Well, that was fun.....(I think).....what a change from last year, nervously waiting to see if the Beast from the East was going to scupper the event, this year......is it going to be hot? Shorts and t-shirt combo? No....not yet.....storm Freya will have her say, a bit of a giggle at the start with a few showers, then i’ll get you with some added gusty winds just as you’re on the way back.....💨......that’ll make your legs ache......
Some forum buddies were there too, Curlygurly2 and AncientMum , I had a major fail last year in not managing to meet up with ancientmum, surely we’d do better this year.......errr no! In so many people it was almost impossible to find anyone, I managed to spy AM, as she made her way into the pen but was too far away to call out, oh well! And as for curly, didn’t have a clue where she was.....
My biggest fail of the day was not getting a selfie with Jo Pavey......Jo started the race, when I was looking for AM, a lady came out of the VIP tent and I thought, that person looks just like Jo Pavey.......I wasn’t 100% sure......so didn’t approach her, and then when we were in the pens, there she was on the starting gantry.....doh! Mind you, I gave her a shout out on my way past the start and she looked straight at me and wished me good luck and waved me on my way, that was lovely.....
Anyway, we were off, they had more music acts this year which was great, I was aiming for around 2:30 and actually was doing fairly well up to about 10 miles, then began to slip off the pace a bit, the wind was beginning to pick up, at one point, near the final turn, I nearly lost my hat from a gust of wind, and we were against the wind for last couple of miles.....and it was a bit drizzly
I didn’t manage to find AM at all, but she got a good time despite a bashed toe......i’ll leave to her to tell you about the evil soy sauce bottle that hides in her pantry......👿
Curly and I managed to meet at the end, which was lovely, especially as it was Curly’s first half.
Other half was happy he got 2:07, I got 2:39, I’m a bit disappointed I couldn’t get closer to the 2:30, but, in parts it felt quite a trudge.....so I’m happy to have finished upright.....and not overly sore today.......there’s always next year......🤦♀️
Afterwards we went for a lovely roast dinner, tasted all the better as had 50% discount being HM medal holders - result!
Glad it’s over, but happy I’ve done it.......another medal for the bling collection 🏅🏃♀️💪
Happy running all
Mx
Written by
Madge50
Marathon
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Well done! Finishing a half is the best feeling. Don't worry about the time, I had to stop (and queue) for a pee in my last one and don't like looking at the time on the finisher's medal. Have to keep telling myself that the time was great if I don't count the stop. Would love to know how to hydrate properly and not need to go during a half.
Thanks Tjcp, I’ve found that, I can only have one cup of tea the morning of an event - and I have it early enough to make sure it makes its way through (maybe too much information......) i always well hydrate the days leading up to it. Then I go to the loo about 20 mins to half hour before the start.
I haven’t found I’ve needed the loo on the way round so far, also, I refuse to queue! (Once I’m off and running) did a loo stop on my first HM, it was just nerves, but cost me nearly 5 minutes......!
I use all water stations and just take sips on the way round, and rehydrate well afterwards.
Thank you so much, I must admit I wasn’t overly excited about the deteriorating weather forecast.....I think Peterborough affected me more than I realised, I had a real faff about kit, worried about getting cold etc., but was happy with my choice in the end.
Well done! Sounds like a good run despite the weather doing it's best to sabotage you. On to the next one, right? I guess you would recommend Cambridge HM if that's not your first time running it?
Oh definitely, it’s just fab, this is the third time I’ve done it......there is support practically all the way round, it goes through the city centre, you get beautiful views of the colleges on the way out and back, including after Granchester, on the way back, running along the famous ‘backs’ , which has that view of kings college chapel that you see on the telly, my favourite is the ‘backs’ and going over Garrett Hostel Bridge, over the river Cam.....it was a real buzz to see people stopping to take photos, and thinking, this is my home town, mind you, this is also at about 10 miles, so it’s a relief to know you’re well on the way home by then! 😂
I did find it tougher this time, for whatever reason, but it’s my ‘home’ HM, and I love it! - and I’ve already signed up for pre registration for next year....🤪
As for the next one.......someone had the bright idea of signing up for Edinburgh (May) and Swansea (June)...........don’t ask.....just don’t ask...😳😱😳😱😳....😂
Thank you, yes, when I saw runners stopping to take photos, it makes you realise how lucky you are to have those views and places available to you all the time.
Great report and awesome pics! I haven’t quite mastered the mid race pics - all mine have weird facial expressions or I look like I’m dying. You look so relaxed!
Thanks sask, thing is, having done this one a couple of times, had an idea where the photographers were, so there was a bit of hard work going on trying to pull my face into a sort of smile and lift the legs up a bit! I certainly don’t think I felt how I looked!
I look a bit strange in some of the photos, there was one point that had a great music stage, I got caught with one arm up, trying to sing and dance ,looking like I’m frank spencer saying ‘ooohh Betty!’ (Very old character played by Micheal Crawford) 😂 I also nearly put my back out doing that! 😂
Great report Madge50 and lovely photos too. It's a fab course - there's nowhere quite like it - and the weather was kinder than I'd anticipated from the forecast. You absolutely deserved your roast dinner afterwards to celebrate a job well done. One of these days we'll manage to meet up successfully for a race!!! 😂 xx
Thank you, lovely you, it really hit me just how many people there were there, watching the earlier waves go seemed to really take ages this time....
well done on your fab time, there were pacers near me, but I didn’t realise there were two lots until we were being filtered out to the road......and I was near the back.......doh!
Well done Madge50 . Just to complete a HM in those conditions was an achievement. On a better day I'm sure you would have broken 2:30. A roast eh? I had to make do with beans-on-toast for lunch!
Great write up our Madge, and well done to you and Rick, I think you both did tremendously well.
Ha ha, signed up for next year already? You said just two more.....what are you like? I promised H if I started to talk about ever doing another HM he could cut my leg off, and if I mentioned the word Marathon he could cut both legs off....He's sharpening his saw....I'd like to run all of it, not run/walk as I would have done last year...
Thanks Sqkr, Oh yes, that certainly was the prize, it tasted so good! I’m going to make it a thing now.....and make sure I check out the deals available for runners at events......🍽
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Well done and great report 
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