Derby Ramathon

After finishing last years Nottingham Half marathon and actually sort of enjoying it I wanted to find another one this year. At first I saw the Sporting Futures Derby Half but it's the same weekend in September as I'm cycling London to Brighton. I then found the Ramathon and it fitted perfectly into my schedule. Also being from Ilkeston having a Derby postcode and a Nottingham phone number it felt right to do a Derby half to match with the Nottingham run.

The race starts and finished from Pride Park (iPro Stadium) like the Derby 10k but that's about the only similarity in the route. The 10k going into the City centre and around the Cathedral Quarter, where the Ramathon went out to Alvaston, Shardlow, Thulston, Elvaston and back to Pride Park. 

Derby 10k route 2015

Ramathon route 2015

The route was really flat with just a few undulations, the sun was out and I was sweating as always. One of my clients was running it and her partner from Beeston Cycling Club was there taking photos. Thanks to his massive camera and bright cycling helmet I could spot him and put on a smile for his photos, or laugh at times because it felt like I was playing "Where's Wally?" looking for him to pop up and take a photo.

2km into the race, a proper smile.

About 12km, laughing at spotting him again.

About 18km, a slightly forced smile/laugh, just let me finish now.

I had never realised how big or nice the park was behind the Pride Park complex, it seemed to go on for a lot longer than the 2/3km we ran in it. Once the iPro Stadium was back in view it was nice, the finish was almost here. I knew I was slightly up on my time from last Septembers Nottingham Half Marathon but I wasn't 100% sure how much. As I turned the penultimate corner a brass band were playing some tunes and I could see about 5 people in front of me and thought game on let's see how many I can overtake. Some how there was a huge sprint finish left in my system and boom overtook all of them. Once I crossed the line I couldn't wait to get a bottle of water, a banana, the medal and some sleep!

My PB for a half marathon at this point was 1 hour 49 minutes and 31 seconds, on this day in Derby I ran in 1 hour 45 minutes 44 seconds, smashing a huge 3 minutes and 47 seconds off my PB. Time to have a big stretch and chill for the rest of the day now.

For more photos please look at my Instagram account.

Another great run done supporting Cancer Research UK too - JustGiving.

Robin Hood Half Marathon

28th September 2014 was the date for my first ever half marathon. I have covered many 10km this year for Cancer Research UK and even 54km as part of the Isle of Wight Challenge but this is the first half marathon I've attempted.

It had to be said I was nervous as I didn't know how I would cope with the distance none stop running. Everybody had been telling me I will be fine and my fitness levels are easily good enough with my job but there's always room for doubt before an event.  

Once I was at the start point ready for the warm up I was growing in confidence thinking 21km of running won't be as bad as 54km of running and walking. I knew I had been slowing down my race pace from around 4min 35sec per km for the 10km races to around 5min 10sec per km for this.

This practice worked really well as by 5, 10 and then 15km I was averaging between 5min to 5min 20sec per km. Unfortunately at 12km my iPod died, so much for the battery life being accurate. This didn't turn out to be a bad thing in the end as I plugged my headphones into my phone and listened to MapMyRun updating me of my time and pace each km.

At the 17km point I was actually feeling really good and any worries I had prior to the event had long gone. This showed with my pace increasing each km toward the finish line. The 21st km was completed in 4 minutes 28 seconds and the final 500m was a quicker pace still as I ended up in a sprint finish against another bloke with the crowd getting louder.

DONE!!!

There were loads of water station along the route and I had a couple of energy gels in my pockets to keep my energy up. I've since read there is a gentleman in a coma after dehydrating once he crossed the finishing line - Nottingham Evening Post. Hopefully he has a good recovery and can continue to run for pleasure or fitness soon. This highlights the risk exercise can have and the importance of sufficient hydration while exercising.

I really enjoyed the run which I honestly didn't expect too and finished in 1 hour 49 minutes 31 seconds. Bring on 2015 for another half marathon or two and hopefully an improved time. 
That's now 11 races down, 1 to go for Cancer Research UK in 2014.

Derby 10k - 45 minutes 11 seconds.
Awsworth 5k - 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Hull 10k - 45 minutes 46 seconds.
Wollaton 10k - 44 minutes 53 seconds.
Twin Peaks Midnight Walk - 8k. - 2 hours 37 minutes.
Leeds 10k - 46 minutes 8 seconds.
York 10k - 46 minutes 31 seconds.
Birmingham Color Run 5k - 45 minutes 38 seconds.
Isle of Wight Challenge 56k - 7 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds.
Wild Warrior 10k - 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds.
Robin Hood Half Marathon 21k - 1 hour 49 minutes and 31 seconds.
Men's Health Challenge Nottingham 12k

If you wish to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt