I’d been looking forward to the Marlow Half but come 7am the morning of the 6th it all seemed like a lot of effort. My right knee was nagging me, it’s been like that a couple of weeks now but didn’t seem to be getting any worse – or any better. My nose was bunged up, I had a headache and was sneezing now and then, a cold on it’s way no doubt. Then Jane’s car didn’t like the damp morning and misfired annoyingly till I got past Wheatley. Anyway I parked-up, took a couple of ibuprofen and an energy gel, then then walked up to the start.

I met Mary on the field then, just as we were about to march onto the road for the off, Ade appeared. It was chilly but not cold, damp but not raining. Bang went the rocket and we were off.

Keeping up with Ade for the first half mile or so I probably moved up the field a bit further than was wise. I realised I was actually feeling ok now and resolved to stick with my plan of getting the pacing right over this hilly route and try to beat my course best of 1:53. It was mostly up hill for the first 5 miles, gently after the first mile, with a sharp down and up about mile 3. I kept myself under 9 minute miles without too much huffing and puffing though did loose a few places to the more determined.

Felt great by halfway but hadn’t forgotten the big hill at mile 8, I’d walked some of this last year to spare my post marathon achy bits but determined to run it all this time if not very fast. Various people charged past as I slowed for the approach, I re-passed a good few of them as they walked the steep bits unable to keep up the momentum. The climb was not as long as I remembered and still feeling fine at the mile 9 water station I decided not to have the energy gel I was carrying and see if I missed it’s absence.

Down then short, steep, up again and just a couple of miles to go. We rejoined the outward route to descend to the finish and as usual a good few people passed me as I failed to increase my stride enough to really utilise the down hill. I reckoned I had my course best in the bag and didn’t want to push too hard and injure myself under the cover of the ibuprofen.

We turned into the finish field and I pushed for the line but maybe should have tried that itsy bit harder. Chip time 1:50:01 468/952. Still top half of field (just) and a course best by 3 minutes and feeling as cheerful after the finish as I had lethargic before the start. A great race, my 4th Marlow Half, and I reckon I’ll be back for more.

Writing this three days later and the cold came to nothing while the knee seems no worse for my efforts, now looking forward to my first go at the Oxford parkrun on Saturday. I also learned the useful lesson that I don’t actually need to eat anything on a half marathon.