This was my first big race and my first half marathon. I was excited. I was nervous. I was excited again. I was nervous again…mainly about travel. MrUnderstanding was on race crew and we decided to use the park and ride at Odd Down. After a long time trying to work out what time to leave, we settled on what I thought was a ridiculously early time to allow for traffic. Totally vindicated when we found the queue for the buses! We Brits are good at queuing and it was very good humoured. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally made it to Bath and headed to the runners’ village. I joined another queue for the loo. After what seemed like another eternity, it was practically time to be at the start. Luckiky I was able to skip checking anything in at the baggage drop and give it to the race support instead. I joined the hoards heading to the start and it was time to go.
The first 5k went by like a dream. Couldn’t stop smiling. There was such a lovely atmosphere and I felt great. The sun was shining and people were cheering. I was so confused about how people kept shouting my name, until I remembered it was on my number. Felt a bit silly then. I’d deliberately planned kept it steady and I found it tricky navigating through the crowds which helped not starting too fast.
The first loop began and I was super surprised by incline leading away from the city centre. I’d driven that way many, many times and thought it would be flat. It certainly wasn’t harder than what I’d done before but it surprised me with the extra effort. I was also much hotter than I’d expected to be since my weather app had been showing rain all week. At the top, the road switched back past the park and ride and I thought that was where I’d hit my groove and begin to motor. It just wouldn’t quite land today. 10k in 1hour2 which was good but not the race fuelled PB I thought I’d be on for. I realised that I could push hard to get a faster time or I could actually enjoy it by keeping it steady. Took a few minutes to do a systems check and realised I wasn’t quite in tip top shape so went for option two. I kept up my decent effort but didn’t go all out. I was running for a charity with a close personal meaning and I really wanted to have the headspace to think about that rather than how to pace to get under an arbitrary goal I’d half set myself.
Loop two was tough up the incline again and I was grateful for jelly babies from the crowd so I didn’t have to use an energy gel. 17k arrived and I picked up a little for the final 4k. I felt I’d done well to still be running and feeling tired but good. I was all ready for the triumphant sprint through the finish when the course turned sharply left…straight up a steep hill that somehow I’d failed to spot on the first pass. It was beyond hideous. I had absolutely nothing left to get up it so I practically crawled. Once it levelled out again, I put on a mini burst of speed to get under the arch in 2 hours 19 minutes which was still a new PB for the distance.
It was such a brilliant day and I’m still on a high this morning. My legs are in a state of pain so it will be foam rolling, stretches and baths rather than runs today. I never ever considered that I’d be able to run a whole half marathon when I stared c25k in January. Very proud. Good bling too!
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. It’s been so helpful in getting me round!
Written by
MissUnderstanding
Half Marathon
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Thanks! I’m really looking forward to running without the pressure of an event coming up. It’s not that I haven’t really enjoyed the training-I absolutely have but it definitely feels different when you know you have to go out and run ten miles so you get round on the day of the race.
Lots of rest and I’ll think about what next. I’m not ready for thinking about a marathon (unless it’s London) so I’ll see what fun I can have under 10k!
That’s the thing that puts me off-all the training time. I have trained well for this HM and have taken it semi seriously but not in the way that I’d have to for a FM. I’d definitely be willing to do it for London if I got a ballot place but that’s probably it. Saying that, I wasn’t intending to ever go beyond 5k then never beyond 10k so never say never!
Snap MU. I’d train hard for London, but no other marathon. Keeping everything crossed for the ballot, knowing it’s highly unlikely - but you never know! ☘️☘️
Congratulations 🎉 👏🏻 I’m so pleased for you. It’s great to read your post to see how far you can come from ct5k. I’d have never have considered a half marathon in my lifetime but after reading what people can achieve it could be a possibility. Ride that high of your amazing achievement. 🤗
Thanks! It was really great seeing all the other runners there and being encouraged by the range of ages and styles and speeds! I would definitely do it again…but not until my legs have forgiven me. That could take some time!
You smashed it MU, what an amazing time! Really well done. Was the finish up Marlborough Lane? I’d heard that Road mentioned at some point. If so - argggggh!
