Warning this might the fewest photos in a race recap ever!
On Sunday 10th May 2015 I completed my first half marathon of 2015 and ran the Vitality Hackney Half Marathon. This race was the end of my marathon training and signalled to me the start of my taper. Having cancelled a half marathon in February due to ill health and with an unhappy body for the last two months, I wanted to finish this race feeling strong.
I got to the race eventually after sunday engineering works, I will run a local race on a sunday where I don't have to trek across London. I arrived on time with a very efficient bag drop and not massive toilet lines which always makes me happy. I missed the organised warm-up (but usually do) but did my own stretches while waiting in the pens.
The pens were split up to 1:00-1:30, 1:30-2:00, 2:00-2:30 and 2:30+ and I clearly went to the end, having an achievable goal of 2hrs 45 in mind. I was going to stick towards the back and casually run my own race. Having done all my previous training runs with audiobooks I wanted to test out running without headphones for the majority and my plan was to run without music until 10 miles and then have it kick in for a boost until the end.
I started slowly and ignored all the other runners around my rushing off, I wanted under 12 minutes mile and I constantly kept my pace between 11:20-11:35 up until mile 8. I smiled and enjoyed the atmosphere, Hackney had a great amount of supporters and it really felt like a community race which I loved. I was happy plodding along telling myself my mantras 'its just a training run' and 'slow and steady' which funnily enough I managed to do. When I got to mile 9 where they were meant to have energy drinks but they had unfortunately run out! I ran past all the discarded bottles from other runners feeling mighty thirsty. I then decided to put my music in to push me through and decided the finish line was close enough to push for it. As the sun got higher I saw more and more people struggling and I did hear the phrase 'dropping like flies' over the securities walkie talkies. If you are one of those people I hope you are feeling better, I have never seen so many people at the St John's ambulance stations and although I felt comfortable during the run I was worried about the other runners.
Post finish line selfie! I finished the race in 2 hrs 41 and even managed a sprit at the end (mighty proud)
I loved the support around the race and the atmosphere during the whole race. I love how well organised the vitality events are and would absolutely sign up to the Hackney Half again.
