Race Review - The Vitality Big Half Sunday 1st March 2020

This would be the second time of running this race and as previously, the pre-race evening was spent with my good mate Rocco and his wife Francesca - who makes the best pizza, ideal for pre-race carb loading !

Joe, my neighbour and running mate and general all-round top bloke was also running and was staying with us at Rocco's the night before.  This was shaping up to be a great weekend.

Prior to this race, training had been going ok for me.  As usual, I hadn't really done any specific half marathon training, as I was focusing on my first half iron distance triathlon in May.  So this would be my first time out at 13.1 miles this year.  When I say training had been going ok, I had seemed to have picked up a 'niggle' in my back/hamstring.  This was making running uncomfy but not impossible - but it had made me cut my mileage back in order to try and see if that stopped the issue.  So, unusually for me I would be going into a race for the first time I can remember, carrying some sort of niggle.

As with most mass start races I'm not a fan of the start.  It was a cold day, there were thousands of people, no where to easily get to the loo without a massive queue and the bag lorries wanted your kit and warm coat hours before you were due to start.  For the first time in any race I can recall, I'd decided to take an old long sleeve top to wear over my race tshirt to avoid the cold.  Usually I hate throwing anything away, but I was glad of that top as the wind at times was very strong and cold.....I was just willing the start time to come round and trying my best to stay warm in the process.  I guess at least it wasn't raining.

Eventually the start time came and we were up and running and getting warm.  The plan was for Joe and I to run together. Rocco is a lot quicker and Francesca was aiming at a PB.  For me it was really training miles in my triathlon training schedule so I wasn't so fussed on times.

We started off a bit quick and rightly so Joe reigned us back a bit.  I'm glad he did as I'd start to struggle later and would welcome his foresight.  Joe and I ran steadily and together for about 9 miles or so and round about then, or mile 10 I really started to labour under the niggle in my back.  It seemed to zap my energy and I didn't seem to be getting any re-bound from the road, like I was having to really struggle to pull my legs up each stride.  I told Joe to leave me and aim for a decent time as he was still running comfortably.  Although he was reluctant I persuaded him to go.  He did and I did manage to keep him in my sights but those last few miles weren't really that enjoyable.  As it was I think I came in maybe less than a minute behind Joe and struggled over the line about 1hr 48 I think.

Into the finishing chute we collected medals and walked to the baggage reclaim.  What a disaster that was.  I must have taken what seemed like an hour to get our bags back...when you are cold at the end of a race and just want warm kit back it can be frustrating but you have to accept these things are all manned by volunteers to get angry at them would not be acceptable.  We just waited in line and eventually got our bags, got changed and warm.  Met Rocco in the Costa and had a warming drink.  Francesca and Rocco had great run and Francesca bagged her PB !

We took a slow walk to the train and then before too long was back at Rocco's where I packed up the car and was soon on my way home - laden with pizza and other left overs from the night before !

I think for me, the race now has become almost an excuse to meet up with Rocco and Francesca and Joe and all be together sharing the pre-race dinner and also as best you can sharing a few miles together on the day.  Really it could be any run, anywhere at any time, what I've really grown to enjoy is the social aspect of it.  I think I've said in another race report for this run, the course is 'ok', the finish at Cutty Sark is decent, but its not the best course I've run, but that does't matter when you are sharing the experience with close friends.

Writing this now, as I am in April and with Covid-19 all but decimating the race season, be that road running or triathlon, I'm glad I got this early race in as it looks like it could be one of the only ones I do this year.  I still have Beachy Head marathon booked in October and assume that will still be going ahead - but who knows.  As for Triathlon, my Half Iron distance race in May was cancelled and that was the only Triathlon I'd entered so far.  In a way I'm glad I hadn't entered many more.

So as I sit here looking back at what I've written here, you realise that you should be grateful for every training session and race you are able to do.  You just never know when that all might be taken away from you !