waited to cheer Giles and other runners in.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4/5 – For a smaller club race, it was a well organised event. The emails and information on the website was thorough, giving everything from directions to the race, to course information, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t see a course route anywhere. Registration was done on the day in a marquee in a school playing field, which was also where there was free parking for all runners and plenty of it. As I stayed around the corner and was early (first!), registration was quick and simple but I don’t know about later in the morning, although it looked efficient enough with no queues. Portaloos were scattered around the school field, probably because there was some kind of camping club going on the night before, so there seemed to be plenty of toilets available. Out on the course there were marshals at all main junctions who were very encouraging and arrows showed the directions too. Extra attention had been made to the heat, so there were 7 water stations with some of them having wet sponges available too, a really nice idea and very welcomed on a hot day. There was also a catering trailer in the field for supporters and runners who fancy a bite after the race.

Route: 4/5 – I think on a normal race day I would have quite enjoyed this route, but not feeling 100% and in high humidity, it was more gruelling than it should have been. There are no real hills, mainly gradual inclines with a couple of shorter, steeper inclines, but it is undulating enough to make it challenging at times but interesting too. Being on country roads for the majority, it was scenic and peaceful, travelling through little villages and between farmers fields. I don’t think it’s the fastest course, especially not in the heat we had to contend with, but if you can cope with the undulations, you can still get a reasonably good time. A pleasant enough route but a heat trap between the farm hedges on a hot day.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 2/5 – At just £14 entry, it was hardly surprising that we received none of the above. Instead we were gifted a tea towel with the course route printed on it, a chocolate brownie and a bottle of water, but that was it. If you want more of a reward at the end, you generally need to spend a fair bit more on the race fee, so bear that in mind when entering, this one is more about the actual race than it is the reward.

Price: 3.5/5 – One of, if not the cheapest race I’ve entered this year at £14 (£12 affiliated) and to be fair, with just a tea towel and a chocolate brownie to show for it, you can see why. All proceeds go to local charities each year, so if you want a cheap race and aren’t bothered if you receive a nice medal or t-shirt at the end, then it’s definitely worth entering, but if you race for bling, this one isn’t for you!

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 3.5/5. It was a nice enough event, a pretty good route and well organised at a very good price, but that cheap price also meant a lack of any real reward for finishing. It depends on what you’re after, a cheap race or something to show for it? but you definitely won’t get both.

Next on my list is the Burnham Beeches Half Marathon. Another race I’ve not done before but I’ve heard good things, so I’m hoping for another nice race for half #35

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Caterham Half Marathon #32/52

This week saw me travel down to Redhill to take on the Caterham Half Marathon at the Redhill Aerodrome. With my mother-in-law living just down the road, it saved a long early morning journey, thankfully. It was sunny and it was hot the moment I left the house at 7.30am, so I knew the heat was going to make this one difficult.

It was a stunning morning, for spectators, but not so much as a runner, so when I arrived, I stayed in the shade as much as I could. I was nice and early, parked up with plenty of time to use the portaloos, have a warm up and relax before the race. After reading the route description, I was getting my head around the 2 lap course and wondering how big the ‘undulations’ were, as I’ve heard that term used a lot and more often than not it means hills!

At 8.35am I took myself for a little warm up and stretch as the official warm up started at 8.45am. The grass in the start/finish field was thick and still wet from the morning dew, so my feet had got a little damp through my trainers. Unfortunately that later caused a problem! As 9am approached, we made our way to the start line, both 10k and half marathon runners together, all ready to set off around the aerodrome. The 10k had a single, slightly shorter loop and the half marathon had two bigger loops, meaning the course split around the 4 mile marker. Until that point we were running together and pacing is always more difficult to judge when that happens.

After a quick countdown, we were off, stomping through the thick grass of the field out to the main road. Once on the main road the pace picked up on a gradual downhill section, weaving along the country lane. Well back in the pack, I let the faster runners speed off and found a suitable pace. We took a left turn and past the first water station which was there more for the second loop than the first half a mile. The road continued downhill to mile 1 (6:35) before starting a gradual slope uphill into the second mile. After the first uphill slope shortly after mile 1, the road dropped back down before starting a slight incline again all the way to mile 2 (6:37). Runners were now finding their pace and I had started to overtake a lot who had gone out too fast. Having said that, my first two miles were very fast and I was going to pay for that later, but as it started downhill, it seemed pretty effortless to that point. Gaps were starting to appear now as the faster runners pushed on and those who were fading, dropped back. Mile 3 followed the same pattern with a steady downhill over the M23 motorway to a left turn, before mile 3 beeped with another 6:37.

It continued downhill until we hit 3.5 miles where the routes split, with 10k runners turning left and half marathon going straight on. It suddenly became very lonely and quiet around me as all the runners nearby turned left. I could now see who I was chasing and who was chasing me, so as mile 4 passed (6:29) it was time for a couple of photos. I had this guy in a purple/blue vest in front who had overtaken me a mile or so earlier…

And these guys chasing in the distance behind…..

Shortly after mile 4 we started the steepest incline on the course. It wasn’t overly steep or particularly long, but it was steep enough to slow the pace and get the lungs working, and I knew that it would be much tougher on the next lap. I worked hard up it, keeping my pace up and trying to close the gap with the guy in front. I could feel the bottom of my right foot starting to become sore, which felt very much like a blister coming on. I kept going in the hope it would ease off and hopefully not progress into a blister! Anyway, what goes up must come down and as we reached the top of the incline, a nice decline followed all the way back under the M23 further along, before a sharp left turn and straight into another short but steeper incline to mile 5 (6:51). This was the slowest mile yet, but with two steeper inclines, it was hardly surprising.

The next mile back towards the aerodrome was more up and down, gradual inclines followed by declines that equalled each other out. Just before 5.5 miles the 10k and half marathon routes joined again, with runners filtering in from my left. There wasn’t many, but a few of the faster runners in the 10k were now in front of me. I picked up the pace again and used them as targets to pick off, especially on the slight downhill sections. We were now running through the village of South Nutfield, so we had some housing around us and a few locals lining the edge of the street clapping and cheering as we weaved our way down the lane, then took another left turn to mile 6 (6:32). On a slightly flatter section towards the 10k finish, my legs were starting to feel it and I was getting hot. My running style had changed to roll onto the outside of my foot, taking the pressure off the ball of my foot where I’d felt the blister emerging. Unfortunately that wasn’t helping my legs and my foot was getting worse with each mile. It was going to be a mental battle on the second lap and as I passed the 10k finish turn around 6.5 miles, for a split second I even considered turning in and asking to be part of the 10k! What a stupid thought, I wasn’t there to do a 10k and I’d have always felt like I gave in if I did that, so I ran straight past and got on with the job in hand.

