Royal Parks Half

So - my last race of the year is over.

I completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon yesterday in a time of 2 hours 9 minutes 16 seconds. Six seconds slower than my time at the New Forest. So consistent if nothing else.

While I was again disappointed with my time, it was a really enjoyable day. Not only did I have the support of Sophie, her sister and brother-in-law, but the team from Practical Action were there cheering all 15 of their runners on the course and handing out goody bags at the end. Thank you to all of you for your support !

Wearing the charity's orange shirt with my name on it made a real difference as I made away around the course. I was quite startled the first time someone shouted my name a few metres after the start -  "you talkin' to me?" and it continued all the way round the course and even the woman on the PA gave me a mention as I shuffled across the finish line.

My race didn't start particularly well as I was actually sitting on the toilet some way from the start line when the elites and celebs started at 0930. Unfortunately I'd fallen victim to the dreaded toilet queues. I'd arrived in plenty of time but instead of just staying in the first queue I could find I foolishly swapped for another one. It seldom works in the supermarket and it didn't work for me.

However a quick sprint to the start got me there in time to join the back of the green wave of starters (my allotted group) and being a little late actually worked in my favour, as the rest of the group shot off at breakneck speed and I was left with a nice slow, free run for the first mile.

I deliberately avoided going off too fast and my pace for the first 10km was pretty ideal.  I completed the first section of the race (down Constitution Hill, past Westminster, along Embankment to Temple, then a U-turn followed by a trip up Whitehall and the Mall to pass Buckingham Palace) and arrived back in Hyde Park in good shape, passing the half way mark in just over 1 hour. I'd been drinking a full bottle of water at each water stop and eating my jaffa cakes and jelly babies at the allotted rate and at this stage things were looking good.

However I reached just beyond the 8 mile mark passing back alongside the Serpentine and felt a sudden twinge of cramp in my right leg. I stopped to give it a stretch and walked for a short distance. It felt ok so I started running again and made it to the corner at the 9 mile mark, passing the Practical Action team and Sophie, Sally and Phil, and right up the hill to Marble Arch, feeling in good shape.

However at around the 10 mile mark I started to run out of gas, legs felt heavy and lactic. I walked for a while but when I saw the British Military Fitness 2 hour pacemaker go past with his group of runners, I thought I would try to keep up with them. I managed it for a while but ended up slowing to a walk again at around 11.5 miles. A mixture of running and walking took me to the 12 mile mark, passing several runners being treated by St John's ambulance staff (hope they were all OK).

I managed to summon up some energy from somewhere and jogged much of the last mile, although on the final (slightly) uphill stretch to the finish my hamstring locked up entirely and I had to hobble while trying to stretch it. I passed Sophie and team for a final time, doing my best to smile, and finally made it across the finish line.

Initial impressions at the finish:

- a great race, well organised, and a beautiful course;

- disappointed at my time;

- a few lessons to be learned about nutrition and training. For whatever reason I wasn't as fit for the race as I thought. Maybe I need to look at using energy gels or drinks instead of my homemade approach. I seem particularly prone to getting cramps during and after races so maybe I'm finishing (or starting) races a bit deficient in something or other.

I could look at my split times and say I should have gone (even) slower in the first half to save energy for the second half. But I don't think it would have made much difference. I think my training this summer just didn't get me as fit as I was last summer. Too many flat midweek runs and not enough hill running.

Having said all of that, it was a huge pleasure to run and feel part of the Practical Action team, and running a marathon, two half marathons and two 10km races in a year, is not something many ordinary pedestrians do. So I'm quietly proud.

Of course, running for the year isn't over - I still have the rest of the 1000 miles to complete - and nor is fundraising. However I'll be taking a week off running to let my body recover.

But finally - a huge thank you to Michaela, Natasha and all at Practical Action - and to Sophie, Sally and Phil for their great support yesterday (and photographs !)