This was my third half marathon (my third in just eight weeks in fact), I have a hankering for a sub - 2h15m half but have put that down as an autumn goal, thinking it too much of a stretch for today. But all the same I wanted a PB ๐
To set the scene, this is a low key event for up to 1500 people (only 611 ran it), with very poor reviews but a really nice route and nice bling.
I ran the same route for my first HM distance training run back in February, but it was pretty disastrous (went off too fast, got tired, ended up run/walking with an almighty migraine โ not my finest hour). So today I had plenty to improve on.
Hubbie and I went to Windsor yesterday for a walk โ and to pick up my race bib and to stake out the loos (smart move as found a large toilet block with hot running water and a lot more space than a portaloo!).
Slept reasonably well last night after my now ritual salmon, pasta and salad pre-race meal, got up and ate porridge with my single cup of tea early this morning and set off to my pre-booked car park space. So organised, planned to the last detail ๐ Arrived with perfect time for three visits to said loo block!
Strange warm up session, followed by a 5 minute walk over the bridge to the start en masse. They set off three waves, and I then took a front position of the final โalso ranโ wave (anyone who couldnโt make sub 2h5m!). And we were off. I didnโt experience any congestion on the narrow path which was great, Now I had my pace band. I had my plan. 6m45s for a few k, 6m30s for the bulk of the run and 6m15s if I could manage it for the last couple of k. It didnโt go to plan. Bearing in mind that the main reason my training run had been so difficult was the fact that I ran the first 10k too fast, it kind of surprises me that I didnโt reign it in sooner. But everyone else was passing me! I let people pass, but was still running faster than plan. So I had a little chat with myself โ I could keep going and see if I could hold the pace, knowing that had been a mistake once before yet also knowing that I really hadnโt been exhausted after my first two halfs. Also, my HM time is currently significantly slower than my 5k and 10k times predict; I run scared of being too tired to finish. So, it was decision time and for once I decided to be brave and keep up the pace at around 6m15s/6m20s.
Weather was perfect โ no wind, no sun, mild, a few heavenly sprinkles en route to spritz tiring limbs. I stuck to my plan of walking through the water stations, and really took advantage of that for the last two of four! And my official time is 2h15m18s. Iโm chuffed to bits. I wasnโt overly tired, I didnโt feel sick or dizzy, so maybe I will get sub 2h15m in autumn. Oh, and I was fastest female in my 55-59 age category (there were only 7 of us, but still โฆ. I havenโt been first in anything running related before ๐). I also beat my GSR 10 mile time by about 6 minutes!
All wonderful. Sadly though, I can now barely walk. No blisters, no blood blisters, no more black toes โ I think I might have cracked all that. BUT. I have horrible pains in my left foot (from the toes all the way through my foot) whenever I put weight on it. Think itโs linked to the niggles Iโve had over the last 4 weeks where pain has moved from foot to alternate sides of my ankle/calf. But today has really upset it. Hobbled all the way to the pub for my roast beef lunch and large glass of rose, and all the way back (have to do something with that 1600 calorie credit). But have spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch. No more running commitments in the diary for now, so will really try to rest it (apart from the inevitable dog walks and gardening work of course!).
๐
But on balance, I agree it was worth it and at least I'm not panicking because it's interfering with training because I've nothing to train for just now 
Cardiff Half Marathon 2024 Race Report ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟโค๏ธ
First half-marathon distance report
