Reading Half Marathon

Training went good in the week so I drove to Reading feeling confident even if a little tired as it was 6.15am (or 5.15am in my books due to clock change!). Having had to leave an engagement party at 7.30pm the night before leaving Lee to do all the partying for me, I dragged her out of bed to come along to take kit off me and keep me company on the journey in the morning though.

Got there about 8.30am to catch the shuttle bus to the stadium and it was manic, but very well organised and loads of bus's so didn't take long to get to the start area. When we arrived though there was a lack of toilets...not the race fault but when there's 19,000 runners its hard to get enough toilets, luckily for me Mr Wicks had sent a txt saying he was in the hotel and I could use his toilet or shower post race so I went up there to miss the cues.

I jogged with 'Wicksy' up to the start and then we did our own things, said a few quick hellos to other runners like Matt Janes, Kevin skinner and then it was time to get going.

As soon as the gun went I got into a nice position and felt ok for a few minutes but realised my legs were very heavy but just thought it would pass. Mile one was around 5mins smack on but by the second mile Kevin put a little spurt in to break the group...I went with it but god it was hard work on the legs (not breathing wise) then he did it again a bit later and I couldn't go with it and it was only about 4.55 pace!! I new then I was in trouble. I carried on with Matt Janes and another runner but was also getting 'grumbles' from my stomach which was worrying me. By half way the rumbles were getting worse and I needed the toilet!! The three of us had caught Kevin Skinner by this time but a few miles later I had to stop, I asked a steward for nearest toilet but I never saw it.....I then decided I had to deal with it before it deals with me, I jumped into a garden and it was just in time. I ran back out about 30-40seconds later (which I thought was good going to be honest) and tried to hunt the three down but if you have ever tried running straight after the toilet it is hard work getting the legs back into full swing. Having worked hard the last three miles alone I made up some time on them but that finished me off and I had nothing crossing the line and very disappointed with the time.

The positives are yet another half with problems but still a 67 again so I'm sure when I get it right I will get the time I want, but it is frustrating having run a decent race last weekend.

I met Lee in the hotel as I went back to Wicks room to collect some kit, as I got in the lift she said "Wicks ran well though", I responded with a half smile half frown "great did he get a p.b....63 something?" then with a big grin "no 2^nd place in 62minutes". I wont lie I didn't expect that from him although I thought he was better than his 64min time but it made me smile and to be honest at that moment it was a bit of light on a very dark day! Ha-ha.

As Wicks went to the presentation I went back to the car and headed back down the motorway, nothing to show for the day but tired legs. O well as Thie would say 'stay positive' and the good thing about running is there's always another race.

Simx