I accepted an offer to run in this HM about two weeks before the event. Training up to the distance wasn’t an issue as I’ve recently completed a full marathon (feels good being able to take up such offers at short notice). What was more of an issue was that, for some time now, I’d had an afternoon out in Bristol planned for the Friday before the HM on the Sunday. I spent most of the Saturday drinking copious amounts of diluted coconut water but I was still dehydrated on the Sunday morning. Lesson learnt there: it really does take several days to fully hydrate!
During the race, I drank the full litre of electrolyte mix that I carried plus water at most of the provided stations but I still didn’t think I had enough water. I seemed to speed up after taking on water but the effect didn’t last very long. I guess the dehydration was worse because it was a warm day – I’m not complaining about it being warm, just noting that I wasn’t properly prepared for it.
I started off at a pace which would have comfortably given me a PB. My plan was to try and hold that pace all the way through but it wasn’t to be. I don’t regret setting off at that pace; I just need better preparation to be able to maintain it. Anyhow, I held my target pace for the first few k but then drifted off target. I then continued at what seemed to be a manageable pace but I was able to pick the pace up a bit for the final 4k (finishing off the remaining contents of my water bottle probably helped with that although, looking at the profile on Strava, it’s also a gentle downhill which will definitely have helped). I also managed to pick it up again for the final 100m or so.
Finish time 2:09 giving an average pace of 5:59/k. To put that in context, my HM PB is 2:01:30 (achieved in the first half of the Manchester marathon).
This is definitely a large event (12,000 runners with a rolling start over the course of an hour or so). It’s well organised and there are lots of cheering crowds. I agree with its description of being “flat” (69m total climb on very gentle gradients). One of the trickiest parts of it for me was the logistics of getting there. I think it would be a lot easier for someone who lives within walking distance of the London tube network. The start is about 20 minutes’ walk from Stratford underground station – it’s very easy on the way in, you just follow all the runners. I’m not sure of the walking time because, once I’d arrived, I spent ages wandering around the site trying to find someone.
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