The Great Brum Half: mixed emotions

Result!

Well, I did it! Completed the 13.1 miles of Birmingham Half Marathon in a PB time of 2:08:41! I came 8056th out of 18,000, which was about 7,000 places better than I had expected! I won't bore you with other details, like where I came in my age group, blah, blah, blah, as if you're a runner, you're not going to be impressed, and if you're not, you're probably not interested anyway!

The day itself was amazing, great atmosphere, thousands of people running, and some fantastic support from the Brummies who'd come to watch. So encouraging and inspiring! Singing, jazz, drumming, gospel choir, cheering, support.... all made the running so much easier. Brilliant! And the day itself was superb for running, really foggy to start with and cold, but gradually warmed up, and although the sun didn't really get to peep out, it was fine and dry. Ideal conditions. 

Warming up

I was impressed with the organisation: getting 18,000 runners going at the start in the relatively cramped space in Birmingham city centre was no mean feat. The start was staggered in waves, depending on your estimated speed... I was therefore in the very last wave to start, meaning I had over an hour to wait  from the start of the elite athletes to our start. Great for soaking up the atmosphere, but not so good for keeping muscles warm! Anyway, we got under way, and I was conscious of not going off too quickly: quite difficult as the initial part of the course was downhill, and with all that cheering and drumming.........

Going strong at 8 miles!

Anyway, I settled into a 6 mph(ish) pace, and really continued with this throughout the race. Most of the course was flat, apart from the start and at about 5 miles at Bournville, where there was a reasonable incline, before descending again. Then, back through Stirchley, Edgbaston and Cannon Hill Park, before a wicked 1 1/2 mile climb at 10 miles, which apparently  even Haile Gebrselassie found hard (that is a great encouragement!). Even though I slowed up this hill, I did remain fairly strong, and was able to finish with, for me, a quicker mile at the end!

So what did I learn through this? Well, I think preparation is key: I couldn't have survived the course, particularly the hill at the end, without putting in the miles for the weeks/months beforehand. I had also planned where I was going to take on water, researched the weather and planned what I was going to wear: I'd even cycled most of the course a couple of times, to help me become familiar with it. I think this helped, mentally, if nothing else. I suppose what this amounts to is that I respected the course: I knew I had no hope of running it without decent preparation. I'm neither talented enough nor young enough to be able to get away with it, without putting in the hours. 

I was also able to set my own pace and keep to it: it might not have been quick, but it enabled me to keep going without stopping, and without feeling that I had to rush at the start. I think I was also stronger at the end because of this. I must admit I was surprised at the number of people I passed who were walking, I don't know why I was surprised, I just was. 

I think also starting right at the back was a positive for me... as I had put myself in the slowest group when registering for the race (at the time, I thought I'd do the course in 2 1/2 hours), I was actually able to run past loads of people, which in itself was a great encouragement. I think if I'd been in a quicker wave, i'd have got left behind and become a bit demoralised.... maybe? or maybe I'd have been pushed to run faster? Who knows.

In addition, I took people's advice and have read a bit (little bit) about running: have had a few sports massages to help my calf, and I wore tights, even though I look ridiculous, in order to keep my leg muscles in the right place.

And things I'd have done differently? Probably I'd have joined a running club to help me keep to a proper training plan and done more speed/interval training: I really need to up my pace. Probably not drunk so much alcohol the Saturday night before the race (the restaurant owner insisted on plying us with free drinks!). Oh yes, and I'd have broken in my running shoes before I wore them for the race (I'd gone to buy some new running shoes on the Saturday for after the race, but was told my current shoes were "shot to pieces" - I therefore risked it by wearing them for just a day, before running on Sunday!)... although they were fine in the end.

Running for great causes

So a great day, and one I will remember for some time: a fantastic run, great weather, and superb atmosphere. So why "mixed emotions"? I was very conscious during the race of the reasons why many were running: in fact I couldn't avoid it. Being among the last to start, a lot of people were ahead of me, so I got a good look at the race bibs on their backs, which had the start of a sentence, "I'm running for..." below their name. Some had written in things like, "Fun", or "Peace and Quiet, but don't tell the wife", or "President"... But most had put the charity they were running for; Acorns, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Alzheimer's Society. I found the fact that people had given up so much of their time and effort for different charities inspiring and a testament to their generosity. But there were also other people who had simply written on their back, "mum", or "Poppy", "dad". Their sense of loss of loved ones and the fact they were doing something positive in their memory, moved me to tears. 

And then the news that a local runner, Kevin Paterson, had died after finishing the course, shocked everyone. Such a tragedy, on a day when so many people were running to raise money for good causes, left me feeling confused. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.