Run To The Beat

After months of training, shin splints, painful knees and a D&V bug I did it, I ran my first half marathon - and now I'm going to bore you all with the details!

On Saturday my parents came down, Mum and I spent the day shopping and just chilling out and in the evening we got a takeaway so we could all just have a stress free night.  I know what you're thinking, takeaway isn't exactly the best fuel to be running a half on and maybe you're right but my favourite run ever was the day after I'd had a massive Indian the night before so I thought why not? I had some steamed rice and with dry chicken tikka and LOADS of water.

I didn't sleep that well that night, I was worried I was going to forget something important even though I'd laid out all of my kit and race pack!  I got up at 6 in the end and forced down some breakfast - toast and manuka honey, got ready and then Mr D took me to the station  ready for the 7:24 train (getting a train at that time is so wrong on a Sunday!)  I noticed there were a few others on the platform with wristbands on and time chips laced into their shoes and I started to feel a bit nervous.

After a pretty busy tube journey I got to the O2 and made my way to the soccer dome to drop my bag.  I was early and as it was so cold I sat for a while on the floor and took the opportunity to smear my feet in vaseline as a last ditch blister prevention effort!  I checked my bag in and went to the warm up area, just as I was finishing my warm up it was announced that we should make our way to our pens... I thought it seemed a bit soon seeing as the race didn't start for at least 30 minutes but made my way - I wish I hadn't!

It was freezing outside so I kept my tatty jumper on and went to my pen.  When I entered the half I was hoping to run it in around 2:15 so I was in the black pens with 2-2:30 runners and immediately wished I wasn't, everyone looked so much better and faster than me and as I'd gone when the tannoy announcement came I was pretty much right at the front - error.  Whilst we were waiting I got talking to a girl next to me who was lovely and helped to relax about the fact that I wouldn't make it round in the time that I'd hoped at that point getting round at all had seemed a bit unrealistic!

After waiting for 30 minutes in the pen we moved forward towards the start, everyone started jogging but I didn't I knew we'd get stopped again before the start - and we did!  At that point I saw my mum, dad and Ian waiting at the side so I went over, chucked them my jumper and got ready to get going.

 There I am in the blue jumper after we were let out of the first pen.

And again in the black head band after ditching the jumper and getting my playlist sorted for the race.

About 5 minutes later we started moving for the start and 40 minutes after going outside and 20 minutes after the race should have started I was off!!!

I walked up to the start (making sure I stayed as far to the side as possible so I didn't get in the way of people running) and then I heard my time chip beep as I went over the start and knew it was time to get my legs going.  I'd asked friends on facebook to give me ideas of things to put on my playlist to help me get through the race but I'd started off with a couple of my own choices, whilst I was waiting in the crowd I started off my music with Arcade Fire "Ready to Start" which really got me in the mood and as I crossed the starting line I was listening to Elbow "One Day Like This" which helped to keep my pace nice and steady - I was worried the atmosphere would mean I'd start out to fast and pay later on!

I knew the first few miles of the race would take me to Woolwich so I settled down to run the less picturesque portion of the route along a dual carriageway through industrial and shopping estates.  I ran past my first Run to the Beat music station and have to say I was a bit disappointed - it was like a burger van with speakers and what was on my iPod was loads better! (Stereo Love - thanks Laura for the suggestion). 

I was pretty worried at this point as lots of runners were already walking - we weren't even 2 miles in!  Running towards Woolwich there were a few climbs nothing worse that I'd run in training so I was feeling ok.  Then as we came to mile 3 I could see the earlier runners coming the other way and I had a feeling of jealousy that they were already so much further on than me!  I cam across my first water station on the road to the pier the water was in plastic cups which made it impossible to drink and it was seriously cold.  I decided to try and take a few sips, and the rest went over my face!

