(if you think 21k is a test of endurance ... wait til you try to read this!)
If you read either of my previous two posts, you'll know I didn't go into this race with the best of mindsets healthunlocked.com/marathon... healthunlocked.com/marathon... ; but go into it I did. As Cantstopmenow kindly said β¦ β this girl canβ and anyway, as a placard held up at the side of the course said - βYou paid for this, now enjoy it!β π€·ββοΈ
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Although the spring 2024 Lisbon half marathon had received dire reviews, it's one of the six half marathons in the superhalf series superhalfs.com/en/ , the easiest race of the series to book, and the date worked for me too (the other two spring events clashed with the Monsal Trail HM which I had already booked).
So Mr9389 and I tagged a four day trip to Lisbon onto the end of our two and a half weeks exploring Cape Verde. Unfortunately, while we were away (after I had packed), the Lisbon forecast changed from mild sunshine to wall to wall rain, strong winds and flipping cold temperatures (last year runners complained it was too hot, so the organisers had brought the start time forward!!!).
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Being such a large international event, race bibs have to be collected from an Expo in advance. That was held in a completely different part of Lisbon, but I excitedly made my way there and collected my race pack (including an unusually shapely unisex t-shirt and a running cap β ). On the way back though, we got absolutely drenched - my waterproof running jacket was apparently no match for the Lisbon downpours!
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This race is point to point. Starting on the opposite bank of the river to Lisbon itself; it first heads out over the awesome 25 de Abril Bridge (usually closed to pedestrians) all the way into Lisbon, it then does a short out and back inland, followed by a short section heading east along the river, before turning and heading further west along the river, and finally turning back to finish in front of the amazing Jeronimos monastery built in the 1500βs. It's a really flat course, apart from a gentle downhill at the end of the bridge β οΈ
Reviews spoke of the bridge section being amazing, the rest being dull. To be honest, I was only here because it was one of the six in the series! Maybe it was because my expectations were so low, that it turned out to be far more enjoyable than I imagined it would β οΈ
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While I had my pre-race breakfast at the hotel (yes my soaked oats concoction worked and, bonus, it was edible too!), it absolutely hammered with rain and the wind was howling - exactly as forecast for the entire morning. But, by some miracle, by the time we actually left, it had stopped. Yay! β οΈ
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We were staying in an area called Almada (on the side the race starts) rather than in Lisbon itself. This meant we could avoid the trains and should have just a short 5 minute walk to the start. We were a bit worried that this route might be fenced off (all the official stuff said the only way to the start line was via the train station) so we left the hotel with enough time to reroute if necessary, but it was all open. Yay! β οΈ
To set the scene, the start is on a major multi lane road. There was a slip road on either side going down to the vast open area of this main road which leads to an array of toll booths and then on to the bridge. Before the entry to the slip road there were security guys with scanners and, as only runners were allowed beyond this point, I would have to say farewell to Mr9389 and go it alone from here. At this point there was still about half an hour before the race start. At the last minute I decided to hold on to my waterproof jacket rather than leave it with Mr9389. I didn't want to run in it, but, as Iβd discovered at the Expo, it's no longer very waterproof so I said I'd leave it at the start - and then look for a new one as a belated birthday present π.
Hmm. About 5 minutes later it dawned on me that this was the only windproof and (at least partly) waterproof item of clothing I had with me - leaving it would mean no protection after the race, nor for the following day in Lisbon. Duh! βοΈ
By now, everyone was piling down onto the main road. There were nowhere near enough loos, massive queues and scores of men and women climbing the banks taking a wild wee, all in plain sight of the massing crowd. Ooh, la, la!!! I decided to forego a last minute nervous wee!
There were supposed to be four waves (each with its own box), but box 1 was in front of 2, in front of 3, in front of 4. So as we assembled, faster runners kept pushing forward until we were literally packed like sardines. I was beginning to panic when finally they opened the βboxesβ. More chaos ensued, largely because a lot of runners didn't listen to the marshalls and security folk, and ended up in box 4 when they wanted to be further forward (or, to be fair, maybe language was a problemπ€). The organisers had fixed many 2024 issues, but this part still needs a rethink βοΈ
Even so, we all roughly ended up in the right box, and it still wasn't raining. Yay! In fact the sun was coming out!!! β οΈπ
I was certain I didn't want to run with my rain jacket, so, with some obvious reservations, I dropped it in the clothing donations bin just before the start, fully aware of the likely consequences π¦
And finally we were off. Through the toll booths and over the mats. Running at last! I was released from my self created prison of anxiety and the magic began.
