Reigate Half Marathon 10#14

With Reigate half we broke into double figures for 14#14! This was number 10. Reigate was a brand new half and I can’t ever remember going to the town so this was all going to be fun. We arrived with my great friend Lee a bit hurried because it was a quite a drive from home. We met in Priory Park and had a look around the tented big village the event was sponsored by Adidas and there was a lot of support. Considering it was the inaugural event it all seemed very impressive and well organized.

 This morning was all about pacing Lee to a sub 2hr half marathon. His previous best at Surrey half back in March was 2:00:33. It was a very congested start pen and we had to shuffle our way forward for about 4 minutes before we crossed the start line. We headed off out of the park but where unfortunately halted at a small gate at the exit to the road because of amount of runners this was a bit of a shame and there were plenty of people grumbling about it around us.

After the gate incident we turned right and headed straight up a hill out of the town this led to more grumblesJ. So as we faced the first hill the plan with Lee was for a 9 min mile and see how we get on. The course was very leafy and pretty running through nice housing estates and down some lovely tree lined roads. After a few miles we found our pace and had a chat about the beautiful scenery.

Through half way and we headed into more rural countryside and down some paths and beside fields. James was doing a great job were maintaining our pace and even pulling out some 8:45 miles despite some ups and downs. From mile 10 Lee was struggling a bit we had to give him some encouraging words to keep the pace up/ The last miles back into Reigate the there was a problem with the roads not being closed properly and it let to some cars stopping across both lanes causing a bit of frustration.

 We approached a mile to go the road turned into street path and pavement again slowing us down a little. The finish line was back in the park as we turned in to our friend Jaymo and his wife Sarah and little Liam where waving and spurring us on. The park at the end was all downhill and the sprint was on! James went for it and Lee followed in impressive style. They both way out sprinted me to the line!. We picked up our medals and had congratulated Lee on a massive new PB he had smashed it by over 3 minutes. What an amazing run and great pace making stills from us.

For me and James the experience of not racing this half was fun especially because we paced Lee to huge PB. With our marathon in NYC fast approaching a 2hr half was great training next week at Bournemouth we will be doing a similar this time of our good mate Martin.!

James 1:57:20

Lee 1:57:29

Duncan 1:57:31