Cambridge Half Marathon

[Curlygurly2]

On site quite early, I saw quite a few friends. The Common was rammed, I believe they were expecting 14,400 runners...well organised as usual, this year just one gate and a continuous stream of starters, I thought it worked quite well, although some complained of bottlenecks

I started near the back as usual. There was a huge number of people there doing run/walk and mostly we stayed as a pack all the way round. I did quite well up to about 15K then it started to get harder. It was pretty warm, and no shade anywhere. I'm really glad I didn't try to run all of it...

I think most people found this hard. Often in these races I am on my own for most of it, but this time there were loads of people around. I heard stories of runners collapsed in the heat, I think we they might have been people trying to go too fast in the unexpected raise in temperature. I only saw a couple , but both medical tents were full when I got back onsite, with people waiting to be seen outside. Apparently the water stations ran out of water, that's awful considering the organisers knew how hot it was going to be. I wasn't too bad, I had my magic drink in my camelbac, but even I ran out at 3 KM to go.

Official time 3:16, not what I'd hoped for but I'm pleased in the circumstances. There were 150 people finished after me, last finisher 4:37, and hundreds of non finishers.

I think the weather caught a lot of people out, and the lack of water finished them off. A hard race, but I'm proud...

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

Well done you should be proud, that sounds like a rough but rewarding race. We really aren't acclimatised to warm weather at the moment. Got a nice bit of bling to show us?

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Thank you! Yes, of course, silly me, forgot the bling!

We got a t shirt too, and no goody bag full of plastic wrapped snacks - thank goodness, much better than all that junk

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Now that is a bit of bling well worth suffering for! 😃

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

It weighs a ton, and I think it the represents the gates of Trinity College, they always feature one of the famous landmarks.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

So you should be proud, that's brilliant, Congratulations! 💪😊⭐xxx

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you. It was so hard, I started to feel a bit dizzy and woozy at 18K, but can't quit there!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Well done Curlygurly2 , that’s a fantastic result, especially in the heat - which we in the UK haven’t had for months! I’m wondering whether to run/walk at least part of the Bath Half this coming weekend. Not something I like to do, but my training hasn’t been good, and I want to finish strong. Your post has inspired me!

Not enough water? That’s inexcusable for a big event like that. I’m relieved you were ok. 🙏

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you Cheeky. the HM distance is something that has been unfinished business for me for years and years, but I went out a few weeks ago, and actually ran all of it. It was horrible, and I felt dreadful after, and it took about a week to recover (I have hypothyroidism, so not much energy) I said there and then never again, and I haven't changed my mind, it's just too much for me. We like to think if we do the training we will do the distance, but sometimes health just isn't up for it. Even this was a bit much really...much happier at 7 or 8K these days.

I was surprised how many were run/walking, hundreds probably. For a lot of us it's faster. See how you feel..."finish lines, not finish times" in the words of my hero Coach Bennett

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's awesome CG. You haven't had an easy ride of late, the heat will have been tough, yet you just completed a half! Goals are all very well, but there's no accounting for conditions on the day - you should be feeling very proud 👏👏👏😊

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda. I did my best, it was hard, but I got round. I think most people would say they didn't achieve their target time. It helps to have a target, but I think finishing is the most important one

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

You are so right! A target is just that, it's a goal. Finishing in one piece has to be the priority - finishing and still wanting to run again 🙃

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done Curlygurly2 - I am not surprised the weather caught a lot of people out but that’s very frustrating to read about the water.

Sounds like you dug deep and got the job done - safely! Plus, the lovely bling is for keeps!🙂

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra, my little head is still processing it all, so many images and memories to take away.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

A good event to look back on, but it was clearly very hard work on the day. Cold is much easier to dress for and manage as you run isn’t it? The warm spell didn’t last long up here; overheating doesn’t really happen!

Mission accomplished, HM tamed and a magnificent medal. 👏👏👏👏

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yes, same here, warm on Sat and Sun, not really hot, but too hot for a HM. I got a couple of t shirts too, and a great jacket for volunteering with set up.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Very hard so you are right to be proud, very well done and glad you weren't in the queue for the medical tent

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you SAR, to be honest I did feel a bit crook afterwards! I've no idea how people cycle home, or even drive, I could barely hobble

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Curlygurly2]

Cambridge isn't that far from me, maybe one for next year if I keep increasing running.No, cycle after a half marathon? Crikey....I walked a couple of kilometres to parkrun once.....walking home was a bit of a trial 🤣,

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Absolutely fabulous.. a huge well done to you... and what a super medal! Brilliant!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you OF, hard won this one was!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Curlygurly2]

I bet, but goodness...you did wonderfully!

