Another weekend, another race! They come round so quickly, especially when playing catch up with the race reports. This weekend it was the Winchester Half Marathon for race #38 and half #41 of the challenge. I heard it was hilly so I was a little nervous after 3 weeks of flat courses, it’s been a while since my legs have had to cope with hills. Anyway, how hilly could it be?
With a trip down to the south coast to see family for the weekend, we made our way back early Sunday morning to stop in Winchester on the way. Homework done, parking place sorted and race number pinned to my vest ready to run. The weather forecast threatened rain and it didn’t disappoint! To start with, it was perfect for running with a lower temperature but warm enough for a vest and no sign of rain as we drove along the M3 but that didn’t last.
On arrival with my family I left them at the car to make my way to the Guildhall to find some toilets and hand my bag in. The toilets were already queueing despite my early arrival and the Guildhall was very busy. I handed my bag in and made my way outside to find the portaloos which were pretty much empty…..bonus! After meeting up with my family again, I said my goodbyes and let them go back to the car before meeting up with some fellow Lonely Goat RC members for a chat, then going for my usual warm up. All was good and I was ready to run, so as I got back to the start to watch the official warm up, I joined the crowds near the front, hoping for another uneventful, smooth race. Well, that didn’t quite go to plan and with 15 minutes to go before the start, the heavens opened with a torrential downpour, soaking everyone before we’d even got started. Unfortunately it didn’t let up for at least an hour, when it continued to rain but much lighter than before.
Stood at the start around 7 rows back, we were called forward to the line and with a countdown and a loud blast from the air horn, we were off! Unfortunately some runners haven’t grasped the whole chip timing thing and insist on starting at the front despite their slower pace, in turn blocking a narrow start, causing congestion and faster runners trying to squeeze past. If this is you, I applaud you for running a half marathon but sorry, it’s a little selfish and not good etiquette…..be sensible with your start position otherwise you have no right to moan if you accidentally get barged by faster runners. Anyway, we immediately turned left under a narrow arch beneath the high street shops and then right behind the high street to the clapping and cheering from supporters. Another few left and right turns followed, weaving our way away from the town centre around Winchester Cathedral, everyone trying to find space. I didn’t even have time to open my lungs before the first hill was upon me and as I turned right and looked up in front of me, the road widened and climbed for as far as I could see. A sea of runners all powering up the first section and crossing a timing mat which had been placed for a leaderboard to see all the runners times from the bottom to the top of the hill. It certainly made me put my foot down to see what I could do. The rain was still pouring down as I pushed hard to overtake as many people as I could up the hill. It got slightly steeper the further up the road we went and as the lungs started to pant, we took a right where the next timing mat sat across the road, before a quick left just before mile 1 (7:14). To my disappointment the hill didn’t stop. I thought that was going to be it but the climb continued. A long, straight road all the way to mile 2. I made a sarcastic remark to the group around me asking if the hill was ever going to end, as a guy in front, called Tait (on his top!), turned to say “What goes up….!“. We all laughed as he didn’t need to finish that sentence. Two guys either side of me started to chat to me about my challenge. The guy to my left asked if it was all half marathons and what number I was on. After I replied, the guy to my right said he saw me at Burnham Beeches Half and asked what race was next. I mentioned Ealing half and apparently he’ll be there too. It’s amazing the people you meet as you travel from race to race. It took my mind off the hill a bit until mile 2 beeped (7:04). I’d held the pace quite well considering the continuous hill for almost 2 miles.
The rain was still coming down and actually got heavier as we moved away from the town and into the countryside a little more. Running under tree cover didn’t help, the rain droplets just got bigger off the trees and slapped down on my head and face continuously, making me wipe my face clear every minute or so. Finally we’d hit the top of the hill and it flattened out a bit. It was followed by some rolling hills, dropping down first then back up another incline. This happened 3 times in quick succession and with each time we ran uphill, I passed the two guys in front (Tait and his tall friend in black) only for them to fly past when we went back down again. It was like a yo yo and after the third rolling hill we reached mile 3 (6:46) with the first sub 7 min/mile due to the fast declines. After mile 3, the last decline went on for longer and was quite steep. My right knee didn’t like it as the two guys behind and others powered past me. I tried keeping my speed up but my knees just won’t let me bound down the way others do. Not far after the 3rd mile we took a sharp left turn on the steep downhill and with water gushing down the sides of the road, I had to take a wide line to make sure I stayed on my feet going round the corner, as I cut across. We passed the first water station and a few supporters on the corner as the decline continued round the bend but not quite as steep. Half way through the mile it flattened out as we came to a marshal on the left who was dancing around and cheering us on in the rain. He made me smile as I passed and thanked him. The remainder of the mile stayed flat until my watch beeped at mile 4 (6:26) just after a chicane in the road. It was a much faster mile due to the heavy decline and we weren’t all the way down yet!
