My 1st 13.1 - Reading Half Marathon Review

I did it! I ran a half marathon, and guess what?

I loved it.

If you read my previous post you will have seen how anxious I was pre-race day.

I was apprehensive, lacking self belief, and kind of dreading it.

The event itself however was just incredible.

Luckily my biggest worry was getting there and once that part was ticked off I was able to relax & soak up the atmosphere pre-race.

(Note: this did mean I was at the race village over an hour earlier than I needed, but if that meant I could relax, what's the harm? Better safe than sorry.)

We parked in Reading centre at the Queens Road NCP car park (£6 for the entire day), arriving at around 7:15, and then walked the ~8mins to Reading Station where there was shuttles already waiting for us.

We jumped straight on the bus and we were dropped at the Madejski Stadium next to the race village in less than 20 mins.
As we were so early we decided to sit in the stadium and watch the runners of the Green Park challenge run in and then at around 9 we started walking over to the start line. I recommend going to the bathroom in the stadium before you head over as the queues for the loos near the start line were HUGE.

Note: the start line was ~ 25 min walk from the race village so I really wouldn't recommend coming in last minute as the race set of bang on time.

Sign posting was clear to the start line and I just followed the flow of people. The race was separated into colour pens depending on expected finish time. I headed for my allocated pen (green - sub 02:00:00) where I left my partner and beelined straight for the 1:55 pacer. Spectators can follow around the outside of the actual start line pens but are separated at this stage.

10 minutes or so before the race started there was a warm up which I could hear over the speakers but I was too far back to see anything. Even so me and some of the surrounding people tried to keep up and join in. The wheelchair race was set of at 10:00, the elite runners at 10:15 and the remaining pens let off in waves of relatively quick succession. I was in the 6th wave and set out at 10:28.

The first couple of miles near the race village was packed with spectators and it was great to have so many people there to get you off to a good start. My aim was to stay with the 1:55 pacer but after a little while I decided I wanted to just ran at my natural pace so ran ahead slightly and just tried to settle into the run.

The course was completely closed to traffic, taking you firstly through green park followed by an industrial park and then through some residential areas where there is a considerable climb between 2 and 4km. The race then takes you through a section of the Reading University Campus. From here you head into the centre of the city where the crowds explode & the energy increases 10 fold. You hit the heart of the city around half way around (6 or 7 miles) and this is a great boost mid race.
Coming out of the centre you hit your second incline - although smaller than the first, due to the position in the run around mile 8, this hill feels pretty substantial. From there on out though you're in for steady sailing home passing through some more residential areas before turning on to the final straight stretch back with a view of the Madejski Stadium at the end of the road.

Reading Half Route - You can see the Strava segment here.

Reading Half elevation profile

I have to be honest that that final stretch for me was one of the harder parts of the race - it lasts about 3k where you're just staring at the Stadium which gives you the 'so close but so far' kind of feeling.
Despite that it was perfectly flat which was good & meant you could power down that last stretch with your goal insight (if you've got any energy left at this stage).

The stadium finish was just incredible.

 I managed to pick up the pace coming in and I don't know whether it was the adrenaline, the crowd or maybe I just had enough energy left in me but I felt so strong! The sprint felt natural and was a truly amazing feeling running across that line with the cheering crowds knowing I'd ran a half marathon, enjoyed it, and wasn't in the slightest bit broken.

One thing I definitely have to say about this race is that the support & entertainment along the route was amazing and definitely kept my spirits high the entire way around.
For me the highlights were the live music groups including the drumming group in Reading centre in the underpass (which I clapped as I ran past which may have gained me a couple of strange glances from fellow runners & spectators), the incredibly loud tunes coming from the Reading Family Church group and the random shop owner handing out clementines around mile 7.

Thanks to the many shout outs of 'come on Gen!' especially to the woman at miles 6 with a 'looking really strong Gen!' and the woman at mile 9 while I was having a gel with the 'YES! YOU EAT THAT GEN!', you gave me a couple of extra boosts I really appreciated.
Also an extra thanks to the woman who was chatting to their friend on the second & last hill saying it was all downhill from there - I had NO idea of the race profile and felt a massive mental boost knowing that all I had to do is power up that last hill & the half was in the bag.

Fuelling wise I would definitely recommend taking your own gels or whatever your booster of choice is. There were ample water stops (3,5,6,9 & 12mi) with the addition of bottles of Lucozade at 5 & 9 miles and although I did take the Lucozade and appreciated them I just couldn't take much on due to the amount of liquid and not wanting to have to take a toilet break. If Lucozade/ energy drinks are your usual choice then this will be great for you but for me I felt like having the lucozade was bordering on too much liquid & not enough energy.

