Incoming race report. It’s a long one, so get comfy!
So I can definitely say that Yorkshire in October is very beautiful, especially when the weather was so on point. Cool and sunny meant there was no heat to contend with and the wind from the day before had thankfully died down.
My plan had been to position myself near a pacer for the time I’d been aiming for - somewhere between 4h and 4h 30m. By the time I got to the start line just a few minutes before the start those prime spots were taken, so I just found a spot I was happy with. I was planning on keeping it slow to begin with anyway.
The strategy of using the crowd to keep things slow initially worked quite well, though I could probably have done with slowing down a bit more for those first mikes/kilometres. The first 5km saw us take in the city sites. Definitely a case of blink and you miss them, but York Minster in the sunshine was definitely a feels moment. We then left the city, swapped for country lanes, and all was going well. The crowds were less than you get at the bigger events, but still plenty of people outside their houses cheering us on. The only really very quiet sections being the very remote sections with no one living nearby.
The first half was certainly good going and I felt strong. Some of the hills were perhaps a bit more challenging than anticipated. I’m not really sure why I thought this would be a flattish course, I’d checked out the elevation map, but what didn’t look too tough visually on the day was starting to really take it out of me effort wise.
There are two turning points on the route where you end up doubling back on yourself. The first is in the lovely village of Stamford Bridge and the crowds were out in full force. The second is at the end of a long and dreary trek down a nondescript country road. It was here at around the 17 mile/27 kilometre point things really started to hurt.
The top of my legs, possibly adductors or hip flexors were tightening up, coupled with a stitch that made running up undulating sections almost impossible. Here the mind games with myself started, so by the 18th mile / 30th km I was having to run-walk sections on and off just to make progress.
Here I really needed to have a word with myself, and I will be honest and say I nearly, very nearly, quit. Life is too short I thought. But the thought of my family waiting for me and showing my son that not giving up even when things get tough can be reward in itself kept me going.
By this point I was just glad to be able to find the inner strength to keep going. As each kilometre passed I was running more and taking less walking breaks. So that felt positive, but my it was hurting. The jelly babies on offer from the spectators were a blessing now too - I’d had my fill of gels and needed something solid.
As we approached the 40km mark I knew I had it in me to finish. But I was convinced my time would be disappointing. By this point I had long been passed by the 4h 15m and 4h 30m pacers. They were going at some speed by comparison to me, but my legs were just not going to take me any faster than what felt like a shuffle.
The final mile as we approached the end was the last thing I wanted to see- another blooming hill. With speed bumps. Yikes. So with head down and pumping arms I hauled myself up towards the finish line. My family were stood at the 26 mile marker and hearing and seeing them gave me the final push I needed as I charged (of a sort) forward desperate for it to end. The announcer calling my name as I crossed the line deserved a double punch in the air, arms raised. I’d done it.
In the end my chip time was 4:32:14. Just a bit slower than my time in Edinburgh last year and not far from the time I had predicted for myself. But that didn’t matter. I’d done it when I was convinced 2/3rds of the way round I didn’t have it in me. So that’s my big takeaway. Believing in myself and what is possible with determination.
A final word on the event itself. Really friendly well organised and one of the best goody bags, t-shirts and medal I’ve ever received. So highly recommend if you’re looking for a smaller event with a personal feel.
Milton Keynes Half Marathon 
First half marathon completed
Hackney Half Marathon Done!
New Forest Half Marathon. Got the T shirt.
Christmas half marathon ✅