Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
St Albans Half Marathon
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
I've done the Herts 10k twice, won't be doing it this year as I've got the Royal Parks HM on the same day.
I loved the training routes when I lived in St Albans. Running around the lake at the crack of dawn was lovely.
I know I should be doing Marlow but I just don't want to! We got lucky with the weather yesterday (in some sense anyway), but I'm thinking July is going to be too hot to run 1 HM, let alone 2.
I'm starting to consider PP's Grand Union HM in November though, a week before the Dirt HM.
I didn't get a text with my time
I'll be back next year though!
I think you had to register or tick somewhere to get a text.
No just had a look and sent them an email to ask when they will go up.
Me too and well done on the PB
well organised race but still no results by Monday lunchtime?
Think it's the same timing company as messed up the Wiggle Dragon ride chips last week.....
me too - I got a text last year by the time I got to my car and was really impressed - nothing this year.
Still given I got a 2 year personal worst I shoudn't really care should I!
I don't remember ticking any box on the entry to get my text. Can you remember whether you put your mobile number down on the form though?
I never saw the start zones either, & the people around me didn't know too. I just took a gamble at where to start - near the back!
Yes, I didn't come last!
Ok, I knew that on the day but it's good to have it confirmed with the results.
In my category I came 179th! That sounds so much better then my overall position
I had one woman pull up along side me around 7 miles to tell me that I was going to be her pacemaker! I was recovering from a hill at the time. But it took me out of my own zone, back to the fact I was in a race. She stayed with me for a while but I have no idea when she dropped behind.
I thought everyone was polite, there was times when I had to move around slower runners but no-one was blocking the road or anything.
Shame it wasn't listed as an event on here as I'd love to give a review for others.
I did this two years ago in about 1.47 - so was very pleased to come in at just under 1.40.
Got off to a shocking start - I didn't see that the pens were divided into two, so I started off in the middle of the second pen - was a real pain running through the park at the start, I ended up going under the barrier so I could run rather than walk. They really need to reconsider the start ?
Was glad of the rain though, especialy at the hilly part around the 6 mile mark !
Also glad I didn't use the bag drop - one of our group did, he was still queueing when we left 1/2 an hour later - bit of a joke how undermanned that was.
But would like to thank all the marshalls, were plenty out on the course, can;t have been much fun for them standing in the rain.
Overall - would I do it again ? Probably, but mainly only as it's local......
Did 1hr 46, which i will take as i had stitch and shin splints for 6 miles (clearly need to warm up better, well i am still an amateur)
Had a rest day yesterday but went to my old spin class today, jesus is all i can say.
My running partner and i are looking to do a 10k on the 3rd of July, any you guys and girls done either the "Spire Bushey 1/4 Marathon or the Regents Park race?" If so would love to hear your feedback.
My best for 10k is just under 45 so will be looking to beat that.
I think they had plenty of water stations as people were complaining how hot it has been the last few years, but as someone else said a cup of tea at the end would have been nice, but secretly i enjoyed the lolly.
Karina and i will be running in St Albans tomorrow night (probably something long and slow) from the Ancient Briton if you want to join (remember our times though 1hr 46 and 1hr 50m dont want to hold people up rather more the better really.
I agree that the pens were not clearly marked, but i was told to get up the front to make the start easier, ended up next to a friend who normally runs 1hr 25ish, OOPS.
As we all have chips on why not stagger the start 80m to 90m - 90 to 100m and so on with a ten second gap between the last person from the group in front crossing the line and then letting the next group go, or is that just to logical?
Also a bit of a pain when the big yellow lorry came down one of the lanes as we headed towards serge hill.
Well hope you are all feeling ok, take it easy
Hey JB,
I did Bushey 1/4 Marathon last year & I'm in it again this year. It's a pleasant race, much smaller scale the SA HM & a bargin at about £10. Few hills in it, nothing too bad but there is a long one at the end as you head up from the town to the start/finish area. If you're bringing friends/family I think that there is some bits to keep them entertain esp. kids.
If there's anything else you want to know about it ask away & I'll try and stir my memory!
Is it chipped?
Pretty sure it's not. The start isn't very fancy, you all just stand in a field & wait for someone to shout 'Go'! It's quite a simple affair but then that's part of it's charm.
Check out the reviews for it in the events section.
Just for information i have sent an email to the Race Director for the St Albans HM.
Highlighted the following:
1. The Pens should have been better marked both inside and outside the pens.
2. The start should be staggered i.e. 10 sec between last person and first person of next group.
3. As we are running over grass at the start can the bloody pot holes be filled in or covered.
4. Some music at the start to get everyone charged up "Run to the Beat style"
5. Suggested that when race numbers are sent out so are bag tags that way we can just drop the bags when we are ready to hand them in.
6. Put dropped bags in number order to make it easier to find so people dont need to wait as long.
So lets see her response
JB
Good suggestions from the King of soul
(or funk or whatever)
So lets see
Soul is better, especially the way i dance after a few German J' Bombs
well done- I feel good
Well done JB, good list of improvements i think.
just adding to the bag collection point, was or is it really necessary for groups of say 4 or 6 or sometimes more peeps to collect one runners bag and all stand in the queue !!
i reckon there must have been three or four times the amount people , families, kids , friends , dogs,bikes, scooters etc than actual runners collecting bags , why dont people have the sense to say, i will collect my bag on my own, you waitt just over there out of the queue mmmmm sounds too easy.
On the whole a good well marshalled event, good atmosphere even though the long wait at the start,
Also cant they do anything about them bloody hills lol
, nah just being silly.
enjoyed it even though a little slower than i woulda liked, thats life i guess, must train harder springs to mind more hill work !!!! . I will be back next year no doubt. well done to all that took part.