Hastings Half Marathon 2010 run log for Radderz
Woohoo! I’ve just completed my first rather hilly half marathon!
My unofficial time, as timed by myself using my iPhone when crossing the start/finish line, was 1:59:40. I beat the 2 hour mark by just 20 seconds! That last sprint was really worth it 
I started quite near the back, and had quite a bit of traffic to get through during the first few miles, but this didn’t have a negative effect on me, in fact me trying to get past people only spurred on my completive streak.
The bulk of the up hill bits were tackled within the first 5 miles. I don’t find hills that taxing probably due to my training methods which involves finding the steepest and longest hills and maintaining a steady pace. Still, I was shocked when I reached the timing station at the 5 mile mark, it showed that I had taken 45 minutes to complete the hardest 5 miles. Quickly I came to the conclusion in my head that I was good for a two hour target with the hardest part of the course out of the way. I was quite shocked at this, in my training I was achieving 2 hours 30 minutes, and this was before my 2 weeks of illness which through my fitness and training out of the window. Could I really shave 30 minutes off of my time? All I needed to do was keep a steady pace along the ridge, a 3 mile stretch to ore with slight inclines and declines, sprint down the 2 mile downhill stretch from ore to the old town, then tackle the remaining final 3 miles of flat along the sea front without allowing tiredness to take control. This was my plan.
The ridge run was going quite well. I grabbed some water on the way, I was pushing myself so I had lost more fluid then I would have normally, I splashed the remaining water over my face to keep me cool. It was quite pleasant out, not too cold or warm, slightly damp on the road but dry in the air; the odd cool gust was refreshingly welcomed. A while passed before I was presented with a banana, of which I nearly turned down due to not normally eating or drinking anything during my normal runs, but in a split second I decided that this was no normal run, and I could possibly do with replenishing the extra energy I was exerting to prevent tiredness when approaching the end. The next mile or two was painful. I had to slow my pace to try and recover from a stitch caused by eating. I must have lost a fair bit of time here, but all I was concerned about was recovering for the downhill sprint I was about to embark.
I reached Ore, a small uphill section awaits before double backing on itself in preparation for a long steep run down to the sea front. This was what I had been looking forward to, for me it was the start of the home straight. As soon as I hit the decline my pace switched from a jog to as much of a sprint that could be managed at this gradient. It caught me by surprise that no one else around me seemed to have this tactic, and as I weaved through whole groups of people I became half concerned that what I was doing was foolish and risked burning myself out. Such thoughts didn’t root in my mind for very long, I used this method regularly during my training, so I put those thoughts aside and enjoyed running past people as fast as I could with seemingly minimal effort.
Approaching the Old Town the hill started to level off. The 3 mile remaining mark was accompanied by another timing station. I had forgotten about time and was encouraged when the clock told me that I had 30 minutes to do the remaining 3 miles. That was more then doable so long as I could get through the tiredness that had been creeping upon me. I was starting to think how I could make myself keep up the pace for the final section while also getting prepared that I would just miss out on this fantasy target of mine. Pain started to kick in before I knew what to do, but it was in my back. It was becoming quite debilitating, all I could do was try and keep moving, and return from a tired to a good running posture. I don’t even remember running parts of the last few miles, I was just concentrating on moving and getting that finish line in my sights. I kept trying to pick up the pace as if I were on the final stretch, but it wasn’t happening.
With half a mile left I could see the finish line. This made things easier, but dare I look at the time on my phone? Eventually I did, it showed I had 3 minutes to reach the line which was now fast approaching. That was all I needed to get my second wind, immediately I struggled into a ‘proper’ run again, with greater determination than anyone else around. I’m glad I did, and it made the difference, finishing just 20 seconds shy of the 2 hour mark.
Here are my stats according to the MotionX-GPS iPhone app
Time:1:59:40
Avg Speed:6.6mph
Distance:13.2 miles
Max Speed:11mph
Official Timings
Race Time:2:05:06
Personal Time:2:01:11
I’m not sure why there is over a minute between the official personal time and my recorded time, I’m assuming that the race timing chips had a lag when being recorded, or the start time was somehow averaged as I started from near the back. I wasn’t scanned by person when starting, but I was upon finish, so maybe an inaccuracy crept in here. Nether the less, I timed myself when crossing the start and finish line, so I know for sure that this was an accurate time.