The first lap was complete and I knew exactly what I had to deal with on the second lap, every incline and every decline. Luckily, I knew the first mile of the race was pretty much downhill and in the shade, so I used it to compose myself again. The blister on my foot was really hindering me now and I could feel myself running on the outside of my foot where it was less painful.

(taken after the race)

At the first left turn my watch beeped for mile 7 (6:55) and I came to the first water stop again. This time I was hot and I grabbed a cup of water to pour over my head. It helped refresh me and I kicked on downhill, using it to make up some ground on the guy in front who was quite a way ahead and also catching a runner in a red top. It wasn’t long before the route gradually started to climb again up towards mile 8 (6:42) but the downhill at the beginning made sure it was a faster mile. We took another left turn as I caught and passed the runner in red top who was fading fast, so I gave him some encouragement as I went by. I moved away, still with a big gap between me and the guy in purple/blue ahead of me as we continued uphill to mile 9 (7:00). The heat was getting to me now and I was struggling to hold my pace anymore. The blister was getting more painful and I was really considering a walk but sheer stubbornness kept me going.

We crossed over the bridge of the M23 motorway again at mile 9 and a nice downhill followed. I did my best to use it to pick my pace back up but my legs didn’t seem to have a lot left. We took a left turn and continued the decline to mile 10 (6:40) which was just after the point where the course split on the first lap. I didn’t have a lot of energy for photos but I took two more and that was it until the end of the race.

Still no closer to the guy in front and a big gap behind…

Just after mile 10 we were back to the steeper climb again. This time round it was much tougher and the urge to walk was strong as my pace really dropped to around 9:30 min/mile. I just kept going in the hope that I could keep some momentum and it was a relief to get to the top. To my surprise, I’d made up some ground with the guy in front who must have had a walk, so it was worth the effort up the hill. I started the decline and was getting closer to him with each step, until I finally caught up and went past, encouraging him that we had less than 3 miles to go. He must have been struggling more than me for me to catch him after such a big gap. I didn’t look back, just kept pushing down the hill towards the M23 and where we ran under it. I could hear footsteps behind me down the hill, thinking he’d found some energy to catch up again, but I was shocked when a guy in a light blue top went past me at speed. He was a long way behind me so either I was fading fast or he was getting stronger to the finish. I said ‘great running mate’ as he passed and tried to use his pace to pick mine up. We ran under the motorway and took a sharp left as mile 11 beeped (7:06), showing me I was fading. Next came the short but nasty incline from under the motorway and my legs were barely moving now. I had 2 miles to dig in and just try to maintain a half decent pace. My blister was killing me and it was becoming a real drag, but my race predictor on my watch was still showing a 1:28 finish time, so I gave it all I had. After all that hard work, I wanted another sub 1:30. The next mile was the winding roads through South Nutfield again with the short inclines and declines like mini rolling hills, well that’s how they felt at this stage. The guy in front was edging away from me into the distance as we now started overtaking the final runners from the 10k and some of the back runners of the half marathon. As we approached the next mile, a photographer stood at the edge of the road in front of me, I threw my arms in the air and stupidly jumped for her to capture me mid air. As soon as I landed and ran past her I knew that wasn’t sensible as my legs were finished. Mile 12 beeped (6:51) and I was hanging in there but suffering. Still going past the back end runners and working my way closer to the aerodrome where the finish awaited me. At 12.5 miles I glanced over my shoulder to see a guy in a red vest not far behind, I was being caught again. I wasn’t sure if I had enough to hold him off and as I glanced once more a couple of minutes later, he was 15-20 yards behind. I had resigned myself to the fact he’d go past at some point, but then we turned into the finish straight, just after mile 13 (6:58), with him just 10 yards behind and I was expecting him to sprint past. We moved onto the thick grass in the last 100 metres and it was like running through treacle. My legs had gone, I was giving it all I had to hold him off and it was obviously enough OR he had nothing left either, as I crossed the line still with a 10 yard gap. That was a real effort, my legs went wobbly and I felt quite sick! I bent to my knees and took a minute to compose myself before claiming my medal and goody bag, then taking the post race medal selfie. That’s half #32 completed and although it was one of the toughest yet, for a few reasons, I was thrilled with my performance.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 3.5/5 – Another smaller event run by the Caterham Rotary Club with less than 250 people running in either race, so it will never be compared to one of the bigger races. The pre race instructions were sent out with the race number and they were informative and thorough. I don’t recall seeing a course map or gradient chart anywhere, so that was unknown, but I did know from the description that it was undulating and 2 laps. I didn’t see any information on social media but it was all on the website if needed. On arrival there were around 8 portaloos next to the entrance of the car park, which was a slightly odd place to have them. Being one of the first to arrive, I used them early so had no problems, but nearer the time the queues became very long and through the car park, which wasn’t ideal for those entering in a car. There were urinals which is always a good idea. On site there was ample free parking in the Aerodrome field which saved finding any nearby and having to walk to the start. The on site parking literally 100 yards from the start meant there was no need to use the baggage drop, but there was one available if you wanted to use it. Once on the course, there were mile markers (and km markers for the 10k) dotted along the route and marshals at every main junction. The marshals were very supportive and gave plenty of information as we passed. Water stations were dotted around the course every few miles, so I think I passed three (6 over the 2 laps). It was nicely run for a small event, but as it was in a field, there wasn’t much there but registration and a couple of the sponsors gazebos.

Route: 3/5 – I think I would have preferred the route if it was only 1 lap, but doing it all again for a second time got a bit much, mentally and physically. It was pleasant enough along country roads, but they weren’t closed meaning some cars weren’t as patient squeezing past as others. There wasn’t much to look at, just long straights of road and hedges down both sides, so the miles seemed to pass slowly. It wasn’t massively hilly, just gradual inclines and declines, but as there were a few in the lap, it meant it became quite leg sapping over 2 laps. Mentally, knowing what inclines were coming and when was quite difficult but some of the declines were steep enough to make up some lost time, so it’s a pretty fast course if you don’t mind a few lumps and bumps along the route. Not my favourite route so far, but ok.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 3/5 – Firstly everyone knows about the Caterham cars, so the medal was in the design of the car with a big 7 above it. Not the biggest of medals but a nice design that suits the race.

With regards to t-shirts, none were given out, you had to purchase one for £10 if you wanted one. It’s all for a good cause though, supporting the Air Ambulance. As you can see below, there was a drawstring goody bag from the sponsors (North Downs Hospital), but it was only filled with leaflets and a car window sticker from the Air Ambulance. The usual bottle of water and banana were also given out.

