Well where to begin
Today the 4th March 2018 was the innaugral Vitality Big Half London after a week of shabby weather there was a danger of it not going ahead.
I signed up for this event on the basis that I didn't get into London Landmarks half marathon taking place in a few weeks time and the Big Half London is organised by the same organisers as the London marathon using most of the first half of the marathon route in reverse and who can pass on the opportunity to run over tower bridge.
The road to London was never smooth
This was due to be my second half of 2018 but
after a injury setback in preparation for Brass Monkey back in November with a month to go till the race I knew if I had any chance of making London then I would need to play it safe and not run brass monkey. An injury setback that only had me back running relatively normally once February came and no sooner had I got over this injury had another setback last week but fortunately ok to run on.
Hardly running in taper week due to snow probably helped too.
So the race itself
My goal failing not getting a pb 2:54:11 was to try and stay sub 3 unfortunately I missed out by 29 frustrating seconds clocking 3:00:28
Just lucky to have run it and I finished that's the main thing after coming back from setbacks.
My spits can be seen below but a quick breakdown of the route
Started at tower bridge (quite a few runners new to the world of half marathon running), just before I started Mo Farah passed me alas at other side of carriageway battling against Callum Hawkins about to cross tower bridge having done 7 miles in the time that it took me to get to the start (about 35 minutes)
Mile 1 and 2
Along the highway (where I am due to volunteer at for the London marathon this year at the 13/22 mile point and through the Limehouse link tunnel towards canary wharf
Miles 2-4
Round canary wharf a lot of support and where I was glad to see mum to get rid of my gloves!
It was after this point I was starting to slip after a positive start
Miles 4-6
Along the highway to Wapping this was where the wheels started to come off but I was still on target
Mile 6
Cobbles that says it all had to take the path round just to be safe then finally back to the start line and I was still on target just about.
Miles 7-8
Over tower bridge! A highlight who couldn't miss the opportunity and don't have to go through a whole marathon to do it
Miles 8-10
Along Jamaica road famous for being the entry to tower bridge on Marathon route a mental struggle
Miles 10-11
Was pleased seeing a parkrun sign and parkrun to go sign I had 50 minutes to hit sub 3 but nothing left
Miles 10-11and mile 11-12 were costly I had nothing to give I couldn't keep up with the 3hr pacer who caught me
Miles 12-13 I picked up a little with finish on site
The last 400 metres (Greenwich and cutty Sark)
I have what I could I only had a couple of minutes to get sub 3 (my back up plan) sadly it wasn't to be as in final 100m felt unwell and had to walk in knowing what I had missed out on and what I could have done better.
Great atmosphere and great event and marshals and bands along the way really well organised. The runners who couldn't make it down to London due to being stranded by the snow have been given the option to do it virtually.
Would I do it again (probably as unfinished business)
Half marathons are something that I still struggle with despite doing 4 last year ( 3 sub 3 hours and 2 PBs ( Manchester half and GNR)
What next?
Dark skies 14 kielder this will be more of a challenge after today's performance
North Tyneside 10k
Blyth 10k
Pier to Pier
And London 10000! Which I am really looking forward to in May.
Happy running
