Recent RUNNING Events - 2013

Reading Half Marathon - 17th March 2013

I ran the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, 17th March 2013. It was my 18th HALF Marathon race and my 3rd Reading Half Marathon to date. I couldn't believe I hit my best Reading time this year. I knocked off just over 4 Minutes from my time of last year. My previous times were :-

2011 - 02:24:57
2012 - 02:22:00
2013 - 02:18:26

The FINISH Line - Madejski Stadium, Reading

It was great to be able to finish running in to the Stadium for the 3rd time in Reading, it gave me flashbacks to when I ran my 5th Marathon in Amsterdam in 2010.... Finishing inside the Olympic Stadium.  I can imagine how many great sports people have graced the stadium with their presence. I am really in awe of all my sporting heroes.

I woke up on the morning of the run feeling a little disappointed as it was still raining from the previous day. I was staying at a nearby hotel about 15 Minutes walk from Reading train station. I left at around 7.45am that morning as I'd planned to meet up with friends outside the Madejski Stadium for 9am. On my way to catching the Shuttle Bus I met a fellow runner who was also making his way to the bus stop... His name was 'Sonwabo', he told me he was originally from Cape Town and that it was his first ever Half Marathon and he just needed a bit of motivation. My reply back to him was 'motivation?' I was feeling about demotivated myself from the weather we were having and I could guess that coming from Cape Town he wasn't used to the grey skies and sub zero temperatures. So I took it upon my self to introduce him to as many of my friends as I could find. The more runners he could meet the more motivation he'd feel to run this marathon.  I told him that I'd just ran a Marathon in Bolton last weekend and that it was one of the hilliest runs I'd done to date and that I'd completed it in just under 7 Hours in very windy and snowy conditions. He was amazed and a little bit impressed even the weather being so bad there were runners gathering and traveling for these events. I guess this is all part of the runners lifestyle, braving the winds and traveling to get that next race in. 

Sonwabo and I caught the bus to the Stadium. They were giving away WHITE Mizuno Caps while we were waiting for the Shuttle bus.... It was raining and it was very cold.  My teeth were chattering and I'm sure I looked a right state with so many layers on.  On arrival outside the stadium we met Hannah Clark Prentice and Lorraine O'Connor for the very first time. They weren't at all nervous but they were also not liking the weather we were having to run in. After we dropped our bags off we finally had to wave our good byes to Hannah as she was in another starting colour pen to us.

I had opted to put my orange rain jacket on together with my New York Marathon top and short sleeve Fat Feet top I got from the Grimsthorpe Ultra last year. My gloves were constantly on and despite this I could not feel my hands as they  were soooo cold, wet and totally numb.  It must have been the coldest and wettest run ever.  As soon as we started the run it was raining very heavily.  My leg muscles were very stiff and at one point during the race I thought they may even seize up. A few tricky hills on the course, but nothing compared to the Bolton Hill Marathon I ran the previous week.

The volunteers, supporters, bands and the crowds were awesome and indeed outstandingly brave  to be there in during the awful weather conditions we were having. They all were standing around with red noses - not a good look!

So proud of Sonwabo completing his very first Half Marathon in 2 Hours, 12 Minutes and 54 Seconds. He was raising money towards 'Against Breast Cancer'. What a nice chap he is.

Hannah, Me, Lorraine and Sonwabo- Before the Reading HALF!

The TENTS were full of GIANT Puddles

The Tea & Coffee Tent

Before the RACE at the ORANGE Colour PEN - Me, Sonwabo, Lorraine and her 2 other friends!
 The race started in Green Park, 250m from the race site at Madejski Stadium.

Reading Souvenirs

A runner flying an UMBRELLA in the AIR!

The CAKE Man - He was giving away Cakes and Tarts in the TENT... We all took one each!! Really went down well with our cups of TEA.... ^-^

Bakewell Tarts

Tarts and Mini-CupCakes

As I was approaching the end of the run I noticed many people wrapped up in those silver blankets. Thank god we were being handed these silver blanket at the FINISH to wrap up warm, this helped get my blood pumping to my fingers again. I hurriedly scooped up my medal and goody bag and headed to the baggage area where I then met up with running buddies Hannah and finally Lorraine and Sonwabo turned up.

Runners waiting for the SHUTTLE Bus from Reading to the Stadium - There were 34 FREE Shuttle Buses in total travelling from Reading Station and the Madejski Stadium

Runners waiting for the SHUTTLE Bus at the END in Cold Temperature and Very heavy RAIN

SALE at the SweatShop Booth

Advanced Warning - Reading Half Marathon

Hannah, Sonwabo, Lorraine & Me with our FINISH Medals

AT the FINISH with my MEDAL - Official CHIP TIME : 2 Hours, 18 Minutes & 26 Seconds

Photos taken from 'marathon-photos.com'

Your split times were:	5K:		00:33:07
	10K:		01:04:16
	15K:		01:38:28