Overview
My First Half Marathon! (Well let’s not discuss the half marathon I attempted back in 2022 with literally no training!)
- Name: AJ Bell Glasgow Half Marathon
- Date: 1st October, 2023
- Distance: 13.1 miles
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
- Website: https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-scottish-run/
- Strava: https://strava.app.link/Jr0GpV9ayDb
- Instagram Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx3LMRisQrh/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==
- Time: 1:53:21
Goals
| Goal | Description | Completed? |
|---|---|---|
| A | Personal Best | Yes |
| B | Sub 2:00 | Yes |
| C | Sub 1:50 | No |
Splits
| Kilometre | Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5:07 |
| 2 | 4:41 |
| 3 | 4:54 |
| 4 | 4:46 |
| 5 | 5:03 |
| 6 | 5:12 |
| 7 | 5:10 |
| 8 | 5:22 |
| 9 | 5:29 |
| 10 | 5:31 |
| 11 | 5:26 |
| 12 | 5:23 |
| 13 | 5:23 |
| 14 | 5:08 |
| 15 | 5:41 |
| 16 | 5:29 |
| 17 | 5:28 |
| 18 | 5:51 |
| 19 | 5:44 |
| 20 | 5:56 |
| 21 | 5:53 |
Training
Okay so I didn’t really specifically train for this, it’s my first race half marathon so you know I wasn’t super organised. I had just 4 weeks ago spent 3 months working on my 10k speed and had signed up for this in a whim during August. After my 10k at the start of September I just started cramming in what I could which was mostly z2 casual runs with a long z2 run on a Saturday of more than 21k.
I did not do enough tempo runs, race pace or intervals to prepare myself for hitting my main goal. Lesson learned for next time.
Pre-race
Shoved my race shoes on (Saucony Endorphin Pro 3s) then I ran down to the train station, cause you know that’s a good warm up and got the train into town. Lots of runners on the train, it’s Scotland’s largest participation race with over 20,000 runners and I’d never been in a race as busy before.
Once I got there – an hour early – did the normal I would for any other race.
- Pee
- Bag drop – this took ages for me to find
- Found a decent street to warm up in.
I did about 2.5k of warm up and down around George’s Square where the race was. Throwing in some strides and high knees. Felt pretty good.
Went and got in position for the “warm up” by the local radio presenters and then slowly but surely my wave got to the front. I was in green which was the second wave behind the elites. Took a good 20 minutes to get to starting point, shoved a caffeine gel down my throat at this point.
Race
And we are off! As per usually I started way too strong but I felt great, good pace considering I hadn’t trained for it. The first mile is all uphill. I just sprinted up it, hills are my strong point… flats not so much.
Then it’s round to the slip round taking us up on to the motorway (freeway) and we run across the main bridge in Glasgow Kingston bridge. This is the 2 mile point. I’m feeling great I’m dancing as the tunes blare in my ear (pretty sure it’s Lizzo’s are you ready at this point and I’m proper feeling it – throwing my arms around to someone next to me asking are you dancing ha!)
Mile 3 to 5 take us down to Pollock park a very hilly park in the south of Glasgow. I power up and down the hills, one hill feels like it’s never ending. I’m still passing people at this point. Hits mile 7 and I’m feeling a bit tired so I shove another gel down my throat.
Mile 8 the gel kicks in and I’m feeling good. Something is up with my Garmin tho and it’s not showing my splits correctly. Says I’m 14 minute behind my pace time which isn’t right, I’m calculating in my head and I’m ahead. Mentally it throws me off. My hip starts hurting at mile 9 combined with the watch thing I start counting down the mile markers.
Doesn’t help that we are out of hills. It’s all flats or low gradients so I’m slowing down.
Mile 10, 11 and 12 pass by without incident, I get to mile 13 and I’m done I pull out my earphones and listen to the now developing crowd for the end of the race. They encourage me on shouting my name from my race bib, I walk 100m and then start running again till the end albeit at a much slower pace.
I get to the last 400m and bam my energy comes back I see my wife and kids and just floor it to impress them 😅. I finish strong and actually get good race photos for a change!
Post-race
I missed my target by 3 minutes which I’m annoyed about but I didn’t really train specifically for this so I’m not too annoyed. My left hip is sore which is screaming to me that I was overstriding at points, I’m assuming last 3 miles when my form was deteriorating.
I didn’t really know what to aim for speed wise going into this so I’m really pleased I actually pushed myself. Plus now I know what to aim for next time.
I have Manchester marathon in April so I’m starting my training for that now. Aim is for a decent sub 4 hour. I also have Hyrox at the start of March so that mines I can shake up a lot of my training for strength. Going to be a great next 6-7 months!
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