What an excellent race. The organisation's good, the course is excellent, scenic and very fast and I've just hammered my PB from 1:48:00 (set here last year) to 1:41:40.
As far as I can tell there's only one improvement the organisers could make and that would be to use bottles not cups at the water stations. This was a big well supported event with people comeing from quite some distance - surely one of the Welsh mineral water companies could sponsor.
Anyway, (minor) gripe over, let me just say again, it was a fantastic race, both generally and for me!
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I might raise this with Decantae although the organisers were using bottled water - just not small bottles!
Well done again
I agree that its a great event, although I was caught out a bit at the start (still working my way through the crowd at the back when the race started) I managed to get 1:31:11, six minutes better than last year - not a pb, but the best for 18 months.
But the best thing is that its so friendly and low key for a fairly large event, and meeting so many forumites .
Didn't see you at the end - how was it for you?
I waddled in at 1:42:42 which isn't too bad for a 51 year old plodder!
Could have done better if I had brought my Arab mare, Sadie - she would have got me through!
Really enjoyed the run and, like everyone else, would have expected better drinking facilities from Severn Trent. But I was well impressed with the medals.
Macclesfield half in a fortnight?
Bakerboy.
I finished in 1:42 something - didn't notice how many seconds as I was sprinting flat out because I found some energy from somewhere! My previous PB was 1:53 at Windsor, which I'm hoping to better in two weeks time.
I broke my PB from last year too - to 1:31:33 from 1:39:42, largely by doing the RW programme. I was a bit late arriving as I had borrowed a Freelander and because it's 4 wheel drive they made me park in a field where the only space was at the top of a very steep hill - as it was the first time I'd ever driven it it was just a tad scary, especially when I turned the wheel to park and the car tipped sideways. Getting back down was even more interesting...
I met Haggis (how could you miss him?!) and FatFace - FF's picture is very lifelike! Sorry Oldbones I was late - said parking difficulty largely responsible.
SY3
I'm sure you'll do well at Windsor. I have fond memories of that race as it was my first half marathon in the modern era (I did do one many years ago, bad experience, no training, own fault, didn't run a yard for the next 6 years!!!)
We must have been there or thereabouts at the finish as my clock time was 1:42:10. While you were sprinting I was definitely struggling. I was wearing a delightful burgundy/silver grey diagonally striped vest.
Windsor was my first Half too, when I was about 19 (6 years ago) - did it two years on the trot with hardly any training and got about 2:08 both times.
About a year and a half ago I decided I'd try to do it properly and I've been training much harder since, so I'm on cloud nine at the moment knowing the training is paying off!
Still need to do more longer runs though - I've only been doing about 5.5 miles once or twice a week at most! I'm doing the Nike 10k this Sunday, but I think I might carry on running to make it about 10 miles!
SY3
SY3 - just before the scheduled start we heard through word of mouth that the start would be delayed 10 mins because of the traffic causing late arrivals. The next thing I know we're running and its not even 5 mins late!!
It was good apart from that though.
The race started (apparently) and off we went. Mile 1 was slowish, mile 2 quicker, mile 3 quicker still. I was now feeling very comfortable at 8.5 min/mile which would have got me to the finish in around 1:45/1:50. Then I decided to wipe the sweat from my forehead and something went crack in my upper back/neck area. The pain stopped me in my tracks. I was in agony but foolisly I reckoned it would loosen up as I ran, but it didn't - it just got worse until my mile times slowed to 10 min/mile. I suppose I should have stopped and waited to get picked up the recovery vehicle but I reckoned that I could run back quicker. I reached the finish in 1:56:31 (1:57:18 officially) and then bumped into Oldbones. Sorry OB if I wasn't a bundle of laughs, by this time I just felt sick. Tony had to drive me home because I couldn't move my head. Mrs Fat Face was absolutely livid with me for being so stupid and carrying on running (she's a physio you see). The problem was quickly diagnosed as a muscle spasm by my Doctor on Monday who gave me Diazapam and some anti-inflam's, so by Tuesday it had eased off considerably. To cap it all off though, it appears that I had mistakenly wore Mrs FF's number so my name wasn't even in the finishers list. Still, it was a PW so that was nice.
The only good thing about the whole day was that Mrs FF now appears to have a new PB!!!
Well done everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the day. I will have another go at it next year.
Fat Face - a shame about your experiences as overall it was a really ggod day. Glad to hear the neck's improving and good luck with the wedding. Did I hear that you're doing New York too?
I agree with everyone about the start and about the water stations, I do not get on with plastic cups, I nearly choke if I try. Hence I carry my own water bottle, was I stupid or what, I usally carrry quite happily 500mls of sports drink, but for some reason only known to my 'other' self I took 750mls out with me. I think this was too heavy to carry, and maybe what slowed me down.
All in all I think a good day was had by all in a VERY beautiful part of Wales.
Check out www.helsbyrun.freeuk.com
Neck is much better now. May try a little run tonight.
SY3
Bakerboy.
Have a good one!