Gunty Fen Half Marathon

I am not confinced that spending the day before bending over a desk in the British Library for five hours was the best prep for todays half marathon. But stiff back et al I headed toward Ely bright and early on what started as a very foggy Sunday morning. It's only 30 minutes away from where I live and by the time I got there the fog was lifting and the day was turning into a very warm sunny untypical September day. That would being perfect weather for most things except running!!

The ran is hosted by a small village called Wicham and based in the local school. The organisation was excellent and there was a lot of cheering crowds on the way around. It is also quite a big race with some 750 people running which made for a pretty bumpy start. I targetted a pace around 7:15 to 7:30 minute miles and was pretty consistant at this for the first eight miles. The course was pretty flat witha few small hills and a particularly annoyong dead straight 1.5 mile and slightly uphill bit. Al this would of been fine except for the fact that it was 26 degrees. The temperature started to tell and I did slow down over the remained of the race finally finishing in 1hr 42 minutes. Although the time was on the face of it a bit disappointing the race went well and even though I slowed I was still able to go past other runners over the last few miles.

Basically the temperature had effected every one and when the next day I had a look on a website with runners comments on this was the common theme, and when the times were published although the time wasn't great the placing was a lot higher than that time would of suggested. So in reflection I was happy with the result and I think all is still on target (barring a massive October heatwave) to run under 1:35 at Peterborough in October.