Well, after all the training, pre-run nerves and excitement, the day arrived at last! We travelled down to my sisters yesterday - she lives about 20 mins from Bath which made things a bit easier today. Left the house at 8.30 and drove to the Park n ride, long queues on arrival of runners and supporters all waiting for a bus. There wasn't too much waiting around luckily and then we were soon in the city centre and making our way to the Runners Village. A good atmosphere but very busy and we slowly worked our way in to the village on the lookout for toilets (of course). I have to say, that compared to other organised events I have run in, there really didn't seem to be enough toilets, either in the Runners village or closer to the start line. Never mind, we queued patiently (as you do) and headed on in to our start pen about 5 minutes before the off! Bath is a beautiful city and the support along the route was fantastic. I loved the course - gently undulating with only a couple of gentle hills. My sister and I ran it together all the way, although on a couple of occasions I told her to run on if I was holding her back (this was her 5th HM and she can be quite speedy!) She assured me, that the pace was fine for her (a good sign) and said I had actually helped her up the hills (which she is not so keen on!). The morning rain had long gone and we ran off under cloudy skies with a gentle breeze - perfect for running. The phantom niggles I had convinced myself of during my taper, had vanished and I felt relaxed and comfortable as we settled in to the race. The high number of runners did mean there was quite a bit of jostling for position in the early stages, although all of it good natured and unavoidable at that stage. I managed to slip in behind a particularly speedy chicken at one point who seemed to be making his way through quite nimbly but he soon disappeared out of sight!! In addition to the fantastic crowd support and the usual African drums (love the drums) there were also local bands dotted around the course performing in a local Battle of the Bands competition. Also, really pleased to spot our husbands and children on three occasions throughout the run. As planned, I refuelled at 5, 10 and 15k and there were plenty of water stations too. The sun put in a surprise appearance at about the half way point and what had been quite a comfortable run felt a bit warmer and harder for a while, but the gremlins couldn't get to me today and easing my pace a little for a while seemed to work and I felt stronger again. The last mile was hard and brilliant in equal measures as the crowds really cheered all of us home. My sister and I crossed the finish line together, with a chip time of 2hrs 10 mins and 57 secs. We walked, smiling back to the runners village to collect our medals and goody bags. ( I learned later that the organisers ran out of medals and that several hundred finishers will have to wait for them. Very poor, I think. Apparently one poor woman, who had had a hard run was in tears on finding out, bless her, so definately room for improvement there, Vitality ) Overall though, I left feeling chuffed, tired but very happy. Would I do it again? Definately!😀🏃🏽♀️Pics attached - I am the happy smiley person on the left!
My Bath Half report! 🙂 : Well, after all the... - Bridge to 10K
My Bath Half report! 🙂
Yay! Well done Sandra. You made it back in one piece! Bath sounds lovely. It makes the race seem much shorter if the scenery is nice and there are plenty of supporters. Shame about the loos! Oh and the medals! You got yours though thank goodness! Rest up for a few days now and get some good eats organised.
Thanks misswobble - yep, think I will be eating for England for a few days!
Lovely report, Sandra.
Super performance by you and your sis and a run, backed up by all the training of course, to be proud off. Well done. 🎈
Big thumbs down for the organisers. Bringing enough medals isn't rocket science. 😒
The organisers poor excuse was that there were more finishers than usual this year - they don't get in the same number of medals as entrants, but order in based on a predicted number of finishers. Very poor.
Oh Sandra this is such a great write up ! Really enjoyed reading it , and how fab that you ran with your Sis xxx
Bath looks such a beautiful place , it really helps when you've got some nice scenery to look at .
Many Congratulations to you . I just knew you'd smash it . Well done !
Have a good rest now and lots of yummy food . Blimey , I was hungry for days after mine last year so fill up on the good stuff and oh you need some cake after that too ! 
xxx
Chilli con carne I find is a good post run meal. I make a vat of it and have it with the works. I particularly like Monamasa (sp?) tortilla chips lime and chipotle. Slips down a treat. With some wholegrain rice too. Filling but healthy. Good with a jacket potato as well.
Yum!🙂
What a fantastic run and what a wonderful race report.
Well done Sandraj, I felt like I was there reading your words.
Your descriptions of the day were brilliant, drawing the reader into the whole HM.
You had a fantastic run and the bling looks great.
I'm glad you left your running box at home, gremlins not needed at the event.
I hope you recover well and again congratulations, your training certainly paid off.
