Great Cumbria Half Marathon - Race Report

Four us headed down to Carlisle early on Sunday morning to take part in the Great Cumbria Half Marathon; Myself, Phil Marshall, Graham Ramage and Mark Saez.
Despite Grahams insistence on discussing his favourite shampoo all the way down (Tea Tree and mint if you're interested) we arrived unscathed, very early, and to better weather than we had experienced on the drive (which seemed to stop the second we left Scotland). Still a bit wet underfoot but no wind and quite humid.
We got ready slowly and were on the start line with time to spare once we had coaxed Graham though his Portaloo phobia.

The race starts under the gates of the Castle in the city centre, heading out through the pedestrianised high street then leaving the city after about 3 miles and into the countryside.  Some very nice villages en route and all with great local support. The course is not flat with more rolling hills than anything too sharp which is perfect for me. The course heads back into the city for the final 3 miles meandering round on a bit of dirt track, taking in a bit of the Brampton to Carlisle 10 mile route before joining the riverside path and down onto the running track for a stadium finish.

I have not run a Half Marathon for 3 or 4 years with my PB being 1 hr 22. As the race day approached my target time changed from a PB around 1 hr 21 down to 1 hr 25 down to being happy with a sub 1 hr 30. It was the finale to the 28 day run programme for me so I had run almost every day for a month. This did mean though that, apart from the TTC training camp, I hadn't run necessarily that fast or for more than 8 miles since Ironman in July. I had tried to run at race pace in the week but struggled to get near it but the minute the race started I instantly felt comfortable and strong. Amazing how so many people go off too hard and I spent the race picking these people off and pleasingly didn't get overtaken once in the whole race. I was surpised that I managed to hold my target pace of between 6.30 - 6.45 minute miles and finished strong in 1 hr 25. This is perfect proof to me that the 28 run programme works - if done sensibly and you listen to your body then you can build your strength & mileage without inducing the fatigue from longer runs.

This was Mark Saez's first half marathon but he and Graham both run with Calderglen Harriers so are well used to the high mileage. Mark fancied around 1 hr 31 and was not far off with a 1 hr 33 finish. An excellent result for his first time.
Graham ran this race last year and also ran the Glasgow Half last month but his 1 hr 34 today was a PB and a 4 minute improvement on last year.

Phil only started running with us in March and with a bit of consistency and some sensible training he has built his mileage up in no time at all. Phil had prepped well for this race and knew the course, the mile markers and his target pace to give him sub 2 hours. Whilst you never how it feels at the end of a half marathon till you've done one Phil hung in there and finished in a pace perfect 1.58.

We were lucky with the weather until the minute Phil finished & the rain started to hammer down as we headed the half mile back to the car. We quickly stripped off our soaking wet clothes in the middle of the car park only to put on clothes that became instantly soaking wet from the rain. We soon warmed up though with a coffee & cake stop on the way home.

I would highly recommend this event - really slickly organised, a great course and very easy to get to.