One Thirty Seven

Today was part two of the half marathon challenge - the Robin Hood! 

I've been looking forward to this one. It's a route I know (more or less), I know people running it and I had some support from my friend Rhianne who I ran the Reading with earlier this year.

So, last night... I went BIG on the pre-race meal. A pizza with eggs, cheese and some kind of meat on it. That sounds like carbo-protein heaven to me. 

Destroyed.

I was very organised and brought my three weetabix, banana and milk for my breakfast. Then I realised I'd forgotten a bowl and a spoon. Then I discovered we didn't have a fridge. Bloody hell. I managed to persuade a very confused Eastern European receptionist at the hotel to let me have a bowl and spoon, then filled the sink with cold water to keep the beer milk cold.

I slept terribly, made and ate my breakfast in the bathroom at the crack of dawn so to not wake my room mate up, then looked outside...

Foggy.

A quick walk to the start line and it was soon enough time to get in to the starting pens. Now, at the GNR, the warm up was amazing. This time? Shit. So I took it upon myself to sort this out.

The race got under way and I started with 7.45/7.46/7.27/7.23/7.29 min/miles for the first five - which, in other words, is fast. My average pace at the GNR was 7.38 so I was ticking over about the same.

Then a mental run of 7.14/7.16/7.10/7.12/7.14/7.17/7.18/7.09 took me home. 

FAST!

So bloody fast that I came in in 1 hour 37 minutes and 21 seconds. 

Erm, WHAT?

Previous best of 1hr 42 fairly smashed. 

So I'm dead happy with that. I did the Robin Hood last year in 1hr 56. Proof in the pudding that loadsa training makes a hell of a difference. 

The best part of any half marathon day is eating everything in sight afterwards.

Thank you, wonderful people of Chiquito.

So all in all a really great day. So pleased to know some great people who did so well today themselves, no feeling beats finishing these races. 

There is a rumour going round that I might be doing another half next Sunday... It all depends how sore I feel over the next few days. Why not make the two-half-marathons-in-September-FUN in to three-half-marathons-in-four-weeks-FUN? Apparently it's 'all down hill' too, which I'll have to see to believe, but it might be a nice retirement party for my reliable pair of Nikes. 

Thanks to all who've sponsored me so far, you're the best. Up to a great £410 now... I reckon there's a chance of £500 which would be a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

Time for bed I think. Might wear my new bling.

Cheers.