I am running the London Marathon 2020 to raise money for the National Autistic Society: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CGater. All donations very welcome!!
On Sunday 8 March I ran – and finished – my very first half marathon race, the Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon. This is not a sentence I thought I would be able to write a few months ago, when I was struggling to get beyond 10k distances! Along the way, I learnt a few things that I thought I would share here.
Sunday was an absolutely beautiful sunny day and the race followed a highly attractive route, weaving its way through two of Cambridge’s most picturesque colleges, twisting through postcard-pretty villages and taking in some stunning views across the countryside. I was lucky enough to be running in support of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, which teaches people to look after their mental health in practical, positive and proven ways.
Over the 13.1 miles (I counted every one), I learnt a few lessons that I am hoping to apply to the 26.2 miles of the London Marathon in April.
1. Practice race day protocols as well as running
Booking the Cambridge Half Marathon was one of the first targets I put in the diary when I started my training plan back in December last year. It’s all very well pounding the streets at home at times that suit you and when your body is feeling up to it, but fitting in to the discipline of a fixed start time and proscribed route adds a significant extra layer of formality to the whole thing. There’s no backing out when the number is pinned to your front and you’re in the queue for the start!
2. Don’t expect a good night’s sleep the night before
Unless you have a constitution that is considerably tougher than mine anyway. I barely slept, dreamt about the run and woke up with a pounding headache and a churning stomach. I’ve never felt less like going on a long run, frankly!
3. Lay your stuff out the night before
Decide on what you’re wearing, find that extra-safe place where you left your running number, locate safety pins and make sure you have all the water bottles, snacks, energy gels etc that you’ve practiced using before. Also, CHARGE EVERYTHING! Today is not the day to realise you forgot to plug your phone in overnight, or you’ve mysteriously lost the weird format charger that your fitness watch needs.
4. There are *never* enough women’s toilets in the race enclosure
Join the queue for the loo as soon as you arrive. And since there is a fair bit of hanging around as you are usually told to arrive early, join the queue again a bit later on. Hopping about mid-way down the enormous queue with only 20 minutes until your start time is not relaxing!
5. Crossing the start line takes ages
The Cambridge Half is pretty big – there were 12 start waves, with 1000 runners in each. I was in the final wave (as I’m slow) so was particularly keen to get across the start line to stand a chance of finishing before the race cut off time. I can only imagine what the start of the London Marathon is going to be like with 50,000 people to herd across the line.
6. Start slow – you’ll be glad you did
As a novice half marathoner, it’s very tempting to hare off as soon as you have finally got onto the route and try to keep up with runners faster than you. My charity advised its runners beforehand that this was a ‘rookie error’. It’s much better to begin 10% slower than usual at the start, keep a steady pace throughout and aim for the ‘negative split’, when your second half is faster than your first. Admittedly the differential between my fastest and slowest speeds is pretty small, but I actually felt quite strong and comfortable by the time I crossed the finish line after following this tactic.
7. Don’t be tempted by the free stuff en route
Or only take what you have practiced using during training. This was advice the London Marathon ‘Meet the Experts’ session stressed – race day is not the time to try something new, whether that’s energy gels, sports drinks or whatever. The Cambridge Half had loads of water on offer, and also gels. I don’t use gels myself, and I saw at least one person nearly be sick at the side of the road, so don’t get carried away!
8. Consider taking a second phone
On Sunday, I really wanted to take some photos on my way round to record the experience (clearly, I’m not after a fast time here). However, I didn’t want to interrupt my phone’s run tracker app or disrupt my Radio 4 playlist, having spent ages getting my bone conduction headset to sync with my bluetooth. So a cheap, simple handset to grab a few photos would have been handy- especially to record the unique experience that the London Marathon will represent.
9. And finally – you will feel all the emotions!
Maybe it’s just me, but crossing the line of my first half marathon brought a huge wave of emotions and I nearly burst into tears (very unusual for me!). It could have been seeing the stories of the charity runners around me, many of whom had photos of loved ones on their shirts, the result of the physical exertion or the sheer relief of having got to the end, but it was powerful stuff.
Roll on 26 April and my marathon bid for the National Autistic Society!
KatieGee 