Price: 4/5 – As expected, the cost wasn’t particularly high at £22-24 depending on affiliation, so it’s pretty reasonable for what you get and knowing it’s helping local charities rather than lining the pockets of a big race company. If you want a pretty fast half marathon and don’t want to spend a fortune, this could be the one for you.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 3.5/5. It was a nice, small event and well organised by the Rotary Club, with a nice reward for completing an undulating route. Probably not one of my favourites so far but a decent event to try out if nearby.

Next on my list is the Cider Frolic, another White Star Running event in Dorset. It’s a 12 hour timed event on a 6km loop, so I will be running 4 laps (15 ish miles) to make the half marathon distance, then stopping. It will be a trail run and that means hills, long grass and bumpy fields, but the medals are always epic, so let’s see what happens. It will also be on the first day on my holiday on the way to Weymouth, so I hope it will be a nice race to start the week.

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Hell-Fire Half Marathon #31/52

Weekend #28 of the challenge saw me go back to a familiar place but in a very different situation. The start and finish of the Hell-Fire Half Marathon was situated at Adam’s Park, the home of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, a stadium I know well from my days as a professional footballer. That seems like a lifetime ago now! The irony behind it is that all footballers hate pre-season and the running that is involved, yet now I’ve retired, I’m back to a football club at the same time as pre-season training, taking on another half marathon run…..who’d have thought! Not only have I played at Adam’s Park a number of times in my career, my brother is also the current assistant manager, and a good running friend of mine who ran with me on Sunday, Giles, is also a Wycombe Wanderers fan, so it was quite fitting to make it half #31 of my challenge.

The bonus about being somewhere before is knowing what’s there. I knew where to go, how long it would take and what the parking was like. All that was left to do was turn up, register and run. Sunday morning came around and down the M40 I went through a fine drizzle and a chill in the air. I was expecting sunshine and humidity, so that was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately it didn’t last and as I arrived at Adam’s Park, the drizzle had stopped and the temperature was rising. Luckily, although the sun did creep out a few times, it stayed fairly overcast throughout the race but still quite stuffy.

I did my usual early arrival, registered and used the toilets which was a nice change to a box in a field (portaloo). I then had some time to kill as I waited for my running buddy, Giles, to arrive. As I wandered round I came across a few familiar faces, Paul, who I’d met at the Ridge Off-Roader and Kerry who I’d met at the Philosopher’s Run earlier in the year and both Lonely Goat RC members. We stood chatting for a while, all things running before Giles joined us. As 9am approached, we went for our usual warm up so we were ready for the start at 9.30am.

A few minutes before the start we were called to the main gate where the starting arch stood. Giles and I crept closer to the front and positioned ourselves in amongst the first few rows of runners. With the 10k race going off at the same time, it’s difficult to know where to stand, as you know that they will go off faster at the front than normal. A bit of a guessing game really, so we stood and waited for the countdown.

As 9.30am passed, we were off, heading out of the gates and down the slope away from Wycombe Wanderers FC towards the main road. Some very fast runners flying past us, many of which were doing the 10k, which became apparent after 3 miles when the courses split, but for now we all piled along the road like an army. It was a downhill first mile as we made our way out of the industrial estate and along the main road towards West Wycombe Park. Another slight decline just before turning left into the park, still in one big continuous line of runners as we passed mile 1 (7:01). At this point I was alongside Giles, chatting away as we ran through the park with the Hell-Fire Caves in the distance on our right.

Giles was telling me about the first hill which was coming shortly and just before mile 2 we began the shallower part of the incline across a grassy field, before turning left onto the steeper section which certainly took me by surprise. It was pretty steep and definitely slowed everyone down, but determined not to slow me down too much, I weaved my way past runners, losing Giles at the same time as mile 2 beeped (7:36) half way up. It was the steepest climb on the course and it certainly opened the lungs up. As we got to the top (or so I thought!), the rocky path turned to the right and continued to climb. It finally flattened out slightly before a steep drop back down on an equally rocky path. The decline wasn’t as long as the incline and it led us straight into another climb, this time more gradual up to mile 3 (7:08), as we ran through an area used for clay pigeon shooting, with broken clays all across the path.

We continued along the rocky path between the trees until it opened out into a farmers field where two marshals stood, directing the 10k runners to the right and the half marathon runners to the left and through a gate. When I went through the gate I joined a country lane between hedges and veered to the left. It was much quieter now, less runners due to the split and only one runner in white directly in front of me (a couple in the distance) and two a short way behind as I reached mile 4 (7:23). It was a challenging start to the race and I was yet to see a sub 7 min/mile.

The course was slightly flatter now and the hard surface of the road made it easier on the legs. I pushed the pace a little more as I got my breath and closed in on the guy in white ahead of me. A short decline followed, then an incline up to a right hand turn into a grassy field. This sapped the legs a little, even though it was back downhill towards mile 5 (6:55) and the first sub 7, and fastest mile yet! Through the field I overtook the guy in white vest. We turned left onto the main road as mile 5 beeped and immediately started a gradual incline again, this time going under the M40 motorway. I powered my way up, catching and overtaking the other two runners in front in a blue and white vest and a yellow vest. As we approached the top of the incline, we came to a cross roads where traffic was stopped by marshals, so we could run straight across. It immediately started a steep decline that my knees didn’t enjoy and my legs couldn’t run quick enough on. The guy in blue and white vest came back alongside me and past at a crazy speed. I checked my watch which showed my current speed at 5:25 min/mile which was insanely quick for me, so the guy who overtook was probably at a sub 5 minute pace as the distance increased between us. Mile 6 passed with a speedy 6:29 min/mile as we continued to bound down the hill.

Shortly after, we were back on the climb again, no flat, just straight from a decline to an incline. I was starting to see a pattern here and there wasn’t a lot of flat on this course! It wasn’t anywhere near as steep as other climbs, but it kept on going. At roughly 6.5 miles we turned left onto another road which levelled out slightly to mile 7 (6:49)……….another good mile. Then it got tough, as the next mile was another continuous climb. It wasn’t steep but it was a long drag as we took a left turn at 7.5 miles and climbed all the way to mile 8 (7:21) as I passed the guy in blue and white again and the next runner in a blue top. Unfortunately that didn’t last long as he stayed just behind me, and as the course continued to rise to mile 9, the guy in blue found some energy to pass me. I stayed close to him but the hills were taking their toll, my legs were feeling heavy now, especially crossing a green on the way to mile 9.

