In a year of cancelled plans and postponed events, one which to many would seem fairly insignificant, but to me was one of the biggest disappointments, was the cancellation of the Robin Hood Half Marathon.
Ever since my first one in 2016, my running calendar has
kind of gravitated around my ‘home race’. It’s an absolute highlight of the
year and one we all look forward to at DOrunning (and SBRC before that). The
event is special for me and Des too as we see that as being where our
relationship became serious back in 2017 – so for several reasons it seems to
mark the end of one year and the start of another.
Despite my excitement for the event each year, it’s been a
while since I’ve really put time in to specifically training for this one. In
2016 and 2017, my running efforts centered around it and I’d spend months
building up to the half marathon distance specifically for that day. Things
were different, however, in 2018 and 2019. My love of running was seriously
lacking and long runs only really happened on race days, which led to a some
really disheartening events and quite a few tears afterwards. It’s daft looking
back, of course I wasn’t going to enjoy the day if I’d not put the training in
before!
This year, everything has been different! As I’ve written in
previous posts, as the year has progressed, my running has gone from strength
to strength. This really started in February with a running streak and the
decision not to put myself through another miserable half marathon and stick to
the 10km distance. Then, during lockdown, I found myself with no commuting and
a more flexible working pattern – not to mention the pubs being shut and not
much to do other than run!
So, when emails started dropping saying race after race was
cancelled and my parkrun barcode sat neglected on the side, I couldn’t help
being disappointed. I decided, especially having committed to running this
year’s Robin Hood in aid of a fantastic local charity, that I’d still channel
my efforts into completing a half marathon on the date in September, whether it
was going ahead officially or not. When
the event was cancelled, DOrunning stepped up to arrange a virtual option which
gave another boost of motivation to get the job done.
Instead of the detailed training plan I often create myself
for events, I just carried on running as often as I could without needing to
beat myself up if I didn’t stick to what was written down. Without a doubt, one
of the biggest influences on my training was the DOdaily Wednesday Workout
Challenge. Before I knew it, I was heading out two or three times on a
Wednesday, regularly covering double digit miles throughout the day, something
I’d never consistently done mid-week before.
After a great summer of running, I went to bed the night
before the half marathon feeling excited and looking forward to seeing what I
could do the next day. I had arranged to run with my friend who I’d been doing
a lot of training with and we had a time in our heads which was challenging yet
achievable…and we were ready!
We knew it was going to be a very different day compared to
what we’re used to. But, a few of us gathering in a small corner of Victoria
Embankment as daylight broke, it still very much felt like event day and there
was a great sense of occasion. I must admit it was quite nice to start when we
were ready without being stood shivering and nervous in a pen for half an hour!
With no real crowds to run through, I still couldn’t help but smile thinking of
the years before and how excited I am already am for next year’s race when,
hopefully, the spectators will be back again!
Settling in nicely, before we knew it we’d ticked one mile
off the thirteen-long list and were heading up the first incline into the
infamous Park section of the course. We were both more prepared for this than
we ever have been, having practised it several times on our Wednesday morning
runs in the weeks leading up to the event. As tricky as ever, we climbed
through the tree-lined streets keeping a decent pace and still full of smiles,
gradually working our way up until we finally tipped over onto the long and
welcome down-hill of Derby Road.
The next section usually passes by nicely looking out for my
(much quicker) running mates who are approaching mile nine as I’m just passing mile
four. Obviously, this year, we didn’t have this welcome distraction. Undeterred,
we carried on crossing the traffic lights at Crown Island and on towards Wollaton
Park and into the part myself and Rachel both find the toughest of this course.
For some reason, the long stretch before you get to the park is always a
struggle. I think it’s the combination of not having much scenery and the gradual
but definite hill ahead of the park gates, mentally bracing yourself for the big
tough hill approaching the hall.
After a bit of a mishap with a misplaced water station in
the park and a couple of obligatory Wollaton Hall selfies, we settled into pace
again back toward the ringroad…and having past the half-way point, starting to feel
like we were on our way back.
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| Half way! |
The next few miles were fairly uneventful. This point of the run is always a case of getting the next few miles ticked off and getting inside that magic “less than a parkrun to go” marker. We ran, we chatted and we probably moaned a bit, and the miles melted away in front of us until before we knew it, we were in the last couple of mile – and well ahead of our target time!
I might be looking on it with rose tinted glasses (it has taken
me three months to write this!) but I’m sure I remember feeling better and
stronger than I’ve ever felt turning back into the Embankment and onto the
final stretch – even without the crowd support and big grandstand finish to
look forward to!
Without the luxury of a professionally measured course, the
final mile was a bit of a random one, running backwards and forward, towards
the finish line then away from it for a loop or two until finally, our watched
clicked over that magic 13.1 miles as finally passed under the balloon arch,
full of smiles and delight. I really couldn’t believe it when I looked at my
watch properly to find I’d ran an unofficial (owing pausing to cross roads out
on course!) of 02:20:32 – so much better than I’d dared to hope for!
So, that’s what happens when you spend the summer training
properly for an event, building up your milage gradually and getting your head
in the right place for it. As I mentioned, it’s now been three months since
that day and I’m still do delighted with the result! I now really can’t wait
for the return of the full event next year to see what a bit of crowd support
and racing fellow runners does!
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| All smiles through the finish |