All in all Reading Half Marathon is an amazing race.
The support throughout was incredible, from the constant cheering, Jelly babies galore, people handing out extra water, a beer stop on the last hill (for those inclined) the organisation and the stadium finale everything was smooth from start to finish and an all round pleasure to be a part of.

I loved my first half coming in at a respectable 1:54:12 and placing 690/3596 women and 3927/9720 overall.
I will most definitely be back for more next year
& I can't wait for round 2! :)

I hope this review was helpful for someone and please come back for more :).

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Always remember, that sometimes, freedom is only a run away.

#runyourmindfree

Me & pre race anxiety

So I've got my first half marathon in two days.. seeing this on the website of the race.. not terrifying at all!

Ok so as of right now I have 2 days & a lot of pre race fear ahead of me. 

I planned to keep myself busy this weekend anyway - tomorrow is a hard day. It's my mums birthday who is no longer here to celebrate it, and that sucks.

So this weekend is a good weekend to distract myself anyway.. I say that but I've been trying to 'distract' myself all week keeping busy with work etc. but my mind hasn't really stopped.

I'm dreading Saturday, I'm dreading Sunday, but in a way the thoughts from Saturday will get me through Sunday. 

My mum fought with restricted lungs (Mesothelioma) for a whole 5 MONTHS when she had originally been given 2 WEEKS. So I'm pretty sure I can run a half marathon with my 100% functioning lungs for just 2 hours. She'll be with me & I WILL get through it.

Again I say that..
but I'm still scared. 

I'm running solo and so I keep thinking I can maybe try chat to someone on the way to keep me motivated, make a friend, but small talk is definitely not on my list of talents.

(Awkward 'aha!' laughs however, not too brag, but I've got that DOWN!)

Anyway so I have no one there to motivate me, it's just me & my feet.

So apart from motivation what else am I actually anxious about?

(Disclaimer even writing this down is making me sweaty!)

#1 - Getting there. This is stressing me out so much - I planned to get the train and now there's diversions and my partner has offered to drive me instead (I'm now aiming to get there HOURS early.. that guy deserves a medal to be coming with me! (thank you) ).

#2 - I can't do it.

#3 - I'll be slow.

#4 - People I know will think I was slow (that's ok but I can't help taking most things personally).

#5 - I'll look awful.

#6 - I'll be super sweaty (hoping people don't wiff me on the run).

#7 - There will be SO MANY PEOPLE (I'm really not good with close proximity).

#8 - They've got Lucozade at the energy stops - I haven't ever had this on a run.

#9 - Am I going to get bowel issues?! I never have but that could add minutes on to my time and we're on the clock people! 

#10 - Will the queues for the loo before hand be huge?

#11 - Will I find my partner after the run?

#12 - It's not a flat course - are the hills comparable to my normal ones?

...

and the list goes on.

I'm an over thinker so I know this isn't necessarily normal - but I imagine more people have these fears than they make out.

Despite all this I'm still excited (I think) and I can't wait for my wave to start off (maybe) but either way I WILL run it and I WILL be OK and I WILL finish.

It's OK to be scared.

You're not alone.

You can do this.

Run.

(Pre-race mantra!)

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Always remember, that sometimes, freedom is only a run away.

#runyourmindfree

How to get out there when your mind is saying 'no'

Considering I manage to persuade myself to lace up and run a minimum of 3 times a week you'd think I have no problem with motivation. That's almost true. But when it comes to that moment when I'm supposed to be getting up, ready and out that door, there is something more over powering holding me back. 

I love running, I know that. So why do I still struggle to get out? 

I think this is something that the non-runners don't always get. They see this image of us presented on social media where we're always pumped, enthusiastic, happy, and raring to go. They see the completed runs, the excitement at our next run, our happiness in all of the above, and sometimes, just the joy of talking about running. 

What they don't see is that at the end of the day we're still like everyone else, struggling to stay motivated and sometimes just wanting to stop and say no.

My biggest challenge of the week is not the shorter runs I do during the week, even though they too are sometimes a struggle, its the weekend long run.

It has taken up to two to three hours for me to just get changed and start getting myself ready for a long run. This isn't irregular either. The quickest I've probably ever got myself out the door is probably 30 minutes, and that was impressive for me.

When it comes to long runs I don't know what it is, but the self doubt and fear always sets in.

Why?? I mean I've never not completed the distance I set out to do. I've never felt like I was going to collapse because I have pushed myself too far. I've never been severely sick, passed out, or had to dive into a bush to relieve myself (crossed fingers that streak continues ;)..), and I've never truly hated any run I've set out on.

