Kay K The Okay Runner: Robin Hood Half Marathon 2018

I always look forward to this one – it’s my home half marathon and was my first race at that distance back in 2016. It's also significant for Des and I as it's when things took a serious turn with us last year! However despite this, I was approaching it with mixed feelings this year. Although I’d done more miles-to-date than before the Robin Hood in the previous years, it was probably the least prepared I’d been for it and I knew I wasn’t going to come close to the two times I’d ran it in before.

So really, this year was going to be about enjoying the event rather than chasing a time and a week-or-so beforehand I agreed with a friend from running club that we’d tackle it together. On the foggy morning of 30^th September after the obligatory Southbank Bar Running Club team photo I headed into the starting pen and met up with Nik and a couple of other friendly faces. Eventually the ‘start-line shuffle’ all runners are familiar with turned into a run as we made our way through the spectator-lined Embankment and turned onto London Road with 13 miles ahead of us.

We fell into a good pace together and the first mile melted away, bringing us to the familiar and somewhat dreaded hilly section of the route through the Park Estate – when Nik asked what my plan was for tackling the hills, I believe I said “get the f*uck up them”… and we did! Out of my three attempts at this race, it was the best I’ve ever done the hills, managing to run though nearly all of them, only slowing to a power-walk for the final couple. I was so glad to see the back of them though, and ready to enjoy the long-steady downhill of Derby Road for a bit of recovery.

Before long we started to see the speedy people who were coming back in the other direction, a couple of miles ahead of where we were – some runners hate this but for some reason I really enjoy it! Knowing at least 30 people taking part meant lots of familiar faces passed so high fives, smiles and encouragement flicked between the two sides of the course. Then, just as we were turning into the loop section I spotted Des! A quick hug and kiss and we carried on... if I’d have been any quicker I wouldn’t have seen him so that was a definite bonus of slowing down!

I started struggling a bit on the next part – but not half as much as last year. With Nik’s words of encouragement I managed to run through the niggles which had forced me to walk at this point back in 2017. This particular part of the route is a long, lonely straight road which seems never ending as you wait to turn into the lovely and well-spectated Wollaton Park. It’s without a doubt my least favourite part of the course but with someone to chat to we managed to tick another mile off without too much drama.

After the infamous Wollaton Hall climb and some deer spotting we’d reached the half way point and, turning onto the ring road, we were on our way home! I think one of my favourite things about road races is having the opportunity to run in places you’re never normally allowed – so this ring road section is a highlight for me. I love the calmness of a closed dual-carriageway, being pounded by enthusiastic runners rather than lined with queuing traffic.

Another couple of miles and a short burst of rain ticked off along with about a million “this is the last little hill” and we really were just a couple of miles from the finish. Accompanied by lots more conversation, putting the world to rights and talking about our various motivations for running and testing ourselves – we headed into the ‘final Parkrun’ fully determined… and I was hardly even moaning!

It was around this time I put my music on as an extra bit of encouragement for the final stretch. I did really well and managed to keep my normal “I’ve nearly done this” cry at bay when the balance shifted a bit when Nik needed a bit more encouragement fro a little while as we weaved through the Meadows and finally that turn back onto the Embankment was in site.

If you speak to anyone who has ran the Robin Hood, they’ll tell you the last section seems to go on a good while longer than you expect it to. You end up doing a weird collection of sprinting to get there quicker then realising it’s still bloody far until the finish line. With Nik holding my hand and all but dragging me there we eventually made it – with lots of clapping crowds still gathered to cheer us in!

Beaming at each other with a hug and “we did it!” we proudly collected our medals. Another one ticked of the list and very much a team effort! It’s the first time I’ve ever done a race from start to finish with someone and it truly did make it much more enjoyable. There are a few times Nik could have definitely left me behind, but “we started together and we’ll finish together”… and I’m so grateful that we did.

To be completely honest, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me that it was the slowest time I’ve completed that particular race in. During the post race celebrations, it was tricky to keep it in the back of my mind and focus on having done it as many revelled in PB times and great races. But now that some time has passed, I can’t even remember the exact time I did it in, but I can remember a lovely run with my friend through my favourite city in the world… and surely that’s more important?