Last Sunday I did the Watford
Half Marathon – which I remembered from last year was very hilly!! I hadn’t ever been so nervous before a half marathon,
as my long run times had all been at marathon training pace and my tempo runs
had not been anywhere near 13.1 miles. So
this was definitely going to be a training run, I was not out to race it! The only thing I was concerned with though
was the time limits. Last year runners
were told they should be able to run 11 miles in two hours, so that they could
re-open the main roads. I’d just about
managed this last year, having done quite a lot of tempo runs and 10ks over the
winter, but I didn’t think I’d be able to this year. However there was also a general 3 hour cut
off for the whole race, so I just hoped it was a “should” be able to do 11
miles in 2 hours, and for the few slower runners who were still aiming to
finish in under 3 hours, we could run on the pavements instead. The Runners World pace team were there, and I
saw there was a 2.29 pacer. When I went
over to meet the pacer, he was saying to the group that if we were on pace to
finish in under 3 hours then we could run on the pavements once the roads had opened
and not get pulled out – so this was a relief!
Once I knew this I was a bit
more relaxed. I’d come down with Rich
and Ben, and met up with Wai Meng there, plus saw a few familiar faces from
Tri-Force. Loads of local running clubs
and marathon runners out to make the most of the good organisation and pacing
teams. We dropped off our bags and headed
to our starting pens – men started on a different path to the women and vets,
to stagger the very large field. Unfortunately
my pacer, being male, was over at the men’s start!
It was a great day for
running, cool and sunny (unlike the Gade Valley 12 where it was freezing and
very wet!) so we all felt good. The
first mile is downhill, which was nice but very deceptive as it’s easy to start
out too fast. Also the 2.29 pacer had
crossed the line before me and the other ladies hoping to follow him, so we had
to try and catch up but without tiring ourselves out too soon.
We caught up at about 3
miles, and had a nice few miles trotting along in a little group. Unfortunately Wai Meng had had a bit of a
cold the day before and wasn’t feeling great, so I lost her around the 5k point
– although she did pretty much catch up and said she had me in her sights for
the whole time! I started to drift away
from the pacer at the first hill though.
It was a tough one, and I could not keep up the pace. I caught up on the next good downhill, but
then fell away from the group for good not long after that. It was a difficult course, I have to say, and
most of the time I was wishing it was over! The marshals were lovely though and very encouraging.
There were some very wet bits too, as with all the flooding lately, so part of
the roads were at least ankle-deep – there were some good photos later as the
photographer was stationed right at the end of one of the “lakes”!!
Mile 12 had another hill, up
in the residential area before coming back into the park. Hadn’t noticed this as we drove up it to park! It totally sapped all my energy and I was
exhausted when I reach the park. Still
half a mile – and a loop of the park – to go though. Spectators were very good here as were the
runners who had already finished. It was
a nice long straight towards the finish, although deceptively long, and I was
slightly disappointed when my Garmin clicked over 2hrs 30 with 400 meters still
to go. Finally though I crossed the line
and was given my hard-earned medal and tee-shirt! We didn’t get a medal last year, so I was so
pleased to finally have one for this race!
Afterwards we changed and sat
by the heater in the marquee for a while to warm up, then headed to the pub for
a huge tasty Thai lunch! That went down
a treat!
Stats
Finish time: 2:30.50
Pace: 11.30 minute miles (but
with all the hills this was just an average - as it certainly wasn’t a steady
pace!).
Photos!!
Almost there
The finishing sprint!
Mmm, tasty Thai lunch
Ben and Wai Meng with their medals - but just looking like they want to tuck into their lunch!
Me and my new shiny medal and T-Shirt
