Sunday 29 March 2015

Run The Bath ... (Half)

My thoughts on the Bath half-marathon which I completed (just!) on Sun 1st March ..

Stayed overnight at new Premier Inn in the centre of Bath so I could walk to the runner’s village (less hassle on the day). Porridge, tea and toast for breakfast and saw a few other ‘running’ types doing the same. Back to the room - there was some rain around so decided to go with an outfit of long tracksters, long-sleeved t-shirt and yellow hi-viz jacket that could be removed if needed. Made my way to the runner’s village chatting to other runners on the way. No chance of getting lost - you just had to follow the crowds. The village was very busy – made my way (slowly) to the exit where the signed routes to the start pens begin. Paid one last visit to the toilets – the queue for the ladies must have been very long as some women were queuing in the gents. There was lots of giggling on their part and comments on keeping their eyes firmly fixed on the queue ahead and not daring to look anywhere else.

Made my way to the orange start and it was very slow and congested – I had to chuckle at the ‘get in lane’ signs for the green and orange starts. Finally got to the orange pens five minutes before the start of the race at 11am. We heard the countdown “5-4-3-2-1 ..” but apart from a big cheer nothing happened. After a bit we shuffled forward then stopped again. Finally we started walking, then we walked a bit faster until finally (gasp!) we were jogging slowly. Around the corner, over the start line and after a 15 min delay we were finally running.

Took it steady over the first (downhill) mile – it was very congested and I got overtaken by the rhinoceros. Steady over the second mile – I wasn’t surprised to see one or two people already walking on the uphill section. I actually made it to just under 3 miles before the elite runners started overtaking us having already completed their first loop. Still congested at 4miles – I was running alongside a lady at this point who was doing the same pace and we compared notes on how we felt. I had already decided to take a walk break at the water station at 5 miles to refill my water bottle. I felt fine at this stage and checking my splits afterwards, they confirmed things had been going to plan (10.31 11.19 11.24 11.14 11.49).

I caught up the lady I had been running with before and we stuck together through the 10k timing point and the start of the second loop. It was less congested by now and I was into more of a rhythm over the next 4 miles (11.37 11.21 11.20 11.08). I had warned the lady I was going to stop at the 9ml water point and have another walk break and would probably catch her up later. But then disaster – the cramps I have suffered from at Bath in the past (2010 & 2011) returned despite me havi g been using electrolyte tablets in my water. From then on it was a case of keeping going as best I could but as the miles went on I had to walk more and more and the cramps became much more painful. The splits of those next three miles tell the story (12.40 11.43 13.08) as I had to keep taking walk breaks and stretch my calves.

By the last mile I was struggling to run for more than a minute at a time (the split time of 13.44 bears that out). I walked until the final corner and then ran as best I could towards the finish, gritting my teeth and ignoring the pain. Watching the finish video I can see I almost fell over after I had crossed the line. However after a short break I was able to make my way through the finish area to collect my medal, have my timing chip removed and collect my goody bag and finisher’s t-shirt. Which this year is actually a rather funky Brooks technical t-shirt and a good antidote for the pain. The finish time (which given my problems is rather academic) was a disappointing 2hrs 36mins.

And no, I don’t think I’ll be attempting a half-marathon again unless someone can work out why I keep getting these bloody cramps every time I try and "Run The Bath".