It’s nearly that time again

If you’ve put your name down for this year’s Bristol half marathon then you’ve probably just found an email from the organisers in your inbox. It’s a reminder that there are four weeks to go before the race. Only four weeks!

I hope you’re on target to hit the mileage that you need ready for the big day.

I feel like I’ve - finally - got back into half marathon territory for the first time in quite a long time. Yesterday I managed a slow run of over 10 miles. As a result, the legs were a little stiff this morning, but at least no damage was done.

Last year I never managed to get beyond 10 miles in training for the half. I started building up the miles too late. Given that we’ve got a couple more training weekends to go before this year’s race I should hopefully manage at least one 13 mile training run. It would be the first time I’ve managed that for three years. Every year one thing or another seems to get in the way. I’m crossing my fingers that doesn’t happen again!

You don’t need to have run the full distance before the race in order to get round. I know runners who have turned in some fast times for the half without ever running that far in training. But personally I always feel a bit more comfortable if I stand on the start line knowing that I’ve done it.

Race day usually turns out to be quite hot. We’ve had some pretty rotten weather this year so it’s been difficult to do any acclimatisation. At least the race this year is in late September for a change, so maybe it won’t turn out to be sweltering. Who knows?

Whether we’re faced with rain or sun, and whether you’re running the half for the first time or the fifteenth time, I hope you have a great day.



Bristol Half Marathon photos #2

You can now see my big batch of photos from the 2011 Bristol Half Marathon in the gallery here.

Included are photos of the elites (winner, Edwin Kipyego, and Bristol’s own Lucy McAlister) and just your average Joe, with lots of shots of local club runners.

Take a look. You might be there…

It was something in my eye - Bristol Half Marathon 2012

So, I cried.  Let’s just get that out there.  When I crossed the finish line, I sobbed and my eyes welled up.  I’m not an athlete, not in anyway really; but I trained hard for the Bristol Half Marathon, and when I sprinted down Anchor Road towards the finish, 10 weeks of hard work, a niggling injury and the liberal application came of Vaseline came to a head.

I loved it, the initial excitement of the pen, the swell of pride running under the Suspension Bridge, the return into the city on the cobbles of Prince Street to a roaring crowd, the hill outside of The Galleries (aka when I swore a lot).  It was great, but it was hard work.  It was fantastic to be part of a such a huge event, an event that Bristol is so proud of.  If you are even considering a half marathon, just sign up and train, because the sense of achievement is enormous.

But back to me crying.  On 1st January 2011, I realised 18st wasn’t the sexiest weight out there.  I ran my weight off and changed my life, so to cross the finish line with the time of 1:54:41 on my first attempt, remember I am not a natural athlete I just worked hard, I was extatic.  

So, that’s why I cried, but, then again I cried during Toy Story 3, so maybe I’m just overly emotional.

So how was it for you?

I hope your experience of today’s Bristol Half was a positive one - that you got to the finish line in one piece and with a smile on your face. If you were aiming for a time then I hope you hit your target.

It was great to see so many people of all ages, sizes and shapes out there pounding the streets. First timers mingling with those who’ve had a lifetime of distance running. The guys with the bagpipes probably deserve some sort of special award.

As seems to happen quite often at the Bristol Half, race day turned out to be pretty hot. Certainly it was hotter than it had been in the weeks running up to the race. Some people don’t really notice that. Lucky them! Others were clearly struggling. The relatively dull weather over the last month or so means those of us who don’t really like the heat hadn’t really had a chance to acclimatise. Some no doubt had to modify their expected finishing time as a result of the weather.

I was running a pretty even paced race until just after 10 miles. I was heading for a time that would have been fine, given the heat and the limited amount of training I’d done. Then my left hamstring and glute decided they’d had enough of that for one day, thank you very much. I had to slow to a jog for the last couple of miles. In the end I finished in 2hours 3mins. You couldn’t ask for a more graphic illustration of the benefits of proper training.

It seems to me that the organisation of the race improves each year. My only real gripe is that they never seem to have enough portaloos on College Green at the start. That was the same this year. Long queues of people stand nervously looking at their watches wondering whether they are going to make it to the start line on time. There may be lots of loos somewhere else – in which case the signage needs to improve! Perhaps that’s one the organisers can crack next year.

Hopefully your race today has invigorated your running. Maybe time to commit to some serious winter training? Let’s resolve to start 2012 stronger than ever.

Bristol Half Marathon photos #1

Here are some pictures form today’s Bristol Half. I will put more up tonight, but I need to get on with some DIY now! The race was won for the second year by Kenyan Edwin Kipyago. The women’s runner was a Brit, and the third woman was from Bristol!

More pictures form the start and finish line coming soon, but for now, here is a taster. You can view most here, or bigger (and a few more), in the gallery.