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Three kilometres of flat or gently downhill bridge with clear views of Lisbon across the wide river. No more decisions to be made. Just do it. Remember, 'this girl can'!
Around 5.5k we got sprinkled with a few minutes of rain, but barring that, the sun shone! It was warm after all β οΈπ
Indeed, there was some irony in opting to go though the course sprinklers 4 times having been so fearful of wind and rain the day before π
I actually liked the structure of this race with its three separate out and backs; the view is always different on the way back, and it allowed me to mentally break the race into small and manageable chunks. β οΈ
There were more water stations than I have ever, ever seen. Each handing out a plastic bottle of water though - I shudder to think of the waste.βοΈ
I stopped at most of them, not wanting to end up thirsty, so I did end up taking more walk breaks to drink than I normally would. When we came to an aid station handing out sliced oranges I remembered reading how slippery the chewed up orange peel was and took extra care, but β¦ and this is for real β¦ they were also giving out bananas, so the road was littered with banana peels too! I mean what? Who thought scattering banana peel among the feet of racing runners was a great idea β¦ not once, but twice!!! βοΈπ±π
Whenever I was tempted to slow or to walk or to fear I might not finish, out came my new mantra βThis girl can. This girl will.β
The final home stretch didn't feel as long as reviewers had led me to expect, and with a kilometre to go I realised I felt good. Really good actually π The upset tummy had temporarily stopped griping, my feet weren't blistering, my hip wasn't niggling andβ¦ I wasn't really tired! I ran the last kilometre and a bit at under 6 mins per km β οΈ. I guess I hadnβt run as hard as I could have (and perhaps should have), but then I didn't ever have a time target for this one. And on Monday I felt so good I was raring to go for another run (except it was raining again1!!).
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Having said I had no finish time in mind, I was still woefully p**d off to cross the first of the final two mats only to come to an immediate halt because people couldn't clear the line fast enough! It took over two minutes to shuffle to the final mat about 5 metres further on βοΈβοΈβοΈ!
And as I shuffled forward, with no jacket remember, the heavens opened and the wind whipped up. I gratefully took my medal (I love it! β οΈ), ice cream (clearly the organisers had expected sunshine too) and a protein milk. I couldn't see the bananas for rain and mud and all the runners, so gave up on those and hurried to follow some other runners headed towards an outdoor restaurant tent for shelter til Mr9389 arrived with warm - if not waterproof - clothing. βCome meet me hereβ his msg said. βNo. You come meet me here under this tent, and fast cos I am freezingβ. Not only is he not interested in running, he doesn't understand the difficulties!!! π€¬
Anyway, he finally found me. I ordered hot water and drank peppermint tea (yep, I pack a tea bag in my post race kitπ), while putting EVERY item of clothing from my bag on top of my run gear to try to warm up. By the time I'd finishedβ¦ would you believe it β¦ the sun came out again! β οΈ
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Later that evening, the organisers announced they were making adjustments to times for runners finishing between 2h2m and 2h31m. That extra two minutes has been knocked off my finish time! β
I guess there must have been a problem for the best part of half an hour. Yes, there were almost 18000 runners in the half, and over 7000 in the 10k β¦ it was an enormous event β¦ but those numbers weren't unexpected! βοΈ
I notice a lot of DQs-disqualified - in the results. I'm not sure why so many, but at one point there were two separate channels of runners, with metal fencing separating us. I noticed several people crossing to the right, presumably because there was more space there. As we ran on though, that lane separated out to the finish line early. I have a horrible feeling that was for the 10k runners. I wonder if that accounts for some of the DQs? I'm so glad I didn't follow and change lanesβ¦ I'd have been gutted to discover, with around 15k run, that I'd gone the wrong way, especially if that ended with a DQ π±
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It's been a cold and soggy few days in Lisbon, not the sightseeing trip we imagined, but you know what β¦ I am so happy to have completed this race and, while I would like to apologise for letting things get out of proportion and whining rather dramatically on Saturday, I am also very happy I asked for support. It made a huge difference. Thank you to everyone who replied π₯°
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Would I recommend Lisbon HM? Yes I would. But, stay on the Almada side and pack for all weathers!
NOTE: If you've never entered an event before, do NOT let this put you off! It was a massive event, with over 25,000 runners on the day, speaking many different languages. It was not representative of most events.
Having said that, it was pretty awesome to be part of something so big. βThis girl didβ π
Tonbridge Half Marathon Race Report π
Manchester Half Marathon Race Report
Chilly Half race report