After the green we ran through Lane End village towards the M40 motorway again, but this time going over it on a bridge and another incline. A Red Kyte was flying low overhead as I crossed the motorway, a common sight around the skies of High Wycombe and a majestic one at that. Watching it took my mind off the and after I crossed the bridge, a decline followed as we passed mile 9 (7:25). Shortly after mile 9, runners were coming the other way and it was then that I realised we’d done a big loop, back to where we turned just before the mile 5 marker. We had joined the same route from earlier in the race, just in reverse, so we were running past the final few runners and the tail runner, coming up the hill that we were powering down. I shouted some encouragement as they returned the favour to me and the runner in front. After the short, steep decline, the next mile continued along a country lane with smaller inclines and declines until mile 10 beeped (7:02).

Shortly after mile 10 we took a right followed by a sharp left into a farmers field, where the 10k and half marathon runners split earlier in the race. This time we took the direction that the 10k runners had taken, so the next mile was unknown. The guy in blue was still just in front and I was working hard to stay close to him, as the course took a decline through the uneven farmers field. We were now catching and overtaking some of the tail runners of the 10k as we made our way to mile 11 (6:47). The downhill made it faster even though my heavy legs made it feel slower. At mile 11 I then realised we’d rejoined the same course again where we hit the first hill at mile 2. Luckily coming from a different angle, we didn’t take on the hill, just the bottom section of it through the grassy field into West Wycombe Park. This time it was downhill though as I did my best to get closer to the guy in blue ahead. We made it on to the path and a flatter section for a while. All the main hills/inclines were done and I knew the course ahead of me now.

The gap wasn’t closing between us but I could hear footsteps behind me. I checked over my shoulder and the runner in blue and white vest was powering his way through again, for one last burst to the finish. With 1.5 miles to go, he’d kicked early and went past me like I wasn’t even there. I had nothing to respond and just hoped he’d gone too early. As we closed in on mile 12 at the exit of the park, a photographer (credit to Matt Fowler) was sat in the grass capturing the passing runners. I wasn’t about to pass him looking like a broken man, so I forced a smile and flung my arms in the air, as if I was having fun!!!

As soon as I’d passed I was puffing and panting again to keep my pace up. The guy in blue had been overtaken too by the runner who passed me, and he responded, trying to stay with him. The distance between us increased and as we hit mile 12 (6:46) and turned right onto the main road, we had one last incline to deal with. It wasn’t big but by now the legs really didn’t like it as the pace dropped. Just one mile to go and overtaking lots of 10k runners now. I had another glance over my shoulder and noticed the guy in yellow vest was closing in on me too, but after overtaking him earlier in the race, I didn’t want to to let him pass me. It was enough to keep me working hard and pushing to catch those in front. The guy in blue had now slowed down, letting the other guy move away….he was just too strong! We made it to the industrial estate with a Rock band singing on our right and the entrance to Adam’s Park in the distance. It was a slight incline which wasn’t welcomed at this stage but I gave it all I had left to hold off the guy behind, knowing I wasn’t going to catch the runner in blue in front. Giles partner, managed to snap this one of me just before the main gate.

I ran through the crowds as I entered the stadium car park at mile 13 (6:56), responding to the cheers, and pushed hard as I made my way into the stadium and round the edge of the pitch to the finish. I’d held off the runner behind and finished strong in a time I was very happy with considering the hills. I walked through to claim my medal, t-shirt and goody bag before waiting for Giles to finish a minute or so behind me. That was half marathon #31 completed and it was definitely a tough one!

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4/5 – As a completely rebranded event, I think it was important for them to set a new standard and be as organised as possible. I have to admit I didn’t see much wrong and the increase in numbers compared to previous years (so I’ve been told!) means they certainly did something right. The information sent out via social media and email was thorough and detailed, not leaving anything unknown. I’d been on the website too and all the relevant information was on there. I’d seen course maps and gradient charts, so I knew what was to come…..hills! The big advantage of hosting it at Adam’s Park is the facilities they have at their disposal. A big car park which actually filled up, and an overflow car park. I was there early so I was one of the first in the main car park. Having said that, with the increase in numbers, I think both car parks ended up full and people started parking where they could on the road. At least it was on an industrial estate so it wouldn’t bother residents and all parking was free. They also had the stadium which obviously has numerous toilets all around it, not just the usual portaloos, I’d imagine there were still queues, there always is, although I didn’t witness any. Out on the course, their was a wide start so no problem with congestion, and a nice finish on the side of the pitch. The route was marked clearly all the way round and marshals were at all main junctions to stop traffic, direct and cheer the runners. There were 3 drink stations that I could remember but I didn’t use any myself. At the race village their were a few stalls selling running clothing, food, hot/cold drinks and ice cream, so lots for the spectators as well as runners. The only negative I can think of was the registration. As no numbers were sent out, everyone had to register to pick them up on the day and pin them to their race tops. I was there early enough not to have a problem but they used a small room which ended up filling with runners causing a massive queue outside and across the race village. With so many runners filling in their details on the back of the numbers, whilst inside the room, it obviously got congested and turned into a bit of a runner traffic jam. Maybe a bigger room or being able to collect race numbers the day before would have been a better option. I also heard of a problem with medals and them not having enough for the half marathon runners, meaning some of the back runners ended up with a 10k medal. Apparently the supplier hadn’t sent enough out and it wasn’t noticed until race day when handing them out. They appear to be apologetic about the error and are getting medals sent out to the runners who didn’t get one, once they’ve received them from the supplier. Other than that, everything ran smoothly (even me!) and it was a well organised event.

Route: 4/5 – I’ll be honest, I loved and hated the route in equal measures but only because of the number of hills/declines. The route itself was scenic and had lots of variation from country lanes, farmland, rocky terrain through wooded areas and some main roads. The majority of the route was closed to traffic, possibly all of it as I didn’t see any cars along the way. I wouldn’t call it a fast route, even though there were some steep downhill sections, purely because the amount of hills/inclines that just drained the legs, and the rocky terrain made it more difficult at times. As you have read in previous posts, I’m not overly fussed about hills, I just get on with them, but this course certainly had its fair share and some were reasonably steep. Definitely a challenging course but a scenic one at that and the miles passed much quicker than some recent races I’ve had. The finish was a nice touch, right by the edge of the Wycombe Wanderers FC pitch and for many, probably the closest they’ll get to being on it.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4.5/5 – I’m not sure I’ve ever given a 5 but this has to be close. It had it all, a nice medal with a good design, a really nice tech t-shirt which I’ve been wearing round the house and probably one of the best goody bags I’ve received yet. OK, so the medal wasn’t huge but it was a reasonable size and certainly one worth showing off.