Going into mile 4 the road dropped back down again. It got steep and just like before, my knees were complaining, especially my right knee which didn’t feel quite right. The first half mile was steep, before the second half became less of a gradient. By now Tait, his friend in black and other runners who were around me were now way ahead in the distance. While I was stepping carefully on the water covered, steep declines, they were hop, skip and jumping their way down the road and opening a gap. I was on my own at this point. I then noticed my squelching trainers had a lace come undone, so I stopped to do it up, giving the chance for a few runners behind to catch me up. I started running again as they caught me, running alongside a tall guy in a red vest, a guy in a blue top and one in white with a green stripe across it. Towards the end of the mile it flattened out a bit before a slight incline, then dropped back down again to mile 5 (6:37) after a left curve in the road. We were out in the countryside now with hedges down both sides of the road and no pavements. Water still flooded down the road and on the flat sections there were big puddles in places, some unavoidable.
Between mile 5 and 6 it flattened out slightly with a few minimal inclines and declines but on the whole, very slightly downhill. The group around me stayed together throughout this mile until we approached the village of Hursley. I started to creep ahead and move away from the rest of the group as we passed the first few houses. Soon we were further into the village and being ushered to the left through a car park to clapping and cheering from a big group of locals. As we ran through the car park and veered to the left through the next water station, in front was another incline. Mile 6 beeped (6:49) as we started to climb and this one was steeper and longer than the few little ones over the last couple of miles. As we left Hursley up the hill back into more countryside, the rain was starting to get lighter. The climb lasted half a mile which slowed the pace and was followed by a short steep decline. On this decline I landed awkwardly, probably from tiring legs, and jarred my right knee. It sent a shooting pain through my knee which made me limp immediately, feeling it with every landing on my right foot. I tried to ignore it and run it off, knowing what my knees are like but it didn’t wear off. Before I knew it we were back on another incline and I was limping more and slowing down, trying to push through my toes to prevent too much impact. As we hit mile 7 (7:00) we had another shallow decline and the last one for a while. A couple of minutes later the course flattened then started to rise again. It started gently and bit by bit got steeper. My knee was not comfortable and I was now just thinking about finishing and limping my way to the end. I still had a lot of work to do and as the hill got steeper a couple of runners from behind went past me at the same time as I caught a guy in a blue top in front. He seemed to be struggling more than me as I passed by! The hill was getting steeper as we entered a housing estate on the way to mile 8. My pace was really slowing up this one and my legs felt like lead. More locals lined the streets encouraging us up the hill but it seemed never ending. I reached mile 8 (7:09) and the climb continued along the main road through the estate.
I thought I was at the top as the road turned to the right, but the climb continued. A left turn shortly after, still uphill to around 8.5 miles, then it levelled briefly before dropping straight back down, through another water station and charity cheer station. The decline continued as we took a right turn onto a main road, then darted across to the left pavement. My knee was very uncomfortable down this hill and every bend made it worse. We took another left turn running on the road again and a steeper downhill to mile 9 (7:24). Even the steep downhill couldn’t help my pace now! Another runner went past and I didn’t care, I was just focussed on getting the job done without too much pain.
We continued to weave through the estate, turning right then left along the roads and pavements. Still running downhill and limping with every step until around 9.5 miles where we met a short incline through a small lane to the edge of the estate. After another left turn at the top, the decline started again, this time going off road onto a grass area and into a small, muddy alley behind the houses. It was narrow and slippery, so I was treading cautiously, as a fall now would be game over. I came out of the alley and took a right onto a road under a bridge, followed by another right onto a main road sectioned off with cones. I was told to stay in the coned area on the right of the road as I followed it downhill to mile 10 (6:44). Despite the knee pain, it was a fast mile due to it being heavily downhill.
