HM number 2 successfully completed! This one was a four-hour drive from home (with traffic jams on top) back to my hometown of many years. It was a poignant trip with a visit to a restaurant we first visited over 30 years ago before we were married, a walk to the local pub for lunch followed by a mini-hike over the Vardre with beautiful views in the sunshine (why didn’t I appreciate any of that when I lived there?) and then on past the family home which Mum & Dad lived in until they died. In the evening we met up with my brother and I sat in the pub nursing my mineral water- how’s that for dedication to the cause 🙄
By now I'd remembered how windy North Wales is and just how much colder that makes everything. So Sunday morning came around and I was up with the birds to eat and digest my pre-race porridge. Major dilemma – what to wear? Definitely not the short sleeved t-shirt I’d brought – but would I be best with one or two long sleeved tops? The wind was something else.
We packed everything up from our lovely Airbnb (so different from the Southsea experience) and drove to the prom for the start. It was grey. And windy. Very windy. I stepped out of the car and horror of horrors this was going to be a headwind, all the way🙈. I abandoned the indoor loo queue and headed out to the portaloos – no queue there. Managed to lose hubby at this point so headed to the start. He just got there in time to take my second layer – I was going to be brave (the right choice I think).
Off we set - 674 of us. We were in a bunch for the first couple of miles and I took them faster than my plan. The climb I had dreaded was fine – Macmac was muttering ‘shorter steps, it’ll be over before you know it’ in my head. The downhill was fun – ‘bouncing down, arms wide' for GoGo_JoJo (looking more like a badly piloted airplane than a seasoned trail runner – but it made me laugh). Then it was pretty much flat promenade or paths all the way (with occasional short up and down bits to relieve the joints) with the grey sea to the left, grey sky above and the ever present wind in the face (as evidenced by dreadful hairstyle post-race). The crowding had spread out nicely and it was a peaceful and soothing course to run.
I had two water breaks of my own and the two at the provided water stations, all as planned. Between miles 9 and 12 it was tough. The wind was really strong, sometimes I was running on the spot, sand was swirling around and my calves and feet were screaming ‘stop’. But no! 12 miles was my last planned ‘water walk’ and I made myself wait til then. That gave me enough oomph to get to the end. The sight of the orange finish arch was just wonderful. I overtook two pairs of runners and then there was an open space ahead – no way would I catch anyone else. I knew I was already on for a faster time for this one so I just cruised on in trying to look my best (waste of time as there was no photographer and hubby somehow missed me 🤬). Felt really happy and really proud of myself, and more than a little bit tearful.
Can’t believe how quickly I got cold though. Met up with hubby and just kept taking more and more layers from him to put on! Had the car heater on all the way home (after a great big Sunday lunch of course). Once home, I did manage to get out of the car unaided after four hours in the one position. Result! I have to say my soak in the bath with an Aperol spritz might just have been the highlight of the day (the bath was full of sand when I got out even though I hadn’t actually been on the beach).
Am loving the medal and the t-shirt (it even fits, I will wear this one). It was the first time this event has run and I would happily recommend it to anyone who fancies a chilled (in every sense of the word) race by the sea. Maybe there will be a tailwind next year …..
Finally. This run was for Abi. I can’t tell you how many times I told myself to ‘do iiiiiit’ yesterday. Well I ‘did iiiiit’. And that’s thanks to Abi's amazing plan which has suited me down to the ground, and her brilliant support which has smoothed over all the obstacles I’ve thrown in her direction. This run was for you roseabi – thank you for helping me through not one, but two HMs (but I’m keeping the medal and the t-shirt 😍 ).
I'm getting better at knowing what to expect - and when - now though, so try to have the game plan ready to keep it all in proportion. As you say giving up means saying goodbye to a huge investment of time, effort and emotons and I'm sure it's not an option anyone chooses lightly.
Tonbridge Half Marathon Race Report 😁
Yorkshire Marathon Race Report 
