Oxford Half Marathon, 15 Oct 2023

My final race of the season, I had no expectations of a PB after the fatigue post-Weymouth, but I did want to go in with a goal. My aim was to run a very consistent race (I have habit of blowing up around 16k) and then seeing if I could pick up the pace with 3ish km to go. 

A glorious, if not chilly, morning, we waited patiently in the starting pen trying to stay as warm as possible. Before heading to cross the line to start. I had my watch ready with set paces to ensure I didn't go off too fast, but also not too slow as to miss my goal of sub-2 hours. Before I knew it, we were off! The first mile or so were a mix of pace being a little too fast/a little too slow based on the excitement of starting the race and then the mix of all the bodies also starting the race. But we soon strung out and were able to settle into preferred pace. 

The miles ticked away quite nicely, my aim was to have a gel at 7km and 14km to split the race in to 3, and before I knew it it was time for my first gel - timed very nicely with a water station so I could wash the gel down. My pace was good, and by halfway I was on track for sub-2 but still feeling good. We ticked off the next few miles in the sun, soaking in the atmosphere and the surroundings and then it was time for my next gel - where there was some fun. I don't quite know what happened if I was still running and tried to take it (I usually walk a bit for fuelling), or if I just swallowed it wrong. But somehow I managed to take it down the wrong way, anyway my airway felt like it got tighter and I was struggling to breathe. I tried to cough to clear it, but still felt quite restricted in my breathing - tried to jog on, but still struggling to breathe. A minute or so of coughing and spluttering, and some encouragement from fellow runners and I was able to clear my throat and get back into my groove. One minute of slower pace I had not factored in, so this would have to be clawed back somewhere. About a mile later we passed a sprinkler and I attempted to catch some water in my mouth to clear my dry throat (it half worked). Then carrying on. Picking the pace a little over the coming miles we were finally at the last 3k right in the heart of Oxford coming in to University Parks. Still picking up the pace and I had done the maths for what paces I needed to hit to go sub-2, encouraging!

I picked it up and then started to really push as we hit the last km, as we rounded round the Bodleian library (stunning), I was counting down the metres. Hitting 13.1 miles and the finish line was still a bit away, I crossed the line in 2:00:28 (chip time) but with a 13.3 distance, and 1:59:13 half marathon time, which I was super happy with - my race went exactly to plan (well other than the coughing gel fit!).

Lottie Lindsley