The t-shirt is my favourite colour, so always a winner for me, but it fits nicely and is very comfortable with a decent design.

And lastly the goody bag….it had everything! OK so it was only a plastic bag but it was filled and heavy enough to feel like I’d been shopping! I found the Mars bar first and that stood no chance….I needed the sugar after those hills! There was also fruit, cactus water (!), lentil chips, after sun cream, a free ticket to the Hell-Fire caves and lots of leaflets for other events too. I think there was something in there for everyone.

Price: 4.5/5 – So, very nearly another 5 for this one. For £24 and receiving all those goodies, a good medal, a nice t-shirt, free parking, a scenic (albeit hilly!) route and a football league stadium finish, that’s a damn good price. I’ve got far less and had to pay a lot more for it, so well worth the £24 in my opinion. Still not the cheapest race I’ve done but value for money is great.

Overall, in my personal opinion, I’d give it a 4-4.5/5. It was a nice, well run event for a small running club, not a big organisation. It wasn’t perfect, none ever are, but it wasn’t far off. Certainly one I’d look to do again in the future if I’m free, and definitely one I’d recommend.

Next on my list is a the Caterham Half Marathon. I’ve never run it so I have no idea what to expect. Bring on half #32 of the challenge!

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Leamington Spa Half Marathon #30/52

In the words of Bon Jovi…..”Woooooah we’re half way there….”

I know I should have said this in my last blog post as that was race #26 but my mind was on the second half of the weekend. Now both are completed it’s sunk in that not only am I halfway through the year long challenge (weekend 27), I’ve now completed 27 half marathon races too and 30 overall. At the start this milestone seemed like a million miles away, in fact it’s more like 353.7 miles in races, 393 miles overall and with training runs, 994.4 miles for the year so far. It may not have been a million miles but it’s certainly been a lot of tough miles, aches and pains. I now have another 25 races ahead of me and just under 6 months to finish the challenge off…..that’s not so bad!!!

So, the second day of the weekend and second half marathon at Leamington Spa. It was certainly going to be more hilly than the flat of the tow path the day before, but was that such a bad thing? I’m generally quite strong up hills and find they break up a run compared to the monotonous flat, long drags. I was looking forward to it, but I needed to recover from the previous day first. Recovery started the moment I got home from Birmingham, with a cooling ice bath. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but it certainly helps me and my arthritic knees from swelling and being too stiff the following day. Once again it enabled me to get to the start line the next day and ready for another 13.1 miles.

I had company for this one, joined again by my running buddy, Richard, who has now done a few races with me this year. Not only was Richard running, his partner Holly took on her first half marathon ever, too. We all set off bright and early up the M40 for an 8.30am start in Leamington. Once parked up and walked to the race village, it was portaloo and bag drop off time. After a slightly longer walk than anticipated, we arrived a little later than I hoped, meaning plenty of other runners were also arriving too. I spotted the portaloos were already queueing, so that was my first stop and good job too. I only had a 5 minute wait but after I’d used the portaloo, I left to see the queue was insane and right across the field. 13 portaloos (apparently!) for over 1600 runners and their supporters just wasn’t enough.

Next stop was the baggage drop before wandering around and chatting to plenty of local runners who I knew from Banbury parkrun. The area was filling up as the time reached 8am and I made my way to meet some fellow Lonely Goat RC members for a chat and a photo before the race. Always good to meet new people and see others I’ve spoken to or previously met before.

It was time for a warm up to get my body ready for the next half. A little plod round the park, some dynamic stretches and we were ready. We stood and watched the official warm up before noticing the start was already filling up, so we jumped in near the front, ahead of the 1:40 marker. Around us were a group of friends and local runners, all ready for the start. A quick photo before moving up to the line and getting underway.

Shortly after 8.30am the countdown started and we were off, next to a very enthusiastic man cheering and filming the start to our left. More about him later! We powered our way round the first bend at a fast pace as the front runners were already creating a gap up ahead. Thanks to Dominic, the husband of another Banbury parkrunner, for capturing us looking fresh and chatting as we moved away from the start line.

The 6.30 min/mile pace was far too quick, so I pulled the reigns shortly after, to a more manageable pace as the official photographer caught us still looking very comfortable within the first mile.

Not long after the photo, we passed through mile 1 (6:50) which was fast and flat. As we rounded the park (Jephson Gardens) where the race village was last year, we started the gradual incline through the central streets towards the outskirts of Leamington. All the runners who went off too fast, started to slow down, as the slight incline began to hit their lungs a little. Richard and I continued to run at a similar pace as we powered up the incline to mile 2 (6:52). We now had a smaller group of runners around us who were at a similar pace as the built up town centre began to fade into less houses and more space. By mile 3 (6:53) at Cubbington, Richard had dropped off the pace a little and let me go. It was getting warmer as the sun crept out, so a hose pipe hung in a tree outside a local resident’s house, was a welcome spray to cool my head as I ran and dipped into it. Soon the sides of the street were no longer lined with houses, just hedges as we left Leamington for the small villages outside. The incline turned into a nice steady decline for a short period, before another gradual incline followed to mile 4 (6:56) as we headed towards Weston under Wetherley.

The gaps between runners were now growing as the country roads started to hit another decline, enabling us to pick up the pace. The decline continued for approximately 1 mile as we worked our way through the village of Weston under Wetherley, passing a few locals supporting on the side of the road outside their houses. Mile 5 beeped with a speedy 6:32 thanks to a nice downhill mile. I was now in a gap, running alone with the closest runner in front around 30 yards away and a slightly smaller gap behind, being followed by a guy in a grey top. The next mile continued downhill, before the second half of it started a slight incline. Neither were particularly steep, so it didn’t change my pace dramatically, hitting mile 6 (6:43) just after I took this photo of what was happening behind.

As we crossed a bridge over the River Leam, passing this pub, the guy in grey was still close behind but I didn’t know until looking back at this photo, that Richard is actually in the distant background, not as far behind as I thought. The next 2 miles had a couple of inclines followed by a couple of declines, neither of which were long or difficult enough to alter my speed. At 6.5 miles we took a sharp right, heading towards the small and picturesque village of Hunningham, where we weaved through the narrow roads amongst the delightful country houses. As we left the village mile 7 beeped (6:48), still travelling at a good pace and currently a sub 1:30 pace. Would a sub 1:30 be possible after a half marathon the day before? Another incline followed by a decline to mile 8 (6:53) and I had now caught a group of runners in front and was playing cat and mouse with a guy in a pink top, one in a black vest and two guys running together in an army style top and one with a red vest. I seemed to be stronger up the hills and they were quicker down them as they overtook me again, all visible in front in this photo….

