Race Day Preview - Merthyr Half Marathon

First half marathon of the year!

Nice easy trip as this one is my homeland, my home town, my place of residence. Merthyr Tydfil. The 13.1 miles will cover from the College down the taff trail on what can only be described as an undulating course. Also a narrow course, oh so narrow.

Also Amman United rugby star Shane Williams will be starting the race!

Thinking about it, I'm not 100% looking forward to this one. I've had a bit of s phlegm-y cough all week and, did I mention how narrow the course is?

While narrow, it is pretty scenic, the taff trail is a nice run and if it stays dry it'll be warm enough with tree shade at regular intervals. The course has changed this year and misses out the wonder of a long set of steps half way. Instead we'll be waving at the steps as we turn at the top.

This will be a good test, but entry depending I'd imagine I'm more likely to post decent times in Swansea or Cardiff later in the year.

So... targets:

Baseline:
1:58:00 (9:00 min/ml)

Achievable:
1:55:00 (8:46 min/ml)

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time:
1:50:00 (8:23 min/ml)

1:58 is last years time, so that needs to be done I think and I think 1:55 is possible if I run well enough. Now I've been rubbish with target settings so far so I've made the top one very unlikely. 1:50 would tie a PB, which was set in Cardiff, a much much easier course. 

It's a 10am start and I'll be around from 9ish supporting my kids in their races, so come say hi! Also looking like my last one in a Merthyr vest, for a while at least. May actually go for a tank top!