Yes-it was and it was absolutely horrible! I don’t know who thought that would be a good idea. Yuck!
Definitely a rest day today (and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow!). I’m going to try a short walk later. Luckily there’s a nice little shop nearly that does good coffee and some treats so I’ll pay them a visit.
Ooooo errrrr. That might be a game changer for me then. I was aware of the incline up to Newbridge, and figured that wouldn’t be too bad, but I used to go to school in Bath and we’d drive up Marlborough Lane each day. It’s hideous! Shame, as I’d love to run the Bath Half when it returns to March (apparently in 2024), but I’d rather do the original course. 🥺
Thanks! I’m kicking myself for not doing a proper recce so I was mentally prepared for the gradient changes but it was such a brilliant experience that I’m not going to dwell on it. I’m sure there’ll be a time I try to get under that 2hr15 goal but not yet! It was a race to do thinking about a friend and enjoying the atmosphere rather than going all out for a big PB.
OOh I thought about you and SkiMonday yesterday and wondered how you’d get on. It was beautiful weather but, as you say, probably hotter than expected!
Bath is famous for the atmosphere and crowd support and I’m sure it made a big difference to how you felt and it sounds as if you had a fantastic race! Your training clearly paid off and you got a PB!!! Well done to you and congratulations 🥳
Think we both had similar issues with the inclines. Only difference was that I took a look at the finish hill as I went past so I knew what was coming. Not sure if I really wanted to know beforehand!
Now, Newport really is flat! As in 43m for the FM (as opposed to the 78m yesterday). There is a big bridge over the river but it really is a gentle gradient. In Newport, I didn’t have any of the incline issues we encountered in Bath.
Thanks for the information-that’s definitely worth knowing. My family are all very local to Newport so I’ll have added cheerleaders. Very tempted! Holding off until the results of the London ballot and then will see.
Fantastic race report, huge congratulations! The buzz of the day and the high are an experience I am becoming rather addicted to.
I can't get over the size of the crowd! It's probably normal but that looks daunting to me, I've never had that so I'm lucky in that front. It makes your PB even more special.
Thanks! Over 6000 runners!!! I’ve only ever done one race and one parkrun before-they had 500 and 250 people in them so it was a big change! At the start I found it hard to navigate between people and settle into my own comfortable pace but as the course went on, it thinned out a bit and was much easier. There was some really nice encouragement from the other runners and a buzz because there were so many of us! A lot of camaraderie!
Yeah, the camaraderie is something special, there have been times where I have slowed and walked due to struggle and fellow runners passing me have tried to spur me on with encouragement Its great to see.
what a wonderful and detailed run report, I could almost feel your nerves, excitement and pain! Fantastic achievement!!! That hill sounds horrendous so well done just for that bit!!!👏👏👼🏅🏅
Thanks! That hill. Why why why would the course planners do it to us?!!! Awful. I’m enjoying seeing pictures from the event on social media and remembering all the nice bits though-some excellent signs from supporters, bands playing, random people cheering, kids with jelly babies. Not thinking of the hill!
that sounds just brilliant! So impressed by what you have achieved. And I love the fact that you wanted some headspace for your cause. That’s such a sane and thoughtful way of running your race. Wonderful!
Thanks, it was a truly excellent day and meant a lot to be running for a good cause. Everyone has been so lovely with encouraging words and virtual cheering, plus some super enthusiastic cheering on the day from MrUnderstanding!!
Great run and report to match MissUnderstanding! What a time !! As I found out recently, that first big race is nerve wracking. I started near the back and worked my way through. I quickly found out that the race was being run in a lovely spirit, there was no bumping and barging and everyone was willing the runners to succeed. It sounds as though Bath was similar. The next one should be easier, on the nerves anyway🤞. 👏👏👏👏👏 awesome run
Wow, congratulations! Sounds like you ran a brilliant race there (although whoever put the hill in the final sprint section should've known better!). Hope the aches and pains are receding. Keep moving!
Thanks! I’m really pleased with how it went. The legs only dislike me a bit now rather than hating my guts and I think we’ll have made up by tomorrow! I’ve been for a couple of nice walks today and tomorrow it’s going to be a short, easy run. I’m even looking forward to it… 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️
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