Driving home after the event, my friend and I decided to pick one word to describe completing this year's Folkestone Half Marathon. We agreed on BRUTAL. Here we go...
The day dawned wet and windy. The night before there had been Facebook updates advising a course inspection was taking place at 7.30 a.m. due to flood warnings and the possibility of needing to re-route the race. However, the decision was made to go ahead on the original course. So a small intrepid group of us set off for the coast.
Driving through torrential rain on the M20 did not fill our hearts with joy. Neither did the limited toilet facilities at the start. I was running for Crohn's and Colitis UK (I am a sufferer) and had already taken two Imodium before leaving home. I took a third just to be on the safe side! So off we went to the start.
The first part was OK, sort of inland a little bit. Then we descended to the coastal path and straight into a horrendous headwind. There was a several mile slog all the way along the coast which went on...and on...and on into rain and sea spray. My faithful friends Chris and Phil (to the right of the photo) stuck with me the whole way. We turned inland briefly and did a small loop to turn us round. By this point I just wanted to finish and had abandoned all hope of achieving my sub-2 hour target. "No, you can still do it" I was told above the howl of the wind.
Then the return leg began. Wow - what a difference! With a tailwind pushing us along the pace increased. We had dropped to 9:20ish minute miles on the way out; now we were zooming along at 8:15ish minute miles. However, the tide was coming in the whole time and nearing high tide. This added waves crashing onto the path into the mix. We were now being battered by sea water laden with shingle rather than just spray. Conditions underfoot became treacherous but I was back on a mission to go sub-2 hours. My shoes were full of sea water, heavy and squelchy. A wave hit me in the back. There were some squeals from ladies behind me. I was actually getting a bit frightened now. "Keep to the left!" shouted the marshals (i.e. away from the sea).
Finally were were climbing back to the start/finish area. I had about a mile to go and 15 minutes to do it. There is a short, steep section known as "the sting". I ran about a third of the way up then confess I had to route march to the top. I struggled to get my legs going again and set off for the finish line. No chance of a sprint to the timing mats - I was totally spent and soaked to the skin. But I had done it! Chris and Phil stayed with me right to the end and I don't think I could have done it without them.
We found a couple of our group, one looking very dejected. He had been knocked off his feet by a wave and was battered and bruised. After eating what we could in our goody bags, we headed indoors to race HQ and found the others. We all had horror stories to tell, from the stone in a shoe that turned out to be a massive blister to having to grab onto a bin to avoid being knocked over.
I can honestly say, if I had been on my own and without all the sponsorship I had raised (just over £300) I would have given up on the sub 2 hour target. That spurred me on as I couldn't face the thought of abandoning and re-entering another HM instead.
So here are the vital statistics:
Chip time: 1:55:43
166/459 finishers, 18/169 females, 1/16 V50 Ladies = Winner of my age category.
Thank you for reading my story and it's not too late to make a small donation to my JustGiving page, even £1 would be hugely appreciated. Thank you to those of you from the HU forums who have already donated:
What a report! Congratulations that is a fantastic time no matter what the weather! And considering you did it in near Armageddon conditions, it makes it that much more impressive! Well done!
Good report from you, congratulations on that run and time considering the course, the waves, the high tide etc, well done, there are a few parkruns that take place along a beach, notablely Port Rush Park run, if its high tide the runners are actually running in the sea at one point, I saw a video of that, goodness knows what it must be like at high tide in a force 8 gale for the runners. Once again congratulations on completing that run.
Oh wow! Amazing time in horrible conditions! You must feel so proud of going sub two hours and FIRST in your age group as well! 👏👏👏👏 I have two runs coming up on the coast (Great South Run and Gosport Half) - hopefully I will have easier conditions but let's face it - the chance of wind is pretty high by the sea! Rest up well!🙂
Wow! That does indeed sound absolutely brutal! My coastal HM was entirely into a headwind (no loop back, it ended at a different point to the start) and it was flippin' hard work! But it was entirely dry. I got sand blasted a few times, but wet shingle is a whole zillion levels of awfulness more. Uggh, I cant imagine! But that is an amazing time, and first in your category too - you must feel incredibly proud and positively glowing with your succes (now you've dried off and presumably warmed up at lasttoo). Huge congratulations on your grit (poor choice of word, sorry) and determination.
Wow L-L,can I say? Wow pretty much sums it up. Unbelievably good time in unbelievably hard conditions. You’re some runner, that’s evident. Good for you! 👏👏👏
Hi Ali! I miss you all (and running) so much that I have had to avoid the forum for quite a while. It simply made me too sad every time I browsed and read your many running tales. But I am getting better, am learning to accept that I will not run again (or at least not until I choose to have my hips replaced) and with that acceptance I am also able to enjoy reading forum posts again.
OMG!! That sounds horrendous! The thought of those waves crashing around me would have had me running to the hills 🙀 Terrible conditions but you ran a brilliant race by the sound of it.
Congratulations on your time and placing, that’s something to be very proud of 👏👏💪
Brilliant what a great run and a fantastic time awesome and inspiring for those of us with a HM still to come although if i get below 2 and a half hours i will be ecstatic. Many congratulations.
O. My. Gods! I very much doubt if my HM in Oxford on the 13th will be that traumatic. I’m not sure how you managed it, totally amazing!
Bravo, well done! I saw photos of drenched runners but thought it was rain rather than sea water. Can’t believe you had to finish up the Road of Remembrance- it’s a killer just walking it in good weather!
Congratulations on your half marathon and 1st in age category finish! Your accomplishment is amazing under any conditions but especially so considering the conditions. Great report and photo.
Well despite my misgivings I decided to read BRUTAL. As you said it sounded absolutely brutal. But well done you not only for finishing but fantastic time and number 1 race winner just amazing!
My plan is for sub 3 hrs...ish! Was worried about the Cardiff sea break but the weather report (today) has less of the hurricane that was predicted earlier in the week so fingers crossed. Son running with me and I know he will spur me on. Just want to get my first HM under my belt really. Anticipation is driving my fears at the moment. Would like to have an unfretful nights sleep!!
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