Wilmslow Half Marathon: Race Report

Report a bit late in coming but here goes ...

The enormity of having to run a half marathon after quite so big a break was hanging over my head somewhat on Sunday morning: I fuelled up with some hot cross buns which were nice and stomach proof but I was feeling rather nervous!

Grandad having gone out at stupid-o'clock that morning to put the last signs out, Mum had been charged with giving me a lift into Wilmslow to the carpark where the car had been left (unlocked as it turned out!) and I dropped my bag off. I was planning to sit in the car for half an hour to stay warm but I was in the need of a bathroom break so I toddled off down to the Wilmslow Rugby Club which was race HQ.  Just as well, because the toilet signage was not ideal and I ended up queueing 45 mins (in 2 different queues) because the set of loos Grandad had said would be quiet were actually really busy because people didn't seem to have spotted the sea of portaloos! Sometimes insider knowledge doesn't always work ...

It did at least take my mind off the whole thing - and I got to the start with a couple of minutes to spare. At least (like any big race) I got to the back of the start! Took another 4 mins to cross the line - which was fine as it was all chip timed anyway (for any non-running friends!).

Start line photo

Set out at a nice steady/comfortable pace that I thought I could keep up for a while - aided by a bit of Bach, Handel and Schubert.  I know the whole  racing with an iPod thing is rather controversial but I justified myself on a number of reasons: a) I only had one earbud in so there was no way I couldn't hear what was going on around me (and in fact for a while was holding a perfectly good conversation with it in); b) I was listening to quite quiet music anyway and the volume wasn't up; and c) I like having the music to keep my brain off niggles/keep me company.

My tactic of starting at the back and picking people off slowly was quite heartening - I did pass a reasonable number of runners even by the 1 mile mark (whilst not trying to go any faster).  There were some fabulous supporters on the route - loads of locals had come out to support and the marshals had been drawn from all sorts of local groups who were absolutely fantastic (especially as they were stood outside for hours in about -4 wind chill!).

Can't remember how far in we were when I made a silly joke about a runner tripping over another runner's feet (asked if it was race sabotage) and ended up making firm friends with two ladies who ran the whole way with me and kept me going when I wanted to stop! E and B were lovely: both local runners and wanting to pace round for a nice steady finish - we had some brilliant chattage and it was great to have people to talk to (I also very soon dumped my one ear bud!).

We felt like we got through the 10k marker on target (and in fact at a decent pace for me - 1.05.54 - considering my fastest parkrun time is still just below the 30 min mark).  The water stations before and after were welcome 5 second walk breaks (I've not mastered the art of running and drinking) and offered both cup water and bottles. B was particularly a trooper: she twanged a muscle in her groin at about 4 or 5 miles, making hills particularly painful, and ran all the way to the end! 

Was really happy to see a school friend and her soon-to-be-husband somewhere around the 9.5 mile mark who had come to cheer me on - the only advantage of the weather everywhere else being so awful being that her own planned event for the day had been called off! Her other half took some brilliantly cheerful pictures of me, E and B considering we were running up a hill at the time!

Lovely cheerful running pic

My thighs were really starting to give up on me as we went through 11 miles: I was quite impressed I'd made it that far without a walk break but after a brief pause to eat one of my nutty-marzipanny chunk things I found it really hard to keep going.  E and B were brilliant - even pulling me along for a few metres at one point but from 12 miles onwards I was definitely needing the odd walk break - and particularly in the last mile I was trying to stretch out my thigh muscles and my hips. 

I did manage to pick up the pace a little as we came to the end but was NOT up to a sprint finish - I think this was all my own fault from not preparing well enough - but I did manage to knock 25 mins off my PB from Haweswater last year so I was pretty happy with that.

I got a bit of cramp in my thigh after I crossed the line (have to say that the Red Cross guy spotted immediately and came over to offer advice) but E and B had crossed the line a wee bit before me and had waited :D Very pleased I managed to get as far as I did without walking (a first) and maybe would have made the whole way if better warmed up/better prepared etc.  Feeling a bit better about VLM in 4 weeks but still pretty terrified!

Survivors pic

Grabbed a sausage in a bun and headed back to the Rugby Club to meet up with one of the GRW-ers who was also running and had very kindly waited for 3 million years for me to finish so we could say hi.  She got a PB and her first sub-2-hour HM so very proud! 

Definitely should have stretched out a bit more (didn't because of cramp and thought the hike to the Rugby Club would help) - and 3.5 hours on a train later was not the greatest way of cooling down! Been rather stiff and creaky the last few days, but hopefully will be loosened up enough to go for a short toddle tomorrow to get me back into training.

Watch didn't want to start in the morning - but here's the GRG route/stats as much as is useful from my time! Stats also available from TDL as well (including wee vids).

P.S. I was nice and shared my mars bar from my goodie bag with Grandad - he missed the sausage butty though (might have been just as well as I had a distinctly wobbly tummy after!)