Where: Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
On Sunday I went to take part in my second half marathon in MK, it also fell on the 1 year anniversary of me moving into my flat. Funny to think when I moved I struggled carrying boxes up the stairs as I was so unfit, a year later I've just run my second half marathon. Oh how times change.
Set up: This was a much smaller set up to GER, with only around 850 entrants and only 624 people finishing. I actually had a little panic that I would be at the back of the pack but all was ok. The start and finish were both at the Campbell Park pavilion, with the start line a short 10 minute walk away. Race numbers & chips could be collected from the Up & Running shop prior or on the day. Unfortunately they couldn't find my race pack, but a few quick clicks on a laptop and I was given a new one. My only gripe was there was no where to sit and wait before hand and being Dec it was fairly cold before hand.
Course: A one loop course essentially around MK, although this is a different MK to the one I know. All set along the canal path and woodland area's this was a really lovely route and it helped having something to look at to bare through the pain. There were a few roads to cross but the marshals stopped the cars to allow us to pass with no problems. The course was also more undulated then I imagined, with a lot of bridges and underpasses to cross and a lot of sneaky inclines. The only negative I do have about the course but this didn't really affect me, in quite a few places the paths were quite narrow so I can imagine it could get quite crowded in some parts, also it was a very twisty and turny route which I really liked but it did make it hard to get into a solid pace.
Marshals: Really encouraging. At one point I saw a woman collapsed, but the 2 marshals with her looked like they had the situation under control.
Water stations: 4 located at 3, 6, 8ish and 10ish miles. Plastic cups which I hate, but very well organised.
I was surprisingly calm about this race, considering I had the worse race prep. I had my works Xmas party on the Friday and my rules of not drinking too much or staying up late went straight out the window, followed by a takeaway on the Saturday night. With only one long run of 10 miles since running the GER I was worried I would struggle. Thankfully Sean from Bushfield came along specifically to run with me, which I will always be grateful for. My goals were A, as close to 2:20 as I could get, B, as close to 2:25 as I could get & C, finish. I also wanted to get round without stopping.
I wanted to stick as close to 10:30 m/m as I could and surprisingly my pace was pretty spot on. Miles 1-4 were pretty uneventful and I managed to settle into a pace fairly quickly. Miles 5-6 my ankle was playing up and I was worried it would really affect my race but thankfully by 7 the pain disappeared. Miles 7-9 were a struggled and I was worried I was going to have to stop. Miles 9-11 I perked up and sped up I'm pretty sure. Mile 11 was pure hell and by Mile 12 I got a second wind to get to the finish line.
AND I didn't walk, only through 2 water stations as it's impossible to drink from a cup and run!
SECOND AND...I finished in 2:20:58. That's a PB of 6 minutes 36 seconds, and only 58 seconds from my gold goal I was freaking happy. It will be interesting to see how I do on a flat course next.
Goody bag: Up & Running buff, High 5 energy gel, x-mas chocolates and a medal. I actually really liked the goody bag, I hate it when you are just given a bag of leaflets. Not one in sight in mine. Although by the time I finished they had run out of carrier bags so my stuff was just handed to me, there may of been leaflets in the bag.
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