After managing to shake off the cold I'd had all week got up for with a plan to cycle to Finsbury Park get a train to Stevenage and cycle on from there.
Checked the trains cancelled due to some emergency work! After considering and discounting cycling up from South London decided on an alternative train from Alexandra Palace, a little further than Finsbury Park and certainly hillier. Arrived at Ally Pally and the train was only going as far as Welwyn Garden City, timings were a little tight but still achievable. 07:22 comes around, no train... after five minutes of increasing the expected time by a minute it changed to "Delayed". Had a look on my phone and there was another delayed train from Finsbury Park to Stevenage that I could make if I was quick, (wasn't really expecting it to exist). Arrived at Finsbury Park station and the train was still a thing, there were a couple of other runners on the platform who looked more relaxed than I felt. The train managed to not come on the newly delayed time, I told myself if I didn't make it I could ride back down the Lee Valley as a consolation. The train did arrive, there wasn't going to be much time to spare so changed my shoes and had a snack on the journey. Hot-tailed it from Stevenage to Knebworth House, arrived with about ten minutes to spare, found somewhere to lock my bike, discard stuff, pick up[ a number (mine hadn't arrived in the post), drop my bag off and get to the start line. I made it - without any during race fuel, I left that in my bag..
The run itself was nice if a little cramped in the early stages, a lap of the park at Knebworth House and then onto the Hertfordshire countryside. Quite a long out-and-back in the middle, I enjoy these though, it's a chance to do some people watching and the leaders came past at an impossibly fast paces.
The run was fine, run at a good pace up to about 17km, then I was spent the last 4km were really hard, to the point that I was looking forward to the hills as an excuse to walk. Despite all that got to the finish line, got a PB (a lot easier when it's only your second attempt), got the bling!
Lessons learnt -
I should probably train more, since the last HM two months ago I've really only been running for enjoyment (crazy!), shorter, nippier runs. I should find the time to put some longer runs in.
I need to think about in race fuel, which I suppose again goes back to the need to fit in some longer runs, if I'm not running over 10km I have no need to think about fuel.
I think I'll plan another in January...
October Half Marathon Group: Tapering and faffage lists! 😊
Murcia Half Marathon
Garmin Half marathon plan
Christmas half marathon ✅