I often think of your running adventures... when I first started running and came to the forums, I remember very clearly an early photo you put up of yourself in a before and after image? You inspired me then and still do.

The battles you have fought and won, and as CB would say, this is about running and absolutely not about running...never cease to amaze.

Brilliant ! x

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! I don't remember a before and after pic...can you remind me?

I've got a new struggle on my hands, something weird came up on my face a couple of weeks ago, I'm waiting for a biopsy...could be another visit from my old friend Mr C, or might not be...they said I could have the surgery done after the HM because they understood it was important to me, and there will be no running for a couple of weeks. I do wish he would sod off (Mr C) and leave me alone...

It's nice to think I am inspiring, I tend to just think of myself just plodding along, and not a very good runner, so I appreciate that, thank you xx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Curlygurly2]

MR C really needs to be gone! Not at all a welcome visitor. Everything crossed for you.

It was a weight related one I think... poppypug commented... she was my Mentor at the time and I seem to remember Rignold did too ..do you remember him... ?

Here you go... on your past post feed! Just found it !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Gosh, you did well to find that, thank you! I've lost quite a bit recently, 9 ish KG. My various health issues cause weight to accumulate far too easily, I really dislike it.It's an ongoing struggle though, I think age doesn't help either.

Yes I remember Rig, and think of him often, he did that bonkers race where he had to jump over bonfires and carry heavy rocks up steep hills, can't remember what it was called, a really entertaining race report! Last I remember he was having some heart issues, hope he's ok...

I'm still in touch with so many friends made here on this forum, it really is the best.

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

well done Curlygurly! Sounds like a tough one. Years ago I competed at Endurance (long distance horse riding) and to complete and get the treasured rosette, you had to present your horse for a vet inspection and pass criteria based on soundness and heart rate at the end of the ride. (I was always glad it was the horse and not me who had to pass. ) We had a mantra of ‘round and sound’ as our criteria of a good day. As someone who none too speedy, and enjoys interspersing my run efforts with a walk, it’s an appropriate aim for most of my competitive runs these days too. Lovely bling, you should be proud, you’ve earned it!!!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

Round and sound! I like that! I think run/walk is a good way of running, I'm going t do a lot more now and concentrate on increasing my walking speed. I used to do it years ago, but got a bee in my bonnet about running only, but I think it's flown away !!...So many people were just walking, not running at all, and I couldn't catch them up!!

[00marks Marathon]

Well done. Congratulations!

[Mudita11 Half Marathon]

Congratulations Curlygurly2 , for completing the course in those conditions in a very respectable time. Lovely bit of bling too 😃

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Mudita11]

Thank you so much xx

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Well done! You did it . 👏👏 Run/walk is a good strategy to use. Great that you had the camelback. Running out of water is horrible and not very safe for a race!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Yes, I was looking for more water towards the end, having drunk all of my own. They are trying to be green, they had cardboard cups which were too big really and people were having a swig then throwing most of the water away. They couldn't have known how short the supply was.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

And so you should be proud CG 😊 you did brilliantly! It’s a good job you carried your own water but that is a H&S issue for the organisers. I’m sure they got lots of complaints. I’ve had a couple of races where they ran out of water so I will always carry my own too.

That’s great looking bling! Well deserved. Well done 🥰

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you IP. I use a sort of Ketone energy drink, when I flag a bit I have a couple of sips and it revives me, it's great stuff. The organisers have been very contrite, I think it was the weather changing so suddenly, and once the roads are closed they can't get more supplies out can they? And as I've said earlier, they were trying to be green with cardboard cups, they were too big and there was a lot of wastage.

[Katnap Marathon]

I bet you're glad you've got that done and scratched that itch for the last time.

Fingers crossed for your biopsy results

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Katnap]

I don't know about last time! I get a guaranteed 50% off place for volunteering. This race normally sells out within hours, so this is quite useful to keep my options open. I quite enjoyed the run/walk, I only switched to that from all running a couple of weeks before the race, when I began with my skin problem, not sure why really. I reckon I can work on run/walk and make some imprvments. It all depends on my health of course...

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

🤞🤞