As I passed mile 10, the road began to go uphill very slightly. It was a long, straight road where I could see the runners up in front, quite a way ahead. Traffic cones down the centre of the road and marshals stood by them encouraging me all the way along. I could hear footsteps behind half way along the road, as a runner caught me and slowly went by. My calf muscles were tightening up with all the limping and my legs had no strength in them. At roughly 10.5 miles we were directed left by a marshal at a junction, where a lot of supporters stood to cheer. The road we turned down was another decline for a couple of minutes before flattening out. We came to a gate with a gap round the side but the rain had created a big pool of water that we had to run through. No avoiding it, the guy in front tried tip toeing wide, close to the edge but his feet disappeared under water, so I did the same hoping it was shallower than the middle. As I passed the gate through the puddle and onto a path, my feet had taken a cold, soaking. They squelched even more, making my legs heavier as we crossed the path over the Itchen River. The path started to rise again as we were ushered to the left by a marshal. I followed the path under some trees into a wooded area, watching the guy in front move away from me as mile 11 (7:07) beeped.
Just over two miles to go according to my watch, but the mile markers I’d seen since 8 miles were coming up much shorter than my watch. I was secretly hoping they were right and I had a lot less left. My watch was showing a 1:31:30 predicted finish time which I’d be more than happy with after all the hills and the knee problem for 6 miles. I just kept my head down and did my best to maintain my speed. The path followed a stream (The Itchen Navigation) all the way to mile 12 under trees and away from any roads, houses or people. It was quiet, just the odd cyclist and marshal cheering us through. The path was fairly flat, just the a mini incline and decline here and there. Not long before mile 12 we turned right under a bridge and immediately left where two marshals encouraged me as I passed. I ran through a metal chicane (to slow cyclists down) before following the path again to mile 12 (7:10). I could see buildings through the trees now and knew I was close to Winchester Town centre. The route was pretty flat at this point but I was waiting for a downhill finish, after a marshal had said the rest was all downhill. Misinformed I’m afraid, there was no downhill. I passed a tennis club on my left as the path joined a back road heading towards the busier town. Houses were starting to appear as I took a left turn onto the next road. The next half a mile was weaving left and right back into town with more supporters lining the streets and clapping as I passed. The rain was still coming down but lightly now, not that I cared anymore after being soaked through for the majority of the race. Suddenly another runner passed me, followed by one more as they kicked to the finish. I too was closing in on a guy in front which helped focus my mind. The roads were on a very slight incline again and after another left and right turn, I was running alongside a huge, tall wall on my right which was the Cathedral grounds. I knew I was close so I tried pushing a little more as I overtook the guy in front. I gave him some encouragement as I passed and then had another runner to catch, not far in front. As we made our way onto the pebbled streets around the front of the cathedral, the crowds were now building and cheering loudly. I knew the end was so close and I had a runner yards in front and one just behind. We turned left under the arch beneath the shops, onto the High Street as mile 13 beeped (7:06). Clearly the mile markers had been out by quite a bit! Under the arch the support was amazing and young kids held their hands out for high fives, so I made sure to high five every hand on the way through. We turned right onto the High Street with the finish 50 yards in front. I was so glad to see the line that for that moment I had enough energy for one last push. I opened up and overtook the guy in front and just as I was about to cross the line, the guy behind pipped me to it. What a difficult race that turned out to be and as I bent down to catch my breath, a medal was placed over my head. I stood up to walk away and now I’d stopped, the pain was more evident as I limped through the funnel. A lovely lady saw me struggling and wrapped me in a foil blanket to keep me warm, as I hobbled through to collect my t-shirt and goody bag. Thank god that was over! Another half completed and onto the next.
So how did I get on?
