RESULTS ARCHIVE

21/03/10 - Hastings Half Marathon

I've had this event booked for a while now, i'll call it an event as i don't like to race.

We set off from Thurso at 11am on Sat 20th march, travelling with my co training partner / runner Yvonne McCarthy, on the first leg of our journey - we've been training for this since Christmas, so the excitement levels were pretty high all the way to England.

Pre-event meal at my sisters house who had arranged for us to hook up with a few 'Orpington Runners' in Hastings. Spoke about tacticts and got lots of tips from my sister as she had run this event last year. Just before bed our race numbers were pinned onto the NHH shirts, OMG.....we're actually doing this tomorrow!

Woke up 6am to a pretty dull, and drizzly day, we were in a convoy of cars leaving Kent at 7.30am. Our car had all the girls together, which was great, as sweeties were being passed around, and stories from last year were being shared.

The smell of deep heat in the changing marquees was strong, the start was near, still no sign of our other NHH John, i had everyone looking out for him, as we made our way to the start, my sister spotted the shirt, there was John, i pushed through the crowd to grab him and wish him a good race and hoped to meet up at the finish.

Everyone was so crammed, the music started - chariots of fire ....... the gun went off i think? and the walk began, just before we reached the starting arch we picked up a slow jog, everyone beeping their watches as they went through, we were away.

The crowds were amazing, everyone shouting, waving, cheering.

Just 1/2 mile in and the first hill appeared, it was steep but short so we just powered up, before we knew it 2 miles had gone by, spirits very high, trying to keep a watch on Yvonne and another 2 runners we were with.

3 miles and 'The Hill' began......at 5 miles we were still on the hill, at this point wondering why are we doing this? Finally down hill for a while, just enough to catch your breath again, turning a corner to face yet another hill.

Just over 8 miles now and going down, sea mist was lingering - maybe just where we are so high up!!! Still going well people out banging saucepans, kids waiting for the high fives, orange segments, jelly babies, pubs all outside with music blaring - surely there can be no more hills, oh yes another steep one at 9miles, then we started to head down to the see front.

Still going down, legs just doing the motion, had a tip to move your arms like your front crawling, we done this for about 5seconds then thought we were going to take off, or fall over, or just get dizzy and pass out!! so quickly went back to the regimented right angle.

Now down at the sea front, smelling the fish and chip shops, it's all flat now.....only 2.5 miles left.

The course was still lined with supporters - shouting 'see you at the finish', 'your nearly there', 'keep going girls, your doing great', the finish line was in sight, thank god!!! now it was just the last 1/4mile.

We grabbed hands and picked up the pace. not sure who was dragging who across the line, we had made it. Our well deserved finishers medals placed in our hand as we were still catching our breath.

Would we do it again???????????? Already booked in for next year.