The Bristol Half Marathon (13.1 miles/21km)

Sunday September 9th, 2007 was a day I was waiting in anticipation for and yet also dreading more than you can imagine. I have been training for the half marathon for the last few months and although I felt ready for it wasn't too sure what to expect. I started out with a goal of 2 hours as I really didn't know what a good time was but someone suggested 2 hours was pretty good. Perhaps the part that made me the most nervous though was the fact that I had told so much of my family and friends that the plan was to run in it in that time and I really didn't want to have to tell everyone if I didn't achieve my goal.

I was up bright and early on the Sunday morning to get breakfast in 2.5 hours before the race began. With everything I needed ready (ipod shuffle and race number) I set off to the centre of Bristol to meet up with a few friends from work who also ran the race.

About 8500 people managed to make their way to the start line out of the 15000 that entered so I made my way to the middle where the 2 hour mark was set. There are 2 times that you are given in the race, one being the clock time which is the official time you ran since the clock time and the second being the chip time as everyone has a chip attached to their shoe to record your times at certain markers and is the more accurate time. Since there were so many people running it took me over 4min to actually reach the start line so my chip time was the time I was going to go by. I set my stopwatch, started my ipod, and was on my way.

The start of the race was quite hard with so many people in the way and I quickly realized that I should have started a little further up as I was dodging and passing people within the first few min. That said there were also people doing the same thing and passing me. After an hour I was about 7.5miles through the race and with energy still in me decided I could push it a little faster. By the time the small hill approached at the 11mile marker I was dead tired but determined to run constantly through the whole race. The 12th mile marker was a blessing and I decided to sprint the last mile and give it everything I had. Wow was that ever a mistake. Half a mile later I was feeling incredibly sick and dizzy so I slowed down to the previous pace until I could see the finish line where I sprinted the last 150m or so. I crossed the line with a clock time of 1 hour and 46 min and a chip time of 1 hour and 42min putting me 18min ahead of goal. I couldn't have been happier and yet more tired if I tried.

Overall I placed 1398 out of 8500 and averaged a speed of about 8miles/hour (12.8km/h) over the whole 102 min of constant running. As it was my first organized race I now know what to expect and plan on doing a few more and trying to beat that record in the future. It also gives me a great incentive to stay in shape and push myself further. It was a great experience and one that I am very glad I did.

Not long now until the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 14th. Not sure if this is a wise choice or not running in 2 almost within a month of each other. Only one way to find out!!!!

Another wedding celebration.

This Saturday was another family wedding celebration for my cousin Chris and his fiancée Jacqui. It was held down in Goran Haven in Cornwall and yet again the weather was perfect. It was more of pre wedding party as the actual wedding will be held in South Africa next month so this party was for those people who would not be able to make it to South Africa. Luckily for me I was/am able to make it out to both. It started off with a few drinks in the sun and then made its way inside the only pub in the village for a wonderful roast dinner and speeches. It was great to be with so much family again within a short amount of time from the last wedding.


After lunch we all went down to the beach for a swim and some much loved pier jumping which in areas Sam (another cousin) and I managed to jump off a point that was around 20ft high or so. Unfortunately I had to leave a little early as I had to be back in Bristol for the following morning to run the half marathon. I left around 5 and thanks to the British Rail system and its delays it took me 5.5 hours to get home instead of the 3.5 hours it should have been.



Best of luck to Chris and Jacqui and I look forward to seeing you guys again soon in Durban South Africa.

The Wedding

It was a very short trip home the other week as I left on the thursday from England only to return on the Sunday night. The reason for the trip was to attend Dawn and Brad's wedding which was a great day. The weather was perfect, the company was perfect, in fact the whole day was perfect. What more can you ask for? I wish them all the best in their life together and am very happy that I have gained a great brother in law.















I would like to thank everyone (espeically my parents) for all their hard work and effort for making it such a wonderful day and. Also, thank you to Kelly and Ryan for coming out to celebrate the day as well. Glad you could make it!!!