At the end of the day I think the reason I find getting out on that long run so difficult is just pure simple fear that I can't do it. I can, and sitting here now, I know that. But when it comes to that time when I need to tell myself I'm going to do this, I'm going to get ready, I'm going to step out the door. That fear is there and is always blocking the exit, until at some stage something clicks and I can break through that barrier.

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So here is what works for me, and what might work for you when your mind is saying 'no'.

Ask yourself these three questions:

Q 1: Am I sad? 

A: Yes - Run; No - Run

Q 2: Am I Bored? 

A: Yes - Run; No - Run

Q 3: Am I injured? 

A: Yes - It's OK to take it easy, go for a walk ; No - Run

Plan your route.

If you're not excited about running your usual routes,

try planning a new one and make it interesting. Can you run through a park you haven't been to before? Can you run a road you've never been down? Can you find a trail? Can you run somewhere you're fond of? Anything that sounds appealing - give it a go.

Tip : So I don't get lost I use a free map app on my Garmin and plan the route online then follow the route when I'm out. I use the dynamicwatch app which puts route maps on your Garmin - you can get it through the Connect IQ store.

Rope in a Friend.
Sometimes it's easier to get out if you're meeting someone. The pressure of not wanting to tell someone else you don't want to go is sometimes just enough to get you to step out.

Get changed.

Sure that sounds simple but it doesn't always feel that way.

Wear your favourite stuff, your most comfortable stuff, or something new you've been wanting to try out.

Once I've got my gear on, normally I find it hard to find an excuse not to go.

Be easy on yourself.

Acknowledge that its OK if you can't do what you planned earlier in the week. Getting out there is getting out there, and that's awesome in itself. Sometimes I just tell myself to run around the block, see how you feel after 5 minutes, and if it's awful, go home. And hey, you still did that one loop of the block. You didn't have to.

Ask yourself what's the worst that can happen?

The worst that happens is you stop and you turn back.

On the other side you could come back feeling a million dollars and a league away from all those worries and anxieties.. 

and it won't have cost you a penny :)!

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I hope this helps some of you get out there on difficult days, and if you didn't get out today, don't worry, because tomorrow is a new day.

If you have some go-to things you do to get motivated and out that door leave a comment below - I would love to hear from you.

Always remember, that sometimes, freedom is only a run away. 

#runyourmindfree.

Running book shelf: #1 What I talk about when I talk about running - Haruki Murakami

I'm a die hard fan of Haruki Murakami's work and so after I had been running for a while and remembered that he had written a book about running I knew I had to read it.

This is the first non-fiction book of his that I've read and I have to say I was not disappointed.

The book centres around his life and how running came into it, and as such it is a cross between a running diary and a memoir style piece. I loved getting to know a bit more about the author himself - the man behind the eccentric, fantastical writing rather than just the stories he creates.

I don't know what I expected him to be like, considering his writing I thought he himself must be slightly eccentric, but to my surprise he seems more like your every day person. Just one that happened to start running as a means to keep fit while writing and happened to enjoy it enough to keep going.

I don't want to give too much of the story away - but I read it over a few commutes, it's a quick read but within it is packed so much that many of us runners will be able to relate to, and seeing the life of Murakami, for me, was really interesting. It made me think that maybe if he can do some of the things he has, I can too, and I think anything that can inspire you to do bigger better things is invaluable.

After reading the book I was surprised to see that Runners World had mentioned many of his quotes in an article, and since I've seen a few scattered around. I don't know why I found this surprising as there are some brilliant quotes throughout the book that I think would strike a cord with most runners, but as I came across Murakamis book from the point of a fan of his fiction writing for some reason I thought it would be less well known.

There are so many quotes in the book that I love but my favourite two quotes that resonated 100% with myself have to be these:


"I'm often asked what I think about as I run. Usually the people who ask this have never run long distances themselves. I always ponder the question. What exactly do I think about when I'm running? I don't have a clue."


"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you're running and you think 'Man, this hurts, I can't take it anymore'. The 'hurt' part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself."


To find more of the quotes, I guess you'll have to read the book ;) (or just google them, but risking not getting the most out of them - your choice).

Long and short - if you're a Murakami fan, a runner, or just someone that's intrigued by the world of runners you won't be disappointed. 'What I talk about when I talk about running' is an honest portrayal of a man, who acknowledges the fact that he is ageing, not in a necessarily negative way, but without glossing over any of the truth of the fact. He talks about his writing, his career, his love for running and his need to strive, like many of us, to push himself to test what he's capable of.

In that sense, it is a very relatable memoir of life, running, the inevitable ageing process and the passage of time that we all must face.

Who knows, even if you're not a runner, I think this book might have the potential to even spur you to start lacing up yourself.

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