As the miles passed, some of them dropped back while others kicked on. Between mile 8 and 9 we had to deal with the steepest incline on the course which certainly hit the legs and lungs. Everyone’s pace dropped and I went past all those 4 runners in front of me until it levelled off at mile 9 (7:05). At the top of the incline we came to a right hand turn where a fire engine was waiting with a group of supporters. It was perfect timing as the sun was getting hotter and they had one of their hoses out, spraying water across the road onto the runners like a shower. I took the opportunity to get hosed down without getting too soaked, just enough to cool me off for the last few miles.

It gave me a nice boost as we hit a flatter section into the village of Offchurch. After leaving the village we took a sharp left turn up a very slight incline to an out and back section with runners coming the other way. It was only a short section to a cone where the ‘U’ turn was and I could see Thomas, a Banbury parkrunner who was on the start line with us, coming back the other way, so I knew I was doing OK as he is a good runner. I rounded the cone about 30 seconds after him and as I approached the road where runners were turning left towards the cone, Richard came round the bend towards me, just a couple of minutes behind me at most. This was the start of a delightful, steeper downhill section towards the village of Radford Semele which was much needed. Mile 10 (6:50) beeped on my garmin as we made our way down the hill at a fast speed, under the shade of the trees. It made for a faster mile as we went through the village to mile 11 (6:42). My legs were starting to fade as we turned right and joined the main road back towards Leamington Spa, with just 2 miles to go. One last decline before the course became flatter ahead and although I was maintaining a good speed, still on track for a sub 1:30 finish, other runners were now going past me. The two guys in red vest and army top both ran past before the guy in the grey top who had been behind me the whole course until now. I stayed within touching distance of the guy in grey but the other two got stronger and kicked away. As we took a right turn onto a residential street, I noticed a charity cheer station ahead with an amazing view of bunting overhead all along the road, stretching from one side to the other. I was working hard to finish the race but I had enough energy to grab a photo as I ran through the decorated street.

Mile 12 (6:46) beeped on my watch shortly after the end of the road, leaving me with just over a mile to go and around 8 minutes to do it, to get that sub 1:30 finish time. We turned right onto the main road and after a short stretch over the River Leam again, we turned left into Jephson Gardens, back towards the race village. I remember this part from last year’s race and although it was short, it had a sharp right bend followed by a steep incline on the path round the outside of the Gardens. It was enough to sap the legs and those in front suffered more than me as I gave it one last push to overtake. As we made our way through the middle of Jephson Gardens, I’d picked off two runners before noticing a photographer in front. Even when tired, there’s always energy to strike a pose!

I passed the photographer and had my sights back on the guy in grey, who I overtook as we rounded the pond in the main section of the park. I was giving it everything I had left, kicking for the finish as I knew that it was going to be close to hit the 1:30 mark. We ran through the gates of the park and made our way to the race village in the Royal Pump Room Gardens as Dominic caught a great shot of me being closely followed by the guy in grey.

It appears my push for the line was too much for him and I opened up enough of a gap that he couldn’t respond. Crowds now lined the path of the race village as I made my way round the outside of the field. I could see the finish arch across the field as I checked my watch which showed 1:28:38 shortly before mile 13 beeped (6:52). It was going to be close as I turned onto the main straight with just over 40 seconds to my target. I pushed hard, passing my wife and family before the last chicane into the finish.

I then realised I was going to creep in under 1:30 and celebrated for the cameras before crossing the line as a good friend of mine, Kirsty, announced my challenge over the P.A system when finishing.

I stopped my watch and saw the time I wanted before bumping into the same guy we had ran next to on the start line, filming with the camera in his hand. He asked if it was my 52nd half marathon before interviewing me for his channel. His video can be seen here with us next to him at the start (14m:15s in) and my interview at the end (23m:40s in). I saw my family before claiming my medal, t-shirt and goody bag.

One reward I wasn’t going to get given but I’d certainly earnt in that heat, so I went and got it myself…

So that’s another half completed with race #26 and 27 in the same weekend. One step closer to that golden number of 52!

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 4/5 – It’s still early days for the Leamington Spa Half Marathon being only its second year of running, so they’re obviously trying to work out the best way to do everything, having moved the race village, reversed the route and changed it slightly, and made some other small changes from last year. On the whole both years have been good but can still improve. The information sent out via email was informative, as well as the information on the website and a route map/gradient chart was available too. Numbers were sent out in advance unless you booked late, meaning I didn’t need to use registration on the day. The race village was a big area with a stage, baggage drop, registration and by the end, an ice cream van……bonus! There is no official parking near the race village, so you have to find parking on a local street or car park. If you arrive early enough, there are plenty of places that are free on Sunday’s as long as you park considerately for the local residents. Just remember though, 1600+ people did this race and a lot of those will need parking, so don’t get there late and expect a space right next to the park. At the race village there were approximately 13 portaloos (so I was told!) which wasn’t enough, causing one of the biggest queues I’ve ever seen before a race. They had the same problem last year and haven’t learnt from that mistake. There were no urinals which I think are always good to have to shorten the queue and stop men diving into bushes nearby. Unfortunately some people really are filthy and during my warm up I ended up standing in human excrement on a grass area which had been covered up with grass. This should never happen no matter how few portaloos there are!!! With regards to the course, there were arrows and mile markers dotted around the route but there were also plenty of helpful and encouraging marshals showing the way at every junction making it pretty impossible to get lost. On the course there were water stations roughly every 5km and as it was hot, locals and the fire brigade put out hosepipes to spray the runners and cool them down. A nice touch! On the whole, it was a well run event and some minor adjustments could make it much better in the future.

Route: 4/5 – I kept hearing people say how difficult the course was but I disagree. Yes there were some inclines but nothing compared to some races I’ve had this year and there were more declines than inclines, making it pretty fast. I quite liked the route last year but much preferred it this year in reverse. They also took out a loop round a local park at the end which was a great move as that was a mental killer so close to the finish. Once away from Leamington Spa town centre, the majority of the route was along country roads and through villages. It was pleasant and had a nice variation, unlike the monotonous flat straight of the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon the day before. The start and finish were in a nice area where crowds could build and support all the runners, so the atmosphere was good. Maybe I’m odd but I liked the course and didn’t think it was as difficult as some I’ve encountered.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4.5/5 – Not much to complain about here and it’s quite unusual to get all three at an event nowadays, but Leamington produced on this occasion. A great design for the medal and it was a nice size and colour. Very original and a big pull for many runners who apparently only entered for the elephant! A very smart medal and gets a thumbs up from me.

