A Half Marathon with a Difference

Today I completed a half marathon in 1 hour and about 5 minutes... unfortunately it doesn't count as an unbelieveable PB as I wasn't running; I was in a car and not even driving!

It was the Potters 'Arf this morning - I've completed the race three times as a runner, the first time in 2012, and it is still one of the toughest half marathons I've done. It's also one of the best supported and a great event in the local running calendar, famed for it's horrible hills.

However, since 2015, I've completed the event in a slightly different way, volunteering in the race activation car. This means completing the half marathon route about five minutes in front of the lead runners; alerting marshals and volunteers at drink stations that the runners are on the way; identifying any on-course issues and occasionally jumping out of the car to move traffic signs or cones.

Race Day Timings

For the most part, it's really enjoyable. Driver Andy and I get to say hello to running friends who are spectating around the course, offer encouragement to the walkers who started at 9.00am and let spectators know that the runners will be along soon. I think today we even had our photo taken a couple of times!

But every now and then, anxiety levels rise; a road closure sign not in the right place, the lead runners getting too close to us, cars sneaking out from side streets as we drive away. It can be stressful but we just have to keep going; stick to the schedule.

If I'm running, my half marathons are never over this quickly; in what felt like no time at all, we were back in Hanley and heading towards the finish line by Stanley Matthew's statue right on time. Parking up the car, I then joined other volunteers to greet the runners as they finished and hand out medals, t-shirts, goody bags, water and flapjack.

Being in the finish funnel means seeing all the runners finish... friends from near and far, as well as lots of familiar faces from parkrun too. It was also great to see the big smiles on first-time half marathon runners as the enormity of the achievement sinks in. Congratulations to everyone who completed today's event.

Helping at the Potters 'Arf today has definitely inspired to lace up my trainers. My month of recovery is complete, I'm ready to get running again.

What's next?

Comments

Well, that's a long way!

Race day was finally here. After a difficult couple of weeks, I woke up on Saturday morning with a certain amount of trepidation after a very restless night's sleep and a couple of weeks of niggles, aches and tiredness. I reminded myself of the three goals I'd set for the race - start with confidence, enjoy the adventure and finish with a smile - and was boosted by some encouraging messages from friends and family. After a quick breakfast and a short bus ride, I arrived in Marlow for the start of the race. I wasn't sure what to expect and actually had no idea how many runners were taking part. My start time was 9.15am and it seemed like there were a couple of hundred of us setting off in the "competitive" wave covering marathon and ultra marathon distances. The ultra marathon route was approximately 33 miles involved an extra loop around Hambledon but we all started off in the same direction. My first race goal was accomplished as I started with

(Not) Sorry!

It has been a while since my last blog. There's been a lot going on. Sometimes life gets in the way of running and writing about running. I'd like to say I'm sorry but this post is all about being not sorry, hopefully not in a selfish "I don't care if I upset you" kind of way but instead with a spirit of "I've got my motivation and priorities back on track and that's a good thing". I'm not sorry that I've decided to taken a step back from local road racing. Last year, I raced so often between May and September, that races were almost the only running I was doing. I forgot to rest properly and my body took a hit. There was a reason for racing so often: I was chasing points and placings in the NSRRA. Winning my group was a real possibility and points in every race mattered. It would be wrong to say I didn't enjoy it... I loved the competition and the challenge and of course I enjoyed winning... but I realised I wanted this summ

What's Next?

My running career started with the simple goal of completing the Cancer Research Race for Life. My motivation came from my family, to show support for my Dad who was being treated for cancer at the time. I downloaded the NHS Couch to 5k app and ticked off each run on the print-out on my office wall (it's still pinned up for extra motivation too). I was supported and encouraged by Mr T, sometimes with words, sometimes by running along side me. It was a realistic goal and I had the time to run 3 timers a week; Everything mostly went to plan and I achieved my goal. First Race, First Medal The longer I've been running, the more goals I've set, training to run half marathons, night races, relay events, marathons and eventually ultra marathons. The plans get more complicated (involving spreadsheets and a Garmin) and there have been a few more setbacks on the way, including overcoming injuries, illness and fear itself , but I usually get there in the end. Quote from B

Rosedawn Ramblings

Search This Blog