Is anyone running this on 22nd September, or has run it before? I have entered it with a view to improving my time for London (and ideally doing a sub 3:15). However, the course is described as "undulating", which in my experience can either mean a few gentle hills, or that you need crampons and a team of sherpas. Which is it?
The alternative is Kingston 3 weeks later, which I know to be dead flat (and very boring). However, the timing of the New Forest suits me better from a personal point of view. I obviously need to decide pretty soon whether I start tapering with a view to racing New Forest, or keep training for a another 3 weeks and treat New Forest as my last long run (if I run it at all). I would be grateful for any input.
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I'm not running New Forest nor have I done it in the past, but I know quite a few people who have and they seem to have picked up fast times. I have a club pal who is doing it this year and if I know him he wouldn't run it unless he thought he could get a fast time.
Not much help I'm afraid but a little to go on. Good luck!
Undulating is, for once, a fair description. There's a big hill around mile 18/20 if I remember right, but it looks worse than it it. Other than that rises are small or gentel or both.
It's not one for a PB though.
However, as things are turning out I am unlikely to get a lot of running done in the next 3 weeks anyway, so I am effectively committed to a taper leading up to 22nd September. I'm going to give it a try, taking comfort that I train in some fairly hilly parts of Surrey, but with increasing doubts as to whether a sub-3:15 is really on. Of course I may regret that decision when I am struggling up Marlpit Oaks at 19 miles into a headwind!
Thanks for all the advice - I will let you all know how it went in due course.
Look forward to seeing you there
Whizzy
See you there
Whizzy
Good to start at the back to save yourself for a good second half - trouble is it is easy to get pulled along with the crowd, I tend to always start a bit too fast, then I settle down, but have the pleasure at the end of passing the people who really rushed past me at beginning - you must know the course but remember the hill at about 6/7 miles - plan for it!!
Whizzy
I assume you are a member of New Forest?
What's your number for NF 1/2 I will recognise the vest - could end up saying hello to the wrong person
Whizzy
What club are you in?
Lordshill!!!! Don't know what my number is, will let you know
Whizzy
(not so )Whizzy
As I rode in to work this morning I saw that the mile numbers have been repainted on the road in nice bright white and the advance warning notices are up for the motorists. Now I'm starting to feel nervous!
I ran the first bit of the course on Saturday, but turning onto the heath just as the road starts to go up Wilverley hill.....oh dear! I hope I go faster on the day than I was going then! I shouldn't really have gone that way but I had to deliver something and it was the best route.
My number for the NF half marathon is 1095. What's yours?
Katie
2058 - see you there.
Whizzy