Wales Half Marathon Report

Saturday was a lovely morning as Michelle and I headed to our little camp site at Manorbier, near Tenby. We were diverted around the country lanes a little as that day was the cycling part of the triathlon weekend, and as it turned out, the cyclists were passing the entrance to the camp site I was staying at.

Once we had erected the tent and been suitably refreshed, we drove to the leisure centre in Tenby, which was being used for registration purposes for the weekends events, and I collected my bib number.

Whilst we were there, we bumped into a few friends from Griffithstown Harriers, Cwmbran who had gone there first before going to their camp site. I was the only runner from Caerleon attending this event so it was nice to see some friendly faces.

We spent a couple of hours in the town, watching the cyclists coming through the finish line after completing either 45, 66 or 112 miles, and also licking an ice cream whilst strolling on the golden, sandy beach.

During the evening we decided to take a walk into the village of Manorbier and to the beach there, but also to see what the hill was like coming through the village as I knew this was on my route the next day.

The road begins to climb with Manorbier Castle on the left

And still it goes up

At this point there are still seven miles to go. Phew.

Sunday morning and the weather was cloudy with a few spits and spots of rain in the air, just as the forecast predicted, and after a breakfast of porridge and a banana, Michelle drove me to the race meeting point at Pembroke Castle. 

Competitors began to arrive in dribs and drabs and I latched onto those friendly faces, the girls from Griffithstown Harriers.

From left to right: Paula, Cath, Katy, Jenny, Daniela, me and finally Lena

Then at 11:40 we were paraded through the town to the start line as the full marathon competitors were coming through. These had begun their race at 10 am in Tenby and Pembroke was there half way point.

Then at precisely midday, our half marathon began, and within a few short minutes I found myself running through the narrow country lanes.

From here to Manorbier, there isn't much to tell, except that I was feeling good and that the sun had decided to make an appearance, but fortunately we were sheltered by trees from the worst of the midday sunshine, for a while anyway.

Steadily the road climbed but it wasn't difficult, in fact I was feeling that it was pretty easy. Then the lanes became open to the sunshine and I heard some people around me saying that they were feeling hot. I don't appear to mind the heat, as long as I sip fluid regularly and keep myself hydrated, and I was carrying water with me, so i was feeling good still.

We reached the top of a hill and I could see the sea and the beach below, meaning that we had a nice, downhill stretch towards Manorbier.

Short, baby strides and that hill was ok, although it was really hard work. And half way up were crowds of people, some were spectators but, most were runners about to begin the 10K race and they would begin once we had gone through. The top of the hill came into sight and with it a sense of relief. Phew.

I had a mile, maybe a mile and a half respite before I turned a corner and saw the next hill, and every last runner in front of me was walking. I carried on running up and around the next bend and saw that the hill just kept going on, at which point I gave up and began to walk too.

Someone with a sense of humour had used white spray paint on the road, writing;

Think happy thoughts. Think beer. Think wine. Think chips.

Eventually that hill leveled out, but my legs were now feeling tired, but I persevered. 

The road then was a bit undulating but I remembered thinking that the worst appeared to be over, and there were only about another two or three miles to go.

From the top of the next hill I could see Tenby in the distance, which certainly lifted my spirits and the road began to go downhill towards the town and a main road where I could see race marshals and police controlling road traffic. There was just half a mile to go but one last, steep hill heading up to the town centre.

I tried to run all the way up it but I just didn't have the strength in my legs, and so I had no choice but to power walk until the road began to level out, and I could see the crowds cheering and shouting and I knew I only had a couple of hundred metres left to run, and then the finish line came into sight and I put a spurt on with only 100m left to run.

Oh my God that was a tough seven miles. The first six miles felt really easy but those hills in the second half were just so tough.

Before the start of the race I had been asked what time I was expecting to complete the race in. I had completed the Swansea half marathon in 2 hours 2 minutes, but that was a flat course, so I was guessing that I should be able to complete a hilly route inside 2 hours 15 minutes, and I completed this race in 2 hours 13 minutes, so I was a happy bunny.

You can see the huge dip in elevation, in the middle of the graph, as we dropped down to sea level at Manorbier, then it climbing again up through the other side of the village. Then there is that last big hill at the very end.

With the race over, it was time to head back to the camp site for a well earned shower and a cup of tea before meeting up with the Griff girls, which were also now joined by Catherine Spencer who had run in the 10K, and her husband also.

Suitably attired in Hawaiian dress, we ended the day with a few drinks and a few laughs.

So the question is, would I do it again? Hills and all? You're damned right I would. I'll be back again next year along with the Griff girls and hopefully some of my own club mates from Caerleon.