Cambridge Half Marathon

I was never really sure if it was sensible running a half marathon the week after a full marathon.  But I didn't want to miss these two major events that are right on my doorstep.  It's a shame the organisers couldn't come to an agreement and shift each of them slightly to give a few more weeks break between the two.

I gave myself a fairly easy week last week, running just 5 miles on Tuesday as a recovery run.  Then it was Sweaty Betty run club night on Wednesday, when I also ran about 5 miles in total.  Then I rested Thursday and Friday.  On Saturday I went to Parkrun, but I volunteered to be a 20 minute pacer.  I know this probably really cheeses anyone off who dreams of breaking 20 minutes, but pace is all relative, and for me a 20 minute 5k is relatively easy.  Being a pacer ensured I didn't run too fast, and would be a good way to check how I was feeling for the half marathon the next day.  After about 2 kms there were several people just ahead of me, and a big gap to the next person behind, so it looked like my services were going to be redundant.  But after 3km some of the people ahead started to flag, so as I passed them I shouted, "twenty minute pacer coming through.  Stay with me if you can".  Three or four people then dug in to try and stay just behind me.  I crossed the line in 19 minutes 52 seconds, with 2 people sprinting past me in the last 50 metres and 2 people just behind, who were all glad that I was there to encourage them on over the last 2 kms, so I felt I'd done my job and had given something back to the running community.

For the Saturday evening I'd organised a Sweaty Betty pasta party at Zizzi.  I found myself in the enviable position of being the only bloke eating out with 12 women.  Two thirds of the group were running today, and the other third were designated support crew/cheerleaders.  They all frowned on me when I ordered a single small bottle of beer.  I've long since discovered that a single beer the night before a race does not affect my times.  It's not as if I'm aiming to break any records.

Waking up this morning I suspect there were a good 4,500 people who were dismayed to see a thin covering of snow over the streets of Cambridge.  Last year it was bright, sunny and warm.  I quickly changed my mind regarding what clothes I'd wear.  Back to the wardrobe went my T-shirt and skimpy running shorts.  Out came a long sleeved top and some longer shorts.  I also grabbed an old London marathon souvenir T-shirt which I'd wear whilst waiting for the race to start and discard at the last minute.  That will now be in a charity bucket somewhere.

I met up with several of the Betties on a very wet Midsummer Common before the race.  The field had been churned up by several thousand feet and it was impossible to get about without getting wet and muddy running shoes.  So much for keeping my shoes clean for a road race.  I had soaking wet feet at the start of the race.

Getting into the starting pen was a bit of a crush.  But once I was located in the right starting zone, just behind the start gantry, there was plenty of space to go over some warm-up drills.  The start was delayed slightly by some idiot who had decided to ignore the road closure notices and who had to be removed from the course.  There's always one.

The course this year was a little different to last year's, but we still did two laps around the central shopping streets.  We went past the front of Sweaty Betty twice, and the girls who worked at the shop were out to support the runners and were possibly the loudest and most enthusiastic supporters on the course.  The damp, cold weather had obviously kept many people away, but some of the small pockets of supporters who were out were rather quiet and dour looking at times.  Those spectators who did make plenty of noise for the runners were very much appreciated.  Thank you all.

I also spotted quite a few friends around the course, and several supporting Betties.  The boyfriend of one of the Betties managed to take a snap of me by complete accident whilst just checking out a shot.

On Bridge Street after about 2 miles (white top).

Then I spotted Jamshid just after halfway, who got another action shot of me, which just happens to have one of my kettlebell clients just behind me.

This next shot of my running friends, Chris and Suzy, shows how wet it was.  You can see the raindrops, or was it sleet?

I believe the changes to this year's course added more tight corners, which reduced the PB potential.  There were several bends on the last mile, and I personally preferred the dead straight finish of last year's race.  I wonder if anyone else would agree with me!  The problem last year was that you passed the finish gantry at about mile 10 and then had to run 1.5 miles away from it to then turn around and head back on the same road.  Many runners complained that they found this dispiriting and also a little congested just before the turn around point.  Which was a fair comment, but I preferred this over all the twists and turns that had to be negotiated this year.

The above is just my opinion on what was a very well organised event.  I don't want it to sound like a complaint.  I'm genuinely grateful for everyone who has put in lots of hard work to organise the Cambridge Half Marathon.  It's great that our City Centre streets can be closed for a few hours one Sunday each year to allow 4,500 people the opportunity to take part in a half marathon.  Well done to you all.  And a big thank you to all the volunteers who not only helped out with this race, but who give up some of their time up and down the country to allow people like me to run in some amazing places (and maybe even some not so amazing places).  Without the volunteers none of us would be taking part in any races and the world would be even more obese.  I certainly need the motivation of a race to keep me running, and I'm sure plenty of others do to.  I do it for the bling.  What do you race for?

I guess I should finish by mentioning my time.  According to my own time keeping I finished in 1:23:44.  This is just over 2 minutes slower than last year, but I knew already that I'm not in quite the same shape as last year.  This, combined with the cold and the fact I ran a marathon last weekend, means I am more than happy with how I did.  There still seems to be plenty of life left in my aging legs.  Long may it last.