Race Report - Swansea Half Marathon

I like Swansea, if I ever moved from the Tyd and stayed in the UK it's one of two places I'd consider (the other being Bristol). So competing for s second time in their half marathon is a nice thing to do. The course is very straight, not as flat as I remember (based on the stats I saw, still feels pretty flat to me, I think there's a risk my strava was off there) but fast! A nice quick course.

It was rainy at the start as I lined up in pen B, in my all new 1bloodydrop.com vest (very snug, needed a size higher, but amazingly comfortable), the 1:45 pacers in my sights. All felt good, and we were off. Off quite quick, I did think if the pacers were struggling with maths. Miles were consistently a little fast, 7:15, 7:30... a few people questioned them for them to reveal their plan was to go quick to allow fall off in the second half. Personally I'd have liked even, but I was keeping with them...

Had a little grumble coming down the seafront, little pain in my side I couldn't really explain, but nothing to significantly stop me, so on I pressed, and when the pacer did slow, I pulled ahead, maintaining a similar pace to the natural 'target' for 1:45. Dropped off a little at the end, especially a disappointing last mile, which was a little climb and I had a few seconds of what could have developed into cramp, but behaved enough not to stop me.

Targets were:

Baseline:
1:50:00 I think even on a meh day now I should be sub 110 mins

Achievable:1:45:00
It's 'flat and fast' so lets find a pacer and say Hi!

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time:
1:44:00 would be a big PB, I'll try...

and I got




The PBs just keep coming this year, that takes 2:39 off my previous 13.1 best! Also the elevation is higher than the one in Merthyr (but more gradual), I'm not sure that's right...

The onebloodydrop thing was an attempt to set a record for the most T1 diabetics in a race, which I believe was achieved, well done everyone. Was a pleasure to be a part of it.