Ok I'm biting the bullet and entering this one. It will be my first 10 miler after a dozen or so 10k's and 5 miles over the last 18 months. I'm ready to find out how hard those extra 4 miles will be!
Have run over Christmas each day bar one and still become a bit of a bloater so need to step it up counterbalance the mince pies.
Mitten - Hash run ? Involves drinking I believe and you said you were on the wagon during FLM training :-)
OK got my number back as well. Can't remember it mind but more interestingly I see the course has changed ! OK its mostly the same course but run differently. Start and finish is now up in the park. You still run down and do the loop but only at the beginning (not the end) plus I say beginning but it is really 2 miles in. One big advantage of this is that it will avoid the crush of the whole field trying to negotiate the bollards in one go after just 200M !
You then head out on what us pretty much the same old course although it looks like you drop down onto the old railway line (I think it is tarmac path now actually) at the bridge and head up it and then back down the road to the bridge where you appear to rejoin the old line and head the other way. As I say all the same old course just run differently ! Moving the start made sense but not so sure I understand the logic of this bit (unless I have just read it wrong !) The finish will be back up in the park again. Also note the park is 600M from the school. The old start was a about 400M but in a slightly different direction.
Brooks the Beast - just to say you're spot on about the revision to the course. The route is fundamentally the same as in previous years but the modifications are to cater for a few saftey concerns in the past.
The bridge is a notorious blind spot for drivers and the police wanted this removing from the course.
The park bit on the return avoids a couple of roads which are increasingly used for shop & Sports Centre access.
The rework at the start was to alleviate the bollard congestion you referred to in previous years.
The field has now been increased due to popular demand. We've already surpassed 500 entries which was the limit last year - but we still have entries available. Postal Closing date - Fri 13th Jan. in response to prev replies.
Paul - Understand the bridge decision now. Certainly remember it as a blind spot but I thought you crossed it anyway before descending on the ex-railway line. Looking again last night I realise you get onto it before the bridge so yes that makes sense.
The changes are obviously for safety and all make sense (now I have looked properly !) so good decision I think.
Little Nemo. I had number 666 twice last year and as the Beast wore it with pride :-)
Actually it was especially arranged for me at he Stevenage Half Marathon and at the Pirton Boxing Day Run, I didn't even have to ask :-))
Icram - getting to meet Mitten might be a disappointment - just thought I would warn you :-)))
Hi all. Can anyone tell me if they have shower facilities at this race? Me and o/h have to be at his unc's nearby for a party at about 12 and would hate to turn up sweaty and horrid!
possunt quia posse videntur - we can because we know we can
Yes they do have showers. I think there are some newer ones in the main building. There are some older ones in the outer building (more the football changing rooms (toilets are signposted in there )but they aren't great and can often be cold.
Only joking Mitts, but thought I would start this year in the same way I finished last :-)
Got my race number thro' today. Looking forward to what will only be my second race since coming back from a 4 month lay-off. Trainer wants me to take it easy and look at it as a mara LSR but.............! ;o)
Got my number yesterday (309). Got to go for a decent run tomorrow. Don't want to do my first proper 10 mile run on the 21st and find out my legs turn to mush with 2 miles to go!
St Albans Station (approx 1.2miles) - a brisk 20-25min walk. I can confirm there have been alarge no. of entrants from London - so would suspect there might be a few other runners at the station (we're usually quite easy to spot aren't we!?)
Might be worth sharing a taxi to save you legs pre-race. Otherwise you could use this mile as your pre-race warm-up!
Please be aware that the RACE START is 09:30am - the Runners World Magazine is still showing the wrong time.
Got my number last week [205], thought I'd take a look to see if there's a thread...and, blimey, there's nearly 60 already. Good to see the usual suspects are already here:Brooks & Mitten.
Comments
Have run over Christmas each day bar one and still become a bit of a bloater so need to step it up counterbalance the mince pies.
Happy Running 2007 to all when it comes.
OK got my number back as well. Can't remember it mind but more interestingly I see the course has changed ! OK its mostly the same course but run differently. Start and finish is now up in the park. You still run down and do the loop but only at the beginning (not the end) plus I say beginning but it is really 2 miles in. One big advantage of this is that it will avoid the crush of the whole field trying to negotiate the bollards in one go after just 200M !
You then head out on what us pretty much the same old course although it looks like you drop down onto the old railway line (I think it is tarmac path now actually) at the bridge and head up it and then back down the road to the bridge where you appear to rejoin the old line and head the other way. As I say all the same old course just run differently ! Moving the start made sense but not so sure I understand the logic of this bit (unless I have just read it wrong !) The finish will be back up in the park again. Also note the park is 600M from the school. The old start was a about 400M but in a slightly different direction.
Just out of interest is there a 666? How awful would it be to get that as a number!?!
:-)
Still not got mine :-(
The bridge is a notorious blind spot for drivers and the police wanted this removing from the course.
The park bit on the return avoids a couple of roads which are increasingly used for shop & Sports Centre access.
The rework at the start was to alleviate the bollard congestion you referred to in previous years.
The field has now been increased due to popular demand. We've already surpassed 500 entries which was the limit last year - but we still have entries available. Postal Closing date - Fri 13th Jan. in response to prev replies.
The changes are obviously for safety and all make sense (now I have looked properly !) so good decision I think.
Little Nemo. I had number 666 twice last year and as the Beast wore it with pride :-)
Actually it was especially arranged for me at he Stevenage Half Marathon and at the Pirton Boxing Day Run, I didn't even have to ask :-))
Icram - getting to meet Mitten might be a disappointment - just thought I would warn you :-)))
Great start to the new year & training - got some sort of cold. That's thanks to the other halfs family over Christmas (snotty little children!!!).
http://www.stalbansstriders.com/fredhughes.htm
Only joking Mitts, but thought I would start this year in the same way I finished last :-)
Thanks for the warning btb! :-)
managed 7 miles tonight myself - not fast but fine on the knee.
Downhill mostly on the way to the race, uphill back.
Might be worth sharing a taxi to save you legs pre-race. Otherwise you could use this mile as your pre-race warm-up!
Please be aware that the RACE START is 09:30am - the Runners World Magazine is still showing the wrong time.
Did 10miles on the treadmill yesterday - plan to do a couple of 6 or 7 road runs in the next few days.
So see you all there!
7 is my lucky number and with two of them there who knows :-)