The Cambridge Half Marathon is fast becoming an iconic city race that shows off the best of Cambridge’s historical architecture and culture. It also has become a marker of the beginning of spring, as for the 2nd year running we were blessed with glorious weather.
The course is super flat and although it is a little twisty in places as in turns down some of the backstreets, it has definite PB potential. The support and atmosphere is fantastic! Crowds line the course and their cheers and applause numb the pain when you are deep in the hurt box.
Like last year I wanted to use the Half as a little test of my run fitness. This year being unsure of my exact form i went in with the ambition of beating last years time (1hr 13min 3sec) and having a time that started with a 1:12.
Being a local race there were many a friendly face running. Basically my entire local Tri club were out in force and were sure to be taking up many of the front places.
As soon as the horn sounded Aaron Scott made his way off the front and i made no effort to follow. He is in a different league (last year he ran a 1:06:34) and short of injury would easily run away with the 2015 title.
I found myself all alone in 2nd place. I had a decision to make. Do i ease up a touch and work with two strong runners just behind who i knew would be doing a mid to low 1:12 or push on solo into the unknown. The wind was up so looking back the sensible decision would have been to work with the other runners, but i felt strong and full of bounce so i drove on into the unknown, soaking up the crowd and starting to dream of 70 & 71 minutes. I went through 10km in 33min flat and still feeling comfortable. In places I still had Aaron in site. It wasn't until the long straight into the head wind on the 2nd lap that the intensity started to get to me. It was then whilst battling on into the persisting wind that i wished i had a few bodies to shelter behind. I left the windy straight with plenty of miles left in the race and legs that felt abused. All i could do was hold onto my form and get used to suffering.
At around ten miles the two strong runners (Darling & Connel) caught me and I had little firepower to hold onto them. I went all in to keep them within my sites, plunging myself down into a painful hell. This is where the crowds make such a difference. They absorbed the pain and gave me strength. They carried me to the finish line to which i was delighted to have crossed without the wheels completely falling off.
I went sub 73 minutes in worst conditions than the previous year. I finished 4th and I leave with the reassurance that come Tri Season i’ll be ready and dangerous come the final discipline.
Well done to all the finishers. And a big thank you to all the wonderful people of cambridge who came out in force to cheer us on. And One Step Beyond for another great race.
on a side note. Writing this the day after the race. I forget how much damage these first races do. My legs genuinely feel like I've been 15 rounds with a young Mike Tyson who has decided to focus all of his incredible destructive power on my legs! I’ve spent all day shuffling round like I've got Forrest Gump leg braces on. and I expect to do the same tomorrow.