Bristol Half Marathon
Taking a Dramamine on the plane and a 3 hour nap when I got to Dawn's seemed to really kick the jet lag. I got up bright and early on Sunday morning raring to go.
An old school friend, Simon, picked me up along with his family and we set off for Bristol. We actually parked in Clifton and walked down to the race.
We hung out for a bit with his team mates, dropped our bags off, and set off to the start. It was really busy. I stood nervously among a bunch of strangers waiting for the starters pistol. I wasn't too far back. I could see the finish.
It took 9 minutes to cross the start line. But we eased into a good pace fairly quickly. Through Hotwells, and over the river. Then back over the river, climbing up a road bridge, and back down again. I picked up some speed on the downhill.
We then entered the long out and back under the suspension bridge and along the Portway. We were already at 3 miles so I grabbed a bottle of water at the water station. There way no way I was going to drink all that. The discarded bottles became a trip hazard. Some people were slinging them into the bushes. When was that ever a good idea? I threw mine into the recycling bin provided. It seemed like I was the only person walking to drink.
Then on up the Portway to Shirehampton. I missed 2 mile markers. Unless they were tied up on a lamppost, they were impossible to spot. This was a hard slog. I find out and backs to be mentally difficult. At the turnaround I realised that we'd also been running up a slight incline.
There was a energy station at mile 6. They were handing out Lucozade Sport in these little cartons. It was incredibly sweet. Again, I wasn't going to drink the whole thing. I discarded the carton in a pile of them to the side of the road. Easy enough for the cleanup crew to find. The spilled sugar water gripped the soles of my shoes, and made the shoes of my associates that much louder.
On the return journey past the water station, I took an energy gel. I wondered if it was necessary considering how sweet the Lucozade had been. But that was my plan, and I should stick to it.
Back to the Cumberland Basin, and time to cross the river again. I spotted one of Simon's teammates by her Portishead Running Club shirt. She was Cath, and we chatted for a bit about running and how I know Simon.
At mile 8, another energy station. More super-sweet liquid. I walked to take mine, but Cath ran on. I really was the only person walking through these stops. I told her I'd catch her in a bit.
Then my stomach, still on central time, woke up. I looked for a portaloo, but could see none. This wasn't the kind of thing you could do behind a bush. Maybe I should ask one of the Race Marshals? No, best to press on. Surely they have some further on?
The Louisiana was coming up soon. Maybe they'd be open. I could slip between the Sunday brunch drinkers and indulge myself on cold porcelain. A bit cheeky, but surely a publican would take pity on a runner in need. They were closed.
Over the Prince Street Bridge and I saw a hotel ahead. Maybe I could nip in there. But it was behind a barrier, no such luck. Then into Queen Square. We were running on cobblestones. Bloody cobblestones! How am I to maintain my footing and colonic control on cobblestones? I followed everybody else and hopped onto the pavement. I almost turned my ankle once, I wonder how many people actually did.
OK, I was starting to feel better. Past St Mary Redcliffe, and on towards Temple Meads. At mile 11 we made a left turn onto a steep hill. I didn't know there were any hills here. Further up Wine Street was another one. I tried to kick up to a faster pace, but it wasn't happening.
Back past St Mary Redcliffe, and on to Welsh Back. More cobblestones! Less than a mile to go, but I still didn't have much left. Around the city centre and into the home stretch.
I managed a respectable speedup for the finish line. 2:10:32. 3 minutes slower than my PR, but under quite trying conditions.
Mile
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13.1
Split
9:52
9:32
9:45
9:13*
9:13*
9:13*
10:10
9:46
10:20
10:17
11:01
11:02*
11:02*
HR
156
165
166
170
170
170
168
174
173
175
175
176
176
* averaged because I missed the mile marker.
An old school friend, Simon, picked me up along with his family and we set off for Bristol. We actually parked in Clifton and walked down to the race.
We hung out for a bit with his team mates, dropped our bags off, and set off to the start. It was really busy. I stood nervously among a bunch of strangers waiting for the starters pistol. I wasn't too far back. I could see the finish.
It took 9 minutes to cross the start line. But we eased into a good pace fairly quickly. Through Hotwells, and over the river. Then back over the river, climbing up a road bridge, and back down again. I picked up some speed on the downhill.
We then entered the long out and back under the suspension bridge and along the Portway. We were already at 3 miles so I grabbed a bottle of water at the water station. There way no way I was going to drink all that. The discarded bottles became a trip hazard. Some people were slinging them into the bushes. When was that ever a good idea? I threw mine into the recycling bin provided. It seemed like I was the only person walking to drink.
Then on up the Portway to Shirehampton. I missed 2 mile markers. Unless they were tied up on a lamppost, they were impossible to spot. This was a hard slog. I find out and backs to be mentally difficult. At the turnaround I realised that we'd also been running up a slight incline.
There was a energy station at mile 6. They were handing out Lucozade Sport in these little cartons. It was incredibly sweet. Again, I wasn't going to drink the whole thing. I discarded the carton in a pile of them to the side of the road. Easy enough for the cleanup crew to find. The spilled sugar water gripped the soles of my shoes, and made the shoes of my associates that much louder.
On the return journey past the water station, I took an energy gel. I wondered if it was necessary considering how sweet the Lucozade had been. But that was my plan, and I should stick to it.
Back to the Cumberland Basin, and time to cross the river again. I spotted one of Simon's teammates by her Portishead Running Club shirt. She was Cath, and we chatted for a bit about running and how I know Simon.
At mile 8, another energy station. More super-sweet liquid. I walked to take mine, but Cath ran on. I really was the only person walking through these stops. I told her I'd catch her in a bit.
Then my stomach, still on central time, woke up. I looked for a portaloo, but could see none. This wasn't the kind of thing you could do behind a bush. Maybe I should ask one of the Race Marshals? No, best to press on. Surely they have some further on?
The Louisiana was coming up soon. Maybe they'd be open. I could slip between the Sunday brunch drinkers and indulge myself on cold porcelain. A bit cheeky, but surely a publican would take pity on a runner in need. They were closed.
Over the Prince Street Bridge and I saw a hotel ahead. Maybe I could nip in there. But it was behind a barrier, no such luck. Then into Queen Square. We were running on cobblestones. Bloody cobblestones! How am I to maintain my footing and colonic control on cobblestones? I followed everybody else and hopped onto the pavement. I almost turned my ankle once, I wonder how many people actually did.
OK, I was starting to feel better. Past St Mary Redcliffe, and on towards Temple Meads. At mile 11 we made a left turn onto a steep hill. I didn't know there were any hills here. Further up Wine Street was another one. I tried to kick up to a faster pace, but it wasn't happening.
Back past St Mary Redcliffe, and on to Welsh Back. More cobblestones! Less than a mile to go, but I still didn't have much left. Around the city centre and into the home stretch.
I managed a respectable speedup for the finish line. 2:10:32. 3 minutes slower than my PR, but under quite trying conditions.
Mile
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13.1
Split
9:52
9:32
9:45
9:13*
9:13*
9:13*
10:10
9:46
10:20
10:17
11:01
11:02*
11:02*
HR
156
165
166
170
170
170
168
174
173
175
175
176
176
* averaged because I missed the mile marker.