Race day, an early start to get up to Crawley by 9am. A 40ish mile trip. The town centre was heaving and it took quite a while to get parked. Once on the event grounds though it was clear this was going to be a bigger event than I have been to before. Local Heart radio breakfasts hosts providing the commentary with Dinah Asher-Smith, Colin Jackson and Helen Skelton on hand to act as race starters for the various races.
Start pens for this one as the group was rather large. My group (purple) were the 1:45-2:00 wave. My intention was to stay at the back and keep the pacers in sight. This was quickly scuppered though as the 2 hr pacers stood at the front of the long pack and I never saw them again once we had moved to the start line.
Never mind on to the run. It feels like every time I do a HM I get more nervous. Surely this should be the other way round? And what am I so nervous about anyway? It's just another run.
The run itself was really nice. Running through Crawley up into Gatwick where we ran along the south perimeter and got some great views of planes coming in to land at what felt like metres above our heads. Into the quiet village of Charlwood and off into the country lanes, before returning to Crawley Town centre via Ifield where the one big hill lurked around 8-9 miles. Nothing compared to Eastbourne though so I was more than happy.
Towards the end I got caught up by the 2:10 pacers and I have to say once again they were brilliant. Encouraging all around them and offering water to those who may need it. As we turned for the last straight they called for anyone with any thing left to use the downhill stretch to push on past them. Not one to be told twice I bolted forward, coming in just under 2:10 and with another PB. No change to thank the pacers as I was swept in a wave to get medals, t-shirts, water & snacks.
I have to say it is a well tended event. And even on the rural parts there was plenty of support. The marshals must be hoarse today after all the cheering they did. The only downside is it took over an hour and a half to get out of Crawley centre as the road closures did not open till well after the proposed time causing no end of problems. One out we headed over to the in-laws for a shower and barbeque whilst while away the afternoon on their sunny patio swapping war stories with my brother-in-law who had competed in a Triathlon that morning too.
For anyone wanting to see the route: relive.cc/view/2361118630
Run Report
