I was a bit surprised to find myself on the way to this years MK NSPCC Half Marathon Sunday morning. What with a promise to myself that I wouldn’t start if it looked like yet another wet MK race on top of recent illness, problems with the car and an achy leg, I’d already emailed Peter to say I might not be there. But, after a really wet Saturday evening, it looked ok when I woke at 7am and a check of the forecast suggested it might actually be a nice morning.

Met up with VCACs Sharon, Keith and Mark plus VRUKs Peter and Chris at the start for a photo then went for a warm-up run to avoid the very loud official warm-up hokey cokey thing. What with no hope of a pb and the necessity of keeping my legs in good condition for Thursday’s Real Relay stage I had decided this would be the race where I made a point of running easy and finishing strong. Despite potential for me running under 1:45 on this course on a good day I’d decided I would run on heart rate not pace and focus on finishing comfortably under 2 hours rather than knackered under 1:50.

Lining up behind the 2 hour flag I listened to some bloke dictating to a girl at what pace they would run and how she must not lag behind. Elsewhere were nervous looking first timers, giggly girls (though plenty of those nearer the front as well I expect) and a couple of interesting costumes. Plenty of warning that the start was imminent though this far back it was a slow shuffle to the timing start mat.

Keeping my heart rate under 150 bpm I settled into rhythm, a few faster runners who had been trapped at the back claimed their positions and some of the over ambitious fell back, red faces and heavy breathing before the first mile was done. Bossy boots could be heard telling his victim they were running 8:30 miles – she could be heard huffing and puffing. He overtook me in the second mile then looked back exasperated as he realised he had left her behind for about the tenth time and he had to wait up again. I re-passed him resisting the temptation to point out he’d probably already sabotaged her run before even the second mile.

The miles went by, many of them familiar from other MK races. Cycle-paths, pavements, by the lake, along the canal towpath, under a subway – you get the idea. The conditions were good if maybe a little humid and I was thoroughly enjoying my run. I gradually worked my way up the field and felt fresh but wasn’t tempted to speed up as by now it was far too late to change my plan. Inevitably my heart rate was climbing and the second half of this race is a little bit harder than the first what with a few inclines and bridges.

I eased off even more around mile 9 saving myself for the 12 mile marker when I put a bit of effort in and passed at least 20 runners on the climb to the finish. I pushed for the last quarter mile and finished in 1:56:08 surprisingly well up the field for a relatively slow time, 490th of 1478. Not a drop of rain all round and only one puddle of any consequence, in fact there was even a bit of sunshine.

I met Peter and Keith near the finish. According to the timing slip Keith had won MV50, he seemed a bit surprised at this as he didn’t think he’d run that well. He collected his prize plaque and cash only to find later when he checked the results that they’d been amended and he was now 2nd MV50. A right cock-up by someone, presumably the timing company. We waited for Sharon who was expected around the 2hr 30m mark. Sometime around then a rather low key (compared with all the fuss they made in Oxford the next day anyway) Olympic torch appeared in the finish straight with white clothed runners and security and crossed the line.

Re-enacting my last visit to the NSPCC Half in 2009 I missed the side road leading off towards where I’d parked and followed people towards the wrong car-park before getting deja-vu, only it’s probably not called that when it’s real, and retracing to where I should have gone.  I think I could get to enjoy racing slowly and not bothering to try hard or go much outside my comfort zone. That’s not really what it’s all about though so after Thursday’s Real Relay run I guess it’s back to the intervals and hill sessions in an attempt to reverse the current decline!