I made it to the pier

Running here was lovely, we were so near the Thames, it made me feel quite positive as I'd seen the map beforehand and had thought how far from the start it looked.  We started running back to where I'd seen the runners earlier and it did feel good to be in that pack of people but at the same time I felt for the others coming the other way!  Then I was looking at this:



Here is where we turned left and had to climb all the way to mile 5.  Alot of people were walking now but I  was determined that I wasn't going to stop.  It was hard work and as we were getting further on to the course there were loads fewer pedestrian restrictions which meant for some of the climb I was running past people on the pavement smoking which was horrible.  A nice little boost was the kids along that hill who were cheering and putting their hands out for you to high 5, they really made me smile it was a great help.

At the top of that hill we ran for the Royal Army Barracks, this was one of my favourite areas on the course, partly because there was a water station and because of how beautiful it was. 


There were lads in uniform helping to give out the water and cheer you on it was ace.  The first power aid station was here too but the caps hadn't been taken off and you only had about 20 metres to the bin so I only managed 2 sips before I had to chuck the bottle because I didn't think I could carry it.  We did a loop here and passed some runners and I made my way towards mile 7 and the dreaded HILL REACH.

Now I'd seen the course elevation and I've read alot about this half marathon and the hill between mile 6 and 7 is what worried me the most.  I can't find a picture of it to show you but it was terrifying.  I'd put a song on my playlist the night before by Kate Bush (I love her) which you might remember from the opening ceremony this is it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp43OdtAAkM

As its called Keep Running up that Hill I thought it might help me through this part of the half and as I came down a small incline towards the hill I started to worry and just as I was at the foot of the hill the song came on, I couldn't believe it.  So many people were walking I was so determined not to give in, even though the hill went on forever.  I did it though I got up there and before I knew it was mile 8.

I checked my watch and I reckoned I was on for 2 hours 30 if I pushed a bit.  Mile 8 to 9 was hard I had no energy at all, I wished I'd taken some jelly sweets or something because every time I tried to speed up I had nothing.  At mile 9 thankfully there was a water point and I was so thirsty.  I got crashed into at the water table by someone who thought it was a great idea to stop dead and then turn into the path of the runners.  I took my cup and could see a powerade station ahead so I decided to walk a few paces so that I  could take some proper sips from the cup and then ran to the powerade station where some kind person had half emptied the bottles into cups so I took a half full bottle and carried on.

By this time I was at the edge of Greenwich Park, I was so happy as earlier in the year I'd been in the park for the Olympics and I'd looked around knowing that I'd be coming to the end of my half marathon here.  For me the park was another highlight of the run especially this part:


The only bad part about the park was when I saw the 2 hour 30 pace runners overtake me and I knew I wouldn't make it home in less than that time.  After that thankfully I there was a downhill slope and I was at 11 miles!!  The last 2 miles were tough especially as we had to run past a load of takeaways and restaurants and all the yummy food smells were wafting about and I was starving.  I carried on and for to 12 miles where ahead of me I saw a girl collapse.  Luckily she was right by a St John's bike who went straight over to help her.  I decided not to run past so walked past and then ran for the finish.  That last mile I thought about her, hoping she was alright and realised how gutting it must be to come so close to the end and not finish.

There was one last hill which nearly finished me off and then I saw it.. 13 MILES!  I was so happy I started to get a bit more energy and sped up and then I could see the finish and sped up some more.  I saw my dad just after I came through the timer and he took a less than flattering picture:

I went off to get my medal and give in my chip and went off to get my bag - by far the worst part of the day.  I queued for 40 minutes and it was freezing!  When I eventually got my bag back I rang Ian and told him to get me ANY food - It was hours since I'd eaten.

When I found them I had a picture with my medal

And you might notice my post run kettle chips got in on the action in the last picture.  Apologies on how rough I look but I was freezing and pretty tired.

So I did it.  Well done for reading all of that if you got to the end!  My official time was 2hr38:13 which I know is slow but I made it and I'm really happy about that.  Now, onto the marathon......