Adderbury half marathon 2017

Another hot summer's day, another half marathon!

Today it was an early start and a trek all the way up to Adderbury in north Oxfordshire.  It's a perfect English village, all weathered sandstone and scented gardens, with the action centred on the recreation ground in the centre.  It was all very friendly and low-key, although I failed in my attempt to scrounge some suncream.  By 9:30 it was firecely hot in the sun.

As we set off, there were six blokes ahead of me.  I worked hard on keeping a steady, sustainable pace.  Out of the village, we were soon onto fields and footpaths with a few stiles for good measure.  The terrain was all quite gentle until about four miles, when we hit the biggest hill of the course.  I felt strong and pushed to the top, where I overtook three runners.  The remaining three were a long way ahead; I caught a glimpse of one of them a couple of times in the straight sections, but otherwise that was the only contact I had with other runners... it was a rather lonely race!

I had nothing to complain about.  The marshals were super and the course was lovely.  At about half way I looked at my watch - just over 45 minutes.  Could I get home in under 90?  It might just be possible.  I was wearing the water pack, and was grateful that I could keep drinking.  Thankfully the clouds rolled over, but it was very warm with no moisture in the land.

Unlike the Hoppit three weeks ago, there was no drama at the finish.  I pushed on back into Adderbury and in to the recreation ground.  I had a little lie-down at the finish line but this time I wasn't broken.  I was 4th place in 1:32:15 - just outside the 90, but I'll happily take that.  The Lovely Mrs S was thrilled with her run, finishing her second half marathon 4 minutes quicker than before.

Here's the data.  The sudden dips in pace are the stiles, but the overall deterioration in the last third was just me.  A tough race in a beautiful setting - a super race!

Sway 5, 2017

This is a delightful local event, run by the Sway village carnival committee.  Wilverley Plain and Enclosure is a pretty corner of the New Forest, Mrs S and I headed off this morning to try the race for the first time, with Finn as official cheerleader.

We had an cheery send off.  'Have a good race!' called the starter.  'It's a race??' called someone from the crowd.  The first half of the route was all quite familiar as a combination of the local parkrun and RR10 races. Very quickly I found myself near the front and behind Russell Wynn from New Forest Runners.  After a mile or so I found myself closing the gap.  I edged forwards and took the lead, nervous that Russell might know the course much better than I and have a cunning plan.

Up and down along forest paths, on my own, marshals waking up from boredom as they saw me.  It was a super course.  Just over three miles in, I emerged onto Wilverley Plain, which I had assumed would be an actual plain.  It wasn't.  Down a long sandy track into a valley and then back up windy, tussocky paths.  I was dreading the tap of feet behind me and I ploughed on.  Back on the plain proper, it was a long drag to the finish line, and I staggered home in first place, before collapsing in a state, Finn asking if I was OK.  Mrs S, despite feeling low-energy, did a blinder and was 11th lady. 

Here are the results - I finished in 30:23.  Here are the Garmin stats.  A lovely, low-key, local race.  We'll be back!