This was my 71st half marathon and my first for nearly 3 years. To run a half marathon wasn’t really in my 10 in 10 training plans but it fitted in with one of our regular trips to our favourite island, Anglesey.
What a cracker of a race! It started in the glorious sunshine at the far end of the Menai Bridge, took us across the bridge to Beaumaris, passed the castle before doing a loop and returning back along the coastal road. The views across to Snowdonia were quite stunning on the pleasant traffic free roads. The course is undulating and probably hard to get a PB but I would still highly recommend this race especially if it is training run for a spring marathon.
The weather was superb, sunny and calm still cool but much warmer than of late.
To make the day’s training fit my schedule I ran 7 miles before the start to make the total run of 20 miles. I was very pleased with my running. It started with over 8 minute miling before the race. During the race it averaged seven and a half but was getting quicker all the time. The last mile being 6:45. I felt very comfortable and strong all the way round. My finishing time was a pleasing 1 hour 37 minutes 21 seconds.
While I was out running the half there was a 1 mile fun run which Abbey and Lucas took part in with Yuk-Lam alongside. They also got the pleasure of running over the Menai Bridge and both finished in around 10 minutes with Lucas just winning with a sprint finish. Sadly Abbey had a stitch, so well done to her for trying her best when thing weren’t going quite right for her. Yuk-Lam said how they had run steadily and well. They both told me how they had really enjoyed it and would do it again which made me so proud and pleased.
I’d forgotten how running a half marathon was taken by runners as more of a race than when running a marathon. In a marathon you pace yourself more and there is time for a chat. I’ve got used to chatting to runners during a marathon which has made them more of a social thing but today the runners were very focused on running their best and conversation was virtually none existent.
Last time I had done a shorter race than a marathon I felt quite disappointed as though I had wasted my time running a race that I couldn’t count towards my ever increasing marathon total. This time I didn’t have the same regret in fact it was a nice change and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
