Confessions of a Marathon Runner: Watford Half Marathon

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!!