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@Arducius
Reading Half yesterday precluded by running to the start form the centre of town to add on some miles. Learned some valuable lessons, namely:
People are annoying. Big crowds aren't really conducive to running and I kept bumping into people, or being bumped into as we were running elbow to elbow for the first mile or so. It's hard to run at your own pace, you just have to move with everyone else. I started off thinking I'd made a mistake in entering London and maybe I'll hate it. I was reminded of the comment that @hats (I think?) made after last year's London Marathon.
But also... People are awesome. The support around the course is brilliant and can give you a real lift. The two high points for me were the drumming band in an underpass making an incredible noise and entering the staduim for the finish, hearing the crowd noise build as you approach and then it hits you and you feel famous and full of energy.
I need to be strict with my pacing. I started near the 1:35 pacer and kept up for the first 8 miles which meant I was running too fast and I paid for it over the last couple of miles. Should have eased off from the start.
I don't think I can run a marathon on tarmac in barefoot shoes. I got wet feet before starting yesterday which meant they were in a pretty sorry state by the end. But even if they'd been dry I think I would still have blisters and my feet are very tired. New shoes today then 3 weeks to bed them in...
The organisation for Reading Half is really very good. My only gripe is the start time was advertised as 10 (and all the normal advice about getting there in good time etc was given) but what actually happened was the wheelchair race started at 10, then the elites at 1015, then the first wave at 1025, and subsequent waves at 10 min intervals. I get the need to do this but would it be that hard to tell us beforehand?
1:42 would have been a new PB not so long ago so I'm still happy with the time and hopefully this has set me up nicely for London in only 3 weeks.