Here’s the stats…
Splits (miles) –
1 – 7:14
2 – 7:04
3 – 6:46
4 – 6:26
5 – 6:37
6 – 6:49
7 – 7:00
8 – 7:09
9 – 7:24
10 – 6:44
11 – 7:07
12 – 7:10
13 – 7:06
Time – 1:30:57
Position – 51/1372
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 I experienced for the Southampton half marathon, Winchester’s sister event, Rees Leisure are very thorough with their planning, organisation and information. The emails are detailed and they have plenty of social media posts, interacting with the public. Numbers were sent out beforehand so no need to register on the day, and the course route and map of the race village and surrounding area was also sent out for planning purposes. On arrival there was no parking but there were a few free car parks nearby if you get there early enough. Also, there is a park and ride which was free on this occasion due to Winchester trying to do their bit for pollution with a car free day. Once at the race village, the Guildhall was used for registering if you did it late, baggage drop, toilets and just a place out of the rain. It was the main focus but became very cramped with so many people squeezing in on a wet day. The baggage drop was simple enough, pre printed labels at the bottom of your race number to attach to the bag and hand in. A good system in place and no problems handing in or collecting my bag. I was there nice and early, probably 75 minutes before the start but it was already busy, including big queues for the toilets. I didn’t fancy waiting so I went outside and found a row of 5 portaloos with no queue and there was also a block of public toilets down the road which had no queue. Obviously the attraction of nicer toilets were worth queueing for! Out on the course there were mile markers but not every mile. I think they were every even mile as I didn’t notice any of the odd miles out there. Direction arrows were visible throughout and the amazing marshals who jumped around in the rain to motivate everyone, were superb, showing the way and keeping us smiling. One negative I did notice was the lack of predicted finish time zones at a narrow start. When this happens there is always a few muppets who start at the front when they clearly aren’t getting under 2 hours. They block others and can make it dangerous with everyone trying to squeeze round. Yes it’s common sense to start further back (which some clearly don’t have!), but designated time zones help with this. There was also a few pinch points in the high street with plant pots and benches, as well as a narrow arch under the shops. It was a little chaotic but probably not as bad for the runners near the front as it was for those further back. On the whole, the event was smooth on a miserable day and it was finished off nicely with the marshals putting foil blankets over the shoulders of finishers, to cover us from the rain and keep us warm……nice touch!
Route: 3/5 – I always ask myself the same questions about the route…..Was it fast? Was it flat? Was it scenic? Well, it certainly wasn’t fast because it definitely wasn’t flat and because of the torrential rain, it wasn’t particularly scenic! I suppose on a nicer day I’d probably look around a little more and think it had nicer views, but with that amount of water running down my face, it was hard to look around much and appreciate anything. I don’t think anyone is a fan of hills but I’m usually pretty strong up them. Unfortunately some of these hills went on forever and sapped the legs, and the downslopes were steep enough to make them uncomfortable for my bad knees, hence picking up the slight injury. I think the winner finishing in 1:20 says it all, as that would normally be down around 1:08-1:10 at most flatter races. I think my favourite part was the slowest part, coming back into Winchester at the end and through the cobbled streets near the cathedral. As there were lots of twists and turns it wasn’t a particularly fast finish though. Probably not my favourite route of all times, certainly a challenge!
Medal, t-shirt & goody bag: 4/5 – Another event where I got all three again, so a nice end to a miserably wet day! The medal wasn’t particularly big or as good quality as some I’ve seen recently, but it was OK and certainly not the worst I’ve received. The t-shirt had a nice design on a white tech material, but in comparison to the quality of the Richmond Runfest t-shirt last week, I don’t think the material is particularly that comfortable and feels a little cheap in my opinion. Anyway, I have other plans for this year’s t-shirts, so I won’t be wearing it. The goody bag is always a nice surprise as not many events give them now. It was only a brown paper bag but it had a tube of cream for dry skin, a month of tablets to help digestion and the usual flyers. We also got the standard banana and a carton of water. Not bad for finishing a race!
Price: 3.5/5 – For £35 (£33 affiliated), it’s pretty expensive to enter compared to a lot of the races I’ve entered this year, but when you get a reasonably nice medal, t-shirt and some more treats in a goody bag, it’s always going to be that little bit more. I don’t think the quality of the medal and t-shirts are as good as other events of similar price and I wasn’t a massive fan of the route (probably because of the weather more than anything!), so I’m not sure I’d want to pay that for the same race next year.
Overall, in my personal opinion I’d give it a 3.5-4/5. It was a well organised event with some nice rewards, so no major negatives, but it didn’t really stand out to me. Maybe the poor weather and picking up an injury put a dampener on it but even trying to look past that, it didn’t make me think I want to do it again.
Next on my list is the Ealing half marathon. I have a week to shake off these niggles and to get myself ready for the next one. It’s down the road from Brentford F.C. where I used to play, so I know it well but never run it before. I hope I am fit enough to be able to enjoy 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.
Run 'til you Drop! 