The tech t-shirt was nice too and a very bright orange colour meant it matched the medal and can be worn on those dark, winter evenings/mornings when you want to be visible out on the roads on a training run. It’s a nice design and comfortable too.

Lastly, the goody bag. OK so it wasn’t a nice drawstring bag like the one I received the day before, just a brown paper bag but it had a few flyers in and a couple of high protein treats to munch on. Bananas and bottles of water were handed out to add to them as well. Altogether, some nice rewards after a good race.

Price: 4/5 – At £32, it’s not the cheapest half marathon around but with a nice medal, t-shirt and a few gifts in the goody bag, it’s not bad for the price. It is in the higher price range of races but at least it justifies it with the rewards, unlike some races that charge a fortune and give barely anything.

Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 4/5. It’s a nice race with a good atmosphere on a decent route. Being in July, it’s been warm and sunny both years so far, making it a nice day out. It’s well run and definitely one I’d do again.

Next on my list is the Hell-Fire Half Marathon. Another race I’ve not done before and after watching the social media feed of this newly rebranded race, it looks hilly and off road, so I’m expecting some nice scenery but a tough run.

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.

Challenge 52 in 52; Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon #29/52

I’m at that stage in the challenge now where my legs are taking longer to recover and I’m always feeling heavy. The strain on the body of racing every weekend is becoming apparent but I’ve come this far and have crossed the half way marker. Thanks to some amazing support, I also crossed the £1000 milestone on my justgiving page (link at the bottom) this week, giving me a massive boost for the rest of the challenge. A big thank you goes out to everyone who has donated or supported me in any way.

On to half #29 at the Birmingham Black Country Half and planning for it which was a bit of a logistical nightmare. Being a point to point race from Wolverhampton to Birmingham along a canal and the start point being further away from my home than the end was, it meant leaving my car at the start and having to get a lift back to it at the end. Not ideal but not much I could do about it. It was a warm week leading up to this race but training runs had gone well and I’d kept them steady due to the double race weekend. All that was left to do was run two half marathons in two days! JOY!

Race day was upon me and a very early rise, having to make my way over an hour to Wolverhampton for a 9.30am start. I was prepared and kitted up, ready to race, so off I went. Just over an hour later, more traffic lights and speed cameras than I’ve seen in my entire life, I arrived at my destination. I’d done my homework and found a road nearby where I could park for free and walk less than half a mile to the start. With over an hour to spare, I used the ‘facilities’ in a Premier Inn Hotel down the road before wandering to the start, dropping my bag off and going for a warm up. My wave (C) was meant to be starting at 9.30am but we were called up early with wave A and B, and after a pre race brief, we set off around 9.15am.

All along the tow path, starting in Wolverhampton and working our way to Birmingham, our group powered along the gravel path. My group was fast with runners flooding past me, so I stayed to one side and let them go, trying to find a steady, consistent pace. On a flat, straight course, with fast runners all around, it’s difficult not to get carried away. The first three miles were a little too quick with a 6:51 first mile and a 6:57 second mile, thinking I was finally slowing to a good speed, then mile 3 passed with a 6:55. A long line of runners filled the tow path for as far as I could see ahead. With barely a change in the route, just gravel path, trees to one side and the canal on the other, the odd incline over a bridge was welcomed to break up the same pace and same terrain.

With a race the following day at Leamington Spa Half Marathon, I knew I had to hold some energy back, so I did my best to slow to over a 7 min/mile, which I managed for mile 4 (7:01). Most runners had found their position and pace by now and I had a guy in a black vest in front and one in a red top just behind. We were warned about a dark tunnel between miles 4 and 5, and it wasn’t long before we could see the tunnel and were entering it. It was approximately 300-400m long and was apparently very dark, with just a few camping lights pinned to the barrier on the edge of the canal. Once there, I wasn’t expecting that daylight would fade quickly and it became pitch black in the middle of this tunnel. I couldn’t see a thing, just heard the runners footsteps in front and every so often a light on the floor. I slowed down and over exaggerated my knee drive for each step, making sure I wouldn’t trip on the rocky surface. I had my arms outstretched as if feeling for anything in front and my other senses were working overtime to make up for the loss in sight. I could hear some commotion up ahead, then suddenly I bumped into the runner in front who slowed abruptly, and got bumped into by the guy behind who asked if everything was OK. As I couldn’t see, I said I think someone may have tripped, as we started to jog again. It didn’t last more than a few paces before we all stopped once more and then I could hear a voice to my left. There had been a man on a bike coming towards us without a light and had bumped into the runners. With such a narrow path that barely fit one person through at a time, we all had to squeeze past the handlebars but luckily no one was hurt…….I don’t think, but then again I couldn’t actually see, so I have no idea. Once we’d passed we started to jog but soon stopped again. I could hear the two runners in front of the guy in black, who was in front of me, saying they couldn’t run, it was too dangerous and they were going to walk. They obviously lost their confidence after having a bump with a cyclist, so everyone ended up walking behind them. I could understand their caution but it was infuriating and killed my rhythm, so after 15-20 seconds of walking, I decided to grab the rail and slide along it, saying excuse me as I passed the three guys in front. As soon as I got through, I ran off and could see the light at the end of the tunnel, literally! It became easier to see so I made up some lost time by pushing the pace a bit and getting back into a rhythm. As I left the tunnel I now had a big gap in front and a gap behind where other runners obviously hesitated to pass in the tunnel.

Mile 5 beeped and no surprise to see it at 7:25, even after putting my foot down when leaving the tunnel. The walk and incident in the tunnel added 45-60s. I then realised I was travelling way too fast where I was making up lost time, so the next mile I started catching runners in front. A few more bridge inclines and I’d caught up and overtaken a couple as mile 6 beeped, much faster at 6:51. I made another conscious effort to slow down and keep an eye on my pace on my watch. I hovered around a 7 min/mile throughout the next mile as we crossed the canal over a bridge not long before mile 7, so it was now on our left hand side. I’d got my pacing on point again as mile 7 passed (7:01) and I was feeling good. Shortly after crossing over I’d caught up with and overtaken a guy in a white vest. Other runners in front were starting to fade a little now as my pacing continued to hover around a 7 min/mile.