All the best. x
Thanks Wanawig - feeling good today thankfully. As you say, we both put in the miles in training didn't we, and that really matters.🙂
That sounds fantastic. I'm in awe of your run and love your report 😀 I really feel for those poor souls who didn't get their bling at the end - the ones at the back who missed out were probably those who struggled most too.
Oh fantastic Sandra! Well done you, (and your sister 😄), what a fantastic time, you speedy thing! There were loads of loos at my HM, still long queues but they moved quite quickly....
I would have been devastated if they'd run out of medals, for such a big event, thats supposedly 'professionally' organised, it just shouldn't happen - in fact at mine I think they still had armfuls of them when I came through.....
That happened to me at a small 10k event, and that was bad enough......I did get one later.....
Fab pics, fab bling, and yes, last week I ate like a horse....😂
Mx
Congratulations! I'm almost tempted to do an organised run myself now! Glad you had the sun even if it made things harder temporarily. What a great experience overall. Looking forward to hearing what you plan to do next
Thank you! Going to try and focus on my speed and trail running for the next few months but would very much like to do another HM later in the year. I have a 10k trail in a couple of weekends.🙂
Congratulations Sandra! And your sister! What a great run report and photos, you look really happy! Now that ones done they'll be no stopping you! Glad it went so well and you did such a great time too, excellent! 😊😆
Brilliant run report Sandra and gorgeous photos too! So well done to you and your sister, great time 🤗
That's not good about the medals. I would have been fuming as I usually only run for the bling 😏 They really do have to get their act together especially as this race isn't cheap to enter.
I hope you're not too stiff today and you're still basking in post-run glory xxx
Generally feeling pretty good IP, although I was in the car for an hour this afternoon and when I got out, the old hips were definately a bit stiff for a bit!!
Wow, well done Sandra! Sounds like a great race, and a fantastic time. Congratulations for that, and I'm happy that it was such an enjoyable epxerience.
Lovely write-up on a lovely run! You look really good in the picture, relaxed, happy and fit. It doesn't look as if you've just done a HM!
..thanks, feeling a little stiff in the hips this afternoon, after a long drive, but otherwise Ok!
That looks a gorgeous route, and your gong is lovely too. Great time well done you xx
Thank you 🙂
Great run and teriffic run report. Very glamarous two runners there Sandra. A run and finish time to be proud off!
I would have been like the tearful lady. Im a slow runner so if its going to happen it will always be us slow runners (sob😩). I had same problem with the official photos last week, no photos of me because by the time i got to each of their vantage points the photographer must have got fed up of waiting and left😮
That's pants about the photos, Jacs 
I noticed on the Carsington run that I only featured in the first set and not going across the dam wall. I know it was cold there so I guess the photographer got the first set of people across and then thought 'Sod this, I'm off!' But at least there was one of me at the first photo point.
That's a shame - I think. I always look so dreadful in the pictures I wish I hadn't looked!!
This is a fab write-up, Sandra - well done for such a great race and such a good time! You and your sister look as though you've just been for a gentle run in that lovely photo
Such a disappointment about the organisation. Not enough loos isn't good 
but not having enough medals is appalling. At least you both got yours.
All your hard work and preparation paid off - you are a star!
It didn't feel like a gentle jog!! but it always felt doable. I think the tapering really rest up and be ready for the day!
Great report Sandra, and a great time, too. Well done and it's been great reading about your training and the build-up to the run.
What next????
Great post. Glad you got your medal, it's so rotten to miss out - and happens to the best. I always feel for the elite athletes who get upgraded later following a drugs cheat being found out. It just isn't the same.
Thanks ancientrunner🙂
Wonderful report Sandra! Great photo, you both look fantastic and very well done to you both (how lovely to run together). Relax and enjoy the feeling - you deserve it after all your hard training and effort. I admire you
Well done!!! and I have a happy smile on my face reading your great Post
Thanks John!!🙂
Sorry I am late with the HUGE... well done!!!! Brilliant race and a super duper report too...WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
It looks fabulous and how lovely to run it with your sister
Knew you would do it and how!!!! x
I thought earlier this week about the Bath Half thinking you must have done it last weekend or this weekend and was going to check! This just popped up in my weekly digest email and I am so glad it went well for you! Sounds like an enjoyable run and a fantastic achievement. Congratulations Sandra sorry I missed this last weekend, not sure why. That is a really poor show about the medals - I think I'd cry too!!
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