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 

Maidenhead Half 9#14

Another weekend another half Marathon this week we headed to Maidenhead for 9#14 it's billed as a very quick course so excitement was high. Again David Peddle joined for the 2^nd half running. We arrived and parked in a muti-story car park a bit unusual but this half marathon started bang in the middle of a the town. Joining us on the start line was fellow park runners Abby and Sarah and our two NYC marathon runners Nick and Alistair. They start line was fairly crammed and we shuffled our way to the 1hr50 marker and waited for the start.

As the gun went off me and David started off at steady pace James was not far behind as we ran through the streets of Maidenhead. As usual it takes a few miles for our legs to get going and we set off a little faster than expected. The weather was being very kind to us and it was a cool sunny beautiful morning. The course was 2 big loops with the mile markers for the 2^nd lap visible I’m not a big fan of seeing these markers they are mentally a bit of a challenge for me. 

After a mile we headed out the town and headed left along the river Thames and continued to run 8 min mile pace. After mile 4 I was feeling the pace a little and slowed up and had a look behind me to see if James was in sight. James was talking about going for a PB this morning so when he passed me a 6 miles looking strong I he defiantly looked on for it.

With the first loop of the course done I knew what to expect on the second and it was a challenge keep up my sub 8:30 mile pace. I dropped David at around 8 miles but could see James pulling away in the distance he was having a fantastic run and looked likely that a PB was on the cards. Towards 10 miles and I was feeling it the pace the course although flat is had a few lumpy bits and on one of the hills at mile 11 I had a little walk much to my disappointment. Dug in for the final miles of a really nice course the finish twisted through the high street of Madienhead to the finish line where we started.

I found James and got filled on his epic run and new PB of 1:44:46 what a fantastic performance be really ran well and nailed a brilliant PB!

After photos of all of us who took part in a really fun morning and a post run chat we headed to the pub for a well-deserved pint and pub lunch beside the river. James deserved his PB today he really ran his arse off and was legendary!!

James 1:44:46

Duncan 1:52:07

Dave 1:55:20