We continued along the right side of the canal, past another water station through mile 8 (6:58), having already been past two at mile 3 and 6. We then crossed over another bridge where the canal joined a lock, before going under a few bridges too. Shortly before mile 9 we crossed back over the canal and I could see a group of runners a few hundred yards ahead of me who I was gradually closing in on. They are just about visible in this photo…

After crossing the bridge I maintained my pace through mile 9 (7:03) as I passed under the M5 motorway, also visible in the above photo. Slowly I was catching the guy in yellow and when I finally caught him, there were 3 more in quick succession, two men and a lady. I was still cruising and feeling comfortable as we made our way under a few more bridges and tunnels along the way. This was one of the shorter tunnels and no where near as dark as the problem tunnel at mile 4, but as you can see, it gets pretty dark under them. Not the best photo either, but the darkness made it difficult…

Coming up to the last 3 miles of the race as mile 10 beeped with a slower 7:14 due to being a little cautious through the dark tunnels and slowing down. Once out the other side I stepped it up again and continued to pick off runners in front one by one. I wasn’t sure whether they were in my wave or from the wave in front unless they were women, as the elite women had gone off before us. Soon we crossed another bridge over a joining canal and where the two met, before going under a bridge shortly after at mile 11 (7:02). Just over two miles to go and overtaking more and more runners. At one point I nearly ended up in the canal as I went past a guy in a blue top. The path was narrow so I stepped to the side onto a grassy patch which was uneven and nearly lost my footing, overbalancing and leaning over the canal. Luckily I held my balance and jumped back onto the path quickly just in front of the other runner. Mile 12 was next (7:01) as I could sense the finish and more built up surroundings as we entered the middle of Birmingham. Half way between mile 12 and 13, we crossed one last bridge to the right side of the canal, leaving us the final charge to the finish. I passed another guy in a white top, then another lady in black as I was reeling in the finish line. Over another bridge and under one more too as I passed a man and a woman running together, both encouraging me as I went by. No more runners within passing distance now as mile 13 passed (6:59) and the finish line soon came into view. I rounded the last bend and could see the next bridge filled with supporters and the finish line to the right, with the Birmingham Sea Life Centre in the background. All eyes were on me, including the photographers lens as I approached the bridge. A few cheers and claps as I gave a wave to the camera and went under the finish arch to complete the job.

So how did I get on?

Here’s the stats…

(strangely enough, I seem to have a double in the results in the veteran category. I am the higher result)

Now it’s done, what did I think about the event?

(I can only comment on my experience, so others may have a very different view.)

Organisation/Facilities: 3.5/5 – Leading up to the event the information sent out via email and on social media was good. Everything I needed to know was put in the pre race information so I knew where to be, when and what was available for the race. I don’t recall seeing a full course map anywhere but following a canal tow path isn’t particularly difficult! Numbers were sent out in advance, so no registration needed this time but if you did enter late, there was a small registration desk in the boatyard by the start. With regards to facilities, there were around 8-10 portaloos available but I wasn’t sure how big the start area was going to be, so I hopped into a Premier Inn just round the corner before I arrived…..much nicer than a portaloo! There was no parking at all for runners at the start, only pay and display car parks nearby. I’d previously done my homework and found a local road which was free and only a 5 minute walk away. On the course there were marshals at water stations around mile 3, 6, 9 and 12 and a few at the bridge crossings along the route. All were very encouraging as we passed. No course signs were needed really but a few painted arrows on the floor and mile markers were visible too. The baggage drop was simple, I was given two labels, one to fix to my bag and one for my wrist. It was put in a van and taken to the end where it was waiting for me. I wasn’t keen on the wrist band as I already have watches round my wrists and didn’t want an added band. I also don’t like anything loose on my wrists, so I stuffed it in my pocket….issue solved. The only real problem and logistical nightmare was the fact it was a point to point race, meaning leaving the car at the start or finish, you then had to get back to it at the end, or get to the start somehow so it was waiting for you at the end. There are no shuttle buses available from the event, so any transport has to be arranged by yourself. As I don’t know the area or public transport well enough, I opted to leave my car at the start and get a lift back to it by my wife at the end. Not ideal when you’re travelling 13 miles away from home to come back the same direction once there. Knowing this, if I was to do the event again I’d look into train timetables as a train station was close to the start and finish. Probably more homework needed, but I’m not keen on relying on public transport to get me to a race on time!

Route: 3.5/5 – Hmmmm, at times I like it and other times I didn’t. It’s flat and in theory it’s fast, but one long straight route can also get quite monotonous and hard to hold the pace.

It was very narrow for the majority, so overtaking isn’t always possible, hence why the start waves are in place to stop congestion. At times it was very peaceful and scenic along the canal but no support meant it could be a little too quiet and lonely at times. The majority of the route was gravel, with some uneven rocky paths and a few wooden bridges to cross which were the only undulations on the course. I’m not a massive fan of gravel as I find it tough to hold pace and I seem to grip more through my toes, causing blisters or sore toes on occasions. As much as I like a nice canal tow path and some pleasant scenery, at times that changed to industrial estates and some heavy graffiti on the walls all around, and some fly tipping and junk thrown in bushes in certain areas, making it not so pleasant. It certainly wasn’t the worst route but I’m undecided if I enjoyed it or not.

Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4/5 – Well unlike other events, this one had it all. First I was given a pretty nice medal when finishing. It wasn’t massive but a nice design, so all good.

Then as I wandered to claim my bag in the pub along the canal, I was given a nice little green drawstring goody bag with some treats in it including a bag of crisps, a stick of rock (unusual!), some chewits and an energy gel. They also handed out more energy gel sachets and a small shot size cup of sweets which were either jelly beans or mini eggs, which went down well.

After that I moved along to grab my bag and received my tech t-shirt. It was pretty plain with just a small logo on the left side of the chest and all black, so not the best colour for a running t-shirt, but I’m not complaining, it was still quite nice.

Price: 4/5 – I’ll be honest and say I can’t actually remember the cost of this race, but I think it was around £30. To be fair, with one of only a few races this year to give a medal, t-shirt, goody bag and plenty of treats, you get quite a bit anyway no matter what the price was. OK so transport/parking is a bit of an issue and there will be some other costs but it’s far better than running hard for 13.1 miles and getting a tea towel, a mug or nothing at all! Yes, I’ve had all of them this year.

Overall, in my personal opinion, I’d give it a 3.5-4/5. It was a nice enough race, flat and quite nice scenery at times. The rewards for completing it were good and it was well organised, so worth a try. As it’s flat, it’s not a difficult route too, so probably good for a beginner as well, as long as you don’t mind seeing a long line of runners up in front along the canal.

Next on my list is the Leamington Spa Half Marathon which is in its second year. I ran it last year and it had a few teething problems, but on the whole it was a nice event. I hear the route has been changed slightly, so I’ll wait to see if it’s for the better.

Remember, if my challenge or the effort I’m putting in has inspired you and you’d like to donate, I’m very grateful for anything you can spare. You can donate through my justgiving page here.