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.!
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