Hey there people, get comfy, this is a long one......
What with all the shenanigans about the weather FB was ablaze with, will they, won’t they, cries of, cancel! You’re irresponsible! People will get injured! We were still a bit on tenterhooks until well into Saturday....the organisers stood firm....its on!
Still had snow covering the garden when we left Sunday morning, extra layers on ( to discard at the start) roads absolutely fine....park and ride into town, once on event village, it felt like a lot of people, far more than last year. (Over 7000 apparently) ...tried to find Curlygurly2 , failed! Tried to find AncientMum , failed! Couldn’t even find anyone from parkrun, just a sea of faces.....
Four waves this year, I was in the last, so we stood for what seemed like ages wistfully watching all the others go......one new thing, loos in pen areas, good call! (I didn’t use them myself, but a useful addition)
Then we were off, took near on 20 minutes to get all through the start, jettisoned additional layer and off we went, very little wind, cool, a bit damp almost perfect conditions. Because of all the warnings about the cold I also had gloves headband and neck buff on, gloves and headband came off before mile 3....hot!
Now, I’ve had some loo issues in training, ahem....waterworks...so, only had half a cup of tea, then decided, I wasn’t going to stress about it, and there were loos at every water station. I wasn’t planning to stop at the first water station, but thought I’d check in with the water board to see if a pit stop was needed....noticed a queue of at least 5 so, nope, not stopping here.....(we’d popped into the expo on Saturday and picked up pacing bands - paper wrist band with mile/KM timings for your target time - I’d gone for 2hrs 30, a bit ambitious, but hey...) so checked pacing band and no, keep going, I also still had the 2:30 pacer in my sights....
2nd water station was about 5 Miles, picked up some water.....looked over at the loos, again a queue of at least five people, I thought, nope! Quite comfortable, I am not queueing (looking at pacing band)....I did start to lose the pacers here, I was about a minute behind, but ok...
Then we were out through Grantchester and the country roads, music at the pubs, caught up with a parkrun friend, had a little chat, we went along together for a bit.....then turning back towards the city....3rd water station, again, checked with the water board, still ok.....still loo queues! Nope, I am NOT queueing....
Back towards the city centre, out to the ‘backs’ - where you can see the colleges etc., one if my favourite parts of the course, at about 10 Miles....a turn over Garrett Hostel bridge (AKA hostile bridge 😂🏃♀️) it’s a short steep up and down, and you have to try not to frown and grimace as there are photographers here.....channelling inner prancing pony.....see pic...
Just before the bridge there was a very angry shouty lady complaining to the marshals that she wanted to go in some direction and couldn’t as there are all these runners there! How dare they! She was very shouty......we just sniggered as we went by....
Then back through the central streets of the city and retracing the route back past water station 1, aka 4....picked up water here...and had a little break...I’d had little breaks at 6k, 12k and about 16-17k.....this was now the tough bit....the last 3k... a long road up to a roundabout, made it! Right turn towards and up Elizabeth way bridge, it’s not that much of a slope when you drive over it, but running it.....the last mile, it may as well be a mountain....but I kept going, I actually thought if I stopped now, I really wouldn’t start again, so slow and steady...rocking along, up and down two more turns to go.....
Round the first.....see finishers now walking along the paths with their medals....I feel really emotional, don’t know why, it always hits me at this point.....loads of encouragement.....just keep going, round the last corner.....and saw my daughter and her boyfriend..., me polite as ever.....says....’sorry, can’t stop, I’m on for beating last years time’.......ha ha ha😂 what am I like.... anyway, legs felt good, saw the finish gantry and went for it....over that line! See pic...🏃♀️
I swear they move that finish gantry further up the road when you’re not looking! 😂
Phew! Beat last years time by 5 minutes, 2hrs 35, that’ll do me. (and a garmin PB - I got a cup! Ok not a real one like aliboo70 ’s, but it’s on my garmin stats)
Best spied home made sign on route - ‘all this for a banana!’ Loads of high fives with the kids, brilliant marshals, great crowd support, great bands,.....loved it.....also taking part were, bananas in pyjamas, a minion, Spider-Man and a carrot.....
Now....what was it I was saying about not feeling the love and the training being so hard......🤔.........i’ll be back.......
💪🏃♀️🏅
Only dissapointment was my utter failure to catch up with ancientmum and curly...doh!🤦♀️
Happy days, happy running all
Mx
Carney Half Marathon and 10k - First competitive Half Marathon.
Wiggle Manchester Half Marathon 
