Great Eastern Run

So, just when you thought all racing had ceased….I’ll hit you with a double.

Firstly, my attempt at a sub 2 hour half marathon. Pip’s and I made an agreement a while back to have a go at this, after some false starts, Pip finally found this gem of a race. Flat and fast or so they said on runnersworld. We got our entry’s in then promptly set about doing other stuff.

Anyway, race day finally rolled around. My prep hadn’t been great, I got a few runs in before coming down with a cold, then as I recovered, Leo got the chicken pox so I didn’t get much running in. I decided to do a few runs the week before the race, and if I could get around them ok, I’d still have a go at the race. But I was pretty much sure the sub 2 hour thing was not going to happen.

I survived the runs so decided to turn out for the race. I told Pip not to wait for me as I was sure I wasn’t going to be on for our record breaking attempt. We needed to do 9 minute miles to be in with a shot at the sub two hours. Anyway, the gun went and off we set about shuffling along, trying to get clear ground to run.

Finally we passed the 1st mile marker, then the 2nd. I was feeling less then great, but continued to let Pip drag me along. I managed to keep my eye on the time and all seemed to be going ok. But could I do this for 13 miles…I didn’t feel like I could.

As for the race, it takes place in Peterborough and takes you on a big loop through the suburbs surrounding the town. The locals all made a good effort at supporting us along the way. Which was really great. Some funny things along the route…a brass band at 1 mile. At about 3 miles there was a young lad of around 8 playing his trumpet, with his sheet music secured under a rock on the sidewalk. Then further along the course there where kids with their own water stations as well as a really friendly lady dishing out jelly babies.

Anyway, back to the race. I hung in with Pip till the 5 mile mark, at which point I recovered a wee bit, I then decided to take a turn on the front and lead Pip a while. So off I went. Mile 6 and 7 felt great and I must have gained a minute somewhere. I then got to a water station just after 8 miles, I glanced back to find Pips only to discover I was on my own. I decided to carry on as I knew that at this pace I would break the 2 hour mark.

By mile 10 I knew it was only 3 and a bit to go. I started to suffer a bit with a sore toe on my left foot. I could feel the nail catching and new there would be something horrid to discover in my shoe at the end. I tried to put it out of my mind and kept on running.

I’m sure I was really slow over the last 3 miles, but it took all of my resolve not to walk. It was so tempting. Some club runners caught me up, three blokes talking a girl through her first ½ marathon. It was great because their word of encouragement helped me along too. One bloke told the girl that it was just a little bit more then a mile to go, and only three more turns. This was great as I had something to count down now. One corner, two corners, then the third which took us off the road, yippee then I could hear the loud speakers at the finish. I mustered a half hearted sprint but was ecstatic to see the clock at 1:55:58.

Pips boyfriend Steve was right there at the barriers to give me a quick cheer, job done. I limped and hobbled through the finish chute to collect my goodie bag and get some well deserved water and juice. I found Steve and promptly sat down to get my shoe off my foot. Ouchie, a bloody toe nail on one toe, and the other toe nail had gone a lovely blue and was throbbing like a bastard.

All the time I could hear the commentator going on about the 2 hour mark, and all I could think of was where was Pippa. I could see Steve from where I was sat. So when I saw him jump up and down cheering, I knew Pip was in sight and would make the target time. I managed to drag myself up and we went round to meet her, Yippee for us, sweaty hugs all round for two new PB’s.

My time, 01:55:58, taken from the gun. My chip time was 01:54:27. Philippa did 01:59:40 from the gun and 01:58:09 from the start line. Which means it took us a minute and a half to get across the line.

The difference is annoying, but not as annoying as Pip and I would be had we started at the front with all the skinny runners.

We then dragged ourselves back to the car and off to find a well-deserved roast lunch.