Sunday 7th October 2018 - My usual paranoia about getting anywhere on time meant that I was parked up an hour and three quarters before the gun. I only live 20 minutes drive from the course! Having already run a half marathon earlier this year I had no mental gremlins and the 3 months of training had gone well so my confidence was good. What was a little disconcerting was that at 8:15am in Lowestoft on the most easterly point of the UK mainland, it was high tide. Waves crashing into the seawall created huge geysers which soaked large stretches of the path which formed the start/finish straight of almost a mile in length. That would make a fun first 10 minutes or so of the race!
It was a glorious sunny morning, slightly chilly but by gun time at 10am the chill had gone and been replaced by a pleasantly cool sea breeze, the temperature was 12 degrees, perfect for running a half marathon 👍
I set my watch for a 6:40km pace which I had trained at and would hopefully help get me a PB, my time in Norwich was 2:31:25, so around 10 minutes off that would be terrific. The first mile is along the seawall and included the geyser dodging which led to a lot of hilarity amongst my fellow runners. I managed to avoid all bar one which splashed my calf muscles, a group of ladies in front were not quite so lucky! At the end of the seawall the course headed up a hill. 12% hills (yep, they exist in East Anglia!!) are no joke but luckily I had trained on the course so knew that I had to leave my bravado chip switched off and scale the gradient sensibly. My thighs begged me not to do that again but unfortunately it was a 2 lap course so I had to remind them that it was tough and we'd be back there in an hour or so! The course was mainly on roads with the exception of the seawall and a detour into a a field with a lap of a football pitch before rejoining the road heading north then doubling back to the start. With the nature of 'there and back ' courses it's a bit soul destroying to be heading out on lap 2, reaching the 7 miles marker and watching the race winner travelling at light speed in the opposite direction!
The first half went well, I reached half way in 67 minutes so knew I was on target unless I ran out of steam (excuse the pun!). The second attempt at the hill was a killer but I managed it though my hamstrings joined my thighs in the chorus of complaints! My dwindling stock of jelly babies was also a concern but the marshals are wise and I managed to grab a top up supply! The steam started to escape at around 11 miles but grim determination and sheer bloody mindedness (and the prospect of a slap up feast at home afterwards!) kept me going and I crossed the line in 2 hours 18 minutes 29 seconds for a huge new PB.
A nice piece of bling, a tee shirt and the usual water, banana, goody bag were waiting for my grateful sweaty paws at the finish zone.
As I walked to my car I had a chat with local runner Paul Evans, a former Olympic 10,000 metre finalist and Chicago marathon winner. Ironically a few hours later Sir Mo became the first Brit to win that race since Paul in 1996!
Next stop the City of Norwich half marathon in April but first a hard earned rest!
Thanks for reading, supporting and being here. Its all very much appreciated 👍
Carney Half Marathon and 10k - First competitive Half Marathon.
⭐ HealthUnlocked Half Marathon and 10K Autumn 2021 ⭐
A frustrating half marathon
Swan River HM, Perth, Australia 
