The London Landmarks Half Marathon

So, Half Marathon 1 is done and I enjoyed every step.

Sam and I went up on the Saturday morning. We did a load of shopping when we got to London. I ended up doing 17,584 steps the day before my run, which is well above what I intended but we had a great day. We wrapped the day up early though with a heavy dose of Carbs @ Pizza Express.

I got up in the morning with only one worry left – I didn’t want to carry the pizza round the race with me (that is the best way I can think to put it!). I get the impression I am not the only runner who has that worry on the morning of a race, is that fair? Luckily, that issue got resolved and I had no worries left! I'd just do my best.

Sam and I made our way to my starting pen at Pall Mall, where I bumped into Sarah (From Great Yarmouth Road Runners) and Matt (From Aviva).

Then, Sam went off to her pre-planned spectating position.

I then queued for the toilet in what was quite simply the longest queue I have ever stood in. The toilet didn’t have any toilet paper (apparently, I made a schoolboy error by not planning for that up front) but that need was just in the mind anyway so no worries. I had my wee and was well chuffed that I was going to get away with only 1 wee pre-race. Then I went back to my starting pen. Then.....obviously..... ten minutes later I went and queued up again (it was a much shorter queue this time though!).

Finally, our pen got to the start line and off I went. No nerves whatsoever, probably helped by the fact that I wasn’t worried about time. Instantly I knew that I wasn’t going to be taking photos on the way round though, I was just enjoying it too much to stop. I talked to a few other runners and seemed to make friends with a very friendly NSPCC runner early on. I made a point of thanking every spectator and Marshall who said “Go on Stu" throughout (or Big Stu on one occasion ☹) cos it just gave you such a lift.

I carried my bottle of water (with tailwind in (Thanks Amy!)) round with me all race (re filling it at one point) and I don’t think I have ever felt better on a run.

I had my standard “Marfan Ankles” moment, where it just turned in on me again and I almost went. Luckily (for my embarrassment) I caught it again.

All of a sudden though, I looked up and I went past the 8 miles sign. It happened in what felt like a flash. Sometimes I struggle for a bit around 4k / 5k but I got to 8 miles before I even felt as though I had started. As I went thru that 8 Miles sign though I felt genuinely gutted, only 5 miles left :-(. I felt so good. The spectators were amazing, a whole 13 miles of “Go on Stu (or big Stu)” is so motivational. The Marshalls were second to none for the same reasons and the other runners were good fun too. I was genuinely gutted I only had 5 miles left. I felt as though I had loads left so I decided I wanted to focus a bit more and up the speed a fraction too (not much though cos I now wanted to ensure I ran the whole thing).

Not long after I went past the 9 mile marker and realised that I wasn’t enjoying it so much cos I was thinking about times and pace and not the crowd. So, I backed off (well, I felt I did) and started talking to everyone again.

Weirdly, after about 10 miles, I caught up the NSPCC runner again and we had a laugh. In addition, from about mile 3 to mile 10 I had followed a guy with a Palestine flag (except for 100 metres between mile 8 and 9, were I briefly overtook him). At 10 miles, I overtook him again (as you can see in my photos!). I never saw him again after that. I'm not competitive but after following him for 7 miles it was still a nice feeling.

Again, after 10 miles I was really disappointed, I just wanted to keep going. I felt so good and I was loving it. I felt like I ran the whole 13 miles with a big grin from ear to ear. I’m not sure that is what the photos show but that is how I felt.

The hardest bit of the race for me was blatantly clear – it was when I tried to tear the top of my SIS Gel. OMG, what a fight that was and I very nearly lost the fight. Why does an SIS Gel always refuse to rip open when you least want the fight?

The course was obviously awesome. You recognise huge chunks of it, however, if I am honest, I can’t say I really took in the surroundings. The people Yes. The buildings and Thames, No. I am glad I went for the no photos during the race though, cos I just ran and enjoyed it..

The last 3 miles went by so quickly, albeit there were 2 people who had collapsed relatively close to the finishing line and had ambulances attending. Sam said she had seen others collapsed as well. That is never nice to run past.

As I approached the end, I still felt really good. I have attached my KM Split times according to Strava. I’m pleased with my consistency but you as you can see, many of my KM’s from 15km onwards were some of my quickest of the day. As I approached the final 100 metres, I felt awesome and I felt as though I roared passed 50 odd people. In reality, the video that LLHM sent me doesn’t look quite as good as it did in my head but I was still pretty pleased to hit my fastest pace split in that last 0.4 KM. I was pretty pleased with my heart rate throughout too!

Overall, it was a PB for a Half Marathon (not hard, I’ve only done 2) and a PB for 20k (not hard, I’ve only done it twice, lol!).

The Official time from London Landmarks says 2 hours, 25 mins, 38 seconds which I was well happy with. Strava says a Half-Marathon in 2:23:29, however, the moving time was 2:22:41 according to Strava cos I sprung a leak halfway round (but at least I was amply hydrated!). My average pace according to Strava was 6:38/km which I will take.

So all in all it was an awesome day and I loved it.

Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to wear my headphones though (and I would have missed the crowd too) but I will keep playing my awesome (?) charity playlist until the Great North Run in mid Sept! So that pain will continue.

Sam and I went out for a few Beers / Gins / Wine in the evening to celebrate. Not too many though to be fair cos we seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time all night, which led to lots of walking. Again, in the evening the people around were awesome. Sam made me wear the medal all night (my arm didn’t take much twisting) but there were loads of people out still wearing medals and they all spoke. I also had many, many others come up to me with incredibly kind words and insisting on giving me a hug. Any social distancing was completely impossible in London.

Then there was Sam who insisted on telling every other passer by that her husband had just run a half marathon!!!

My step count at midnight hit 45,776 which is another PB but I was still loving life and I wasn’t feeling the pain. This in itself is great. I remember walking round Legoland with the kids once and every step was a struggle. It’s good to be lighter and fitter.

Having said that, all the photos from this event clearly show that I have plenty more weight to lose!