Excellent Yvonne, like your brother said it was a very tough course so he did great and everyone else that completed it. Thanks for your positive words which helped me to complete my first HM. Good luck to you in any races you may be taking part in soon!

Congratulations Matt, fab time. My big bro doesn't club run - just for fun. He completed in just under two hours so very proud of him :)

Thanks Mike, looking forward to what challenges 2012 brings now.

Great result Matt - well done!

Thanks Yvonne, and well done on your 1st HM, great time! Yeah Stevenage Half is hilly here and there so it's not going to be easy going but hopefully I'll make up time going down the hills if my legs want to speed up here and there. I'll definatly be taking jelly beans with me on the run and plan not to take any water on board until I've run at least 4 or 5 miles of the race. I'll update you Sunday afternoon to let you know my time. Good luck to your brother on Sunday, does he run for a club?

Hi Matt, I ran my first half marathon last sunday at the Ultramarathon Pumkin Run at Stanwick Lakes. Like Mike suggests I went for more carbs less protein in the days leading up but on the morning enjoyed a big bowl of porridge sweetened with honey - works for me every time :) 

I went out a bit slower (planned but also because of the congestion at the start) knowing that if I was running well I should achieve at least the 7 mile mark at around the hour. I found I had to concentrate hard miles 8 to 10 to keep pace but psychologically hitting mile 11 began the leg home and I found I was able to dig deep and was v chuffed to complete in 1.53.57 by my watch (no chip timing). 

A bag loaded with lucozade, extra water, banana, yoghurt coated biscuits and a bag of jelly babies got me through the drive home which was an hour. I did managed to find a spot for a little post race stretch which helped stop cramp in the car and I had a protein shake when I got in. Rested monday and enjoyed an extremely slow 4 miles Tuesday morning without stiffness or pain of any kind. All in all very pleased with the step up to half and am hoping to improve at my next race, the Bath Half in March (which will be my London warm up).

My brother lives in Stevenage and is also running on sunday - he said the undulation of the underpasses gets tough towards to the end so I wish you all the best. Mostly, just enjoy it :)

Matt I should have added the post race tactic:

Carbs as quickly as you can after you have finished but this time you also want protein. So a milk shake; ham sandwich even a boiled egg. The carbs replenish the glycogen stores and the protein will be used to repair the tiny micro-tears in your muscles etc. Pack this in your kit bag the night before so you haven't got to queue up somwhere getting cold....!

Stretch and warm down jog if you have the energy!

Good luck

Thanks Mike, my best time at 10 miles is 1hour22mins which I set at the Fred Hughes 10 in St Albans. I'll definatly take your advice on board,

Thanks again,

Matt

Matt

Definitely think of the race as 2 x 10km (6miles) - DO NOT blast the first and try and hold on for the second. With all due respects, it does'nt sound as if you have the depth of running in your legs for that to work. Ten miles is fine for the training if you have done it a couple of times - what time have you run that in?

NIght before - too late. Think three days/nights before. So I typically have meals with mainly carbs on Thurs/Fri/Sat evening, lots of veg + spuds; pasta; rice with fish/chicken. Timing up to you but no later than about 8.00pm I would have thought if the race is in the morning. During the last three days I will have cereal and bread and on Saturday afternoon sip a sport drink to make sure I am properly hydrated.

Breakfast - toast; fruit juice and tea then a cereal bar and/or banana an hour or so before the off. I will also have up to 250-300ml of sports drink in the hour before the race itself (but look out for the pressure on your bladder!)

Finally, I carry a pocketfull of jelly beans and take a few every 3-4km and take on drink at the stations but not always the first one which is often at 5km.  

Good luck and let us know how you get on....