Farnborough Winter Half Marathon 2024
“It’s been freezing all week”……”There’s a yellow weather warning for wind”……”Shall we hunker down at home and ride it out?”….”Nah, lets go and run a half marathon!!!”
After a year of anticipation (with many of us remembering last year’s -7˚C weather), the day had finally come for many keen runners (2,082 to be precise) to converge on the home of British Aviation in Farnborough. Together we navigated toilet queues, an ominously long bag drop queue (big thanks to Tanya for sorting everyone’s bags and giving me your place in the loo queue) and that awkward moment where you all split up to stand where you think you ought to be in the starting pen (what do you mean I can’t just run at the front?). Then we were off!
It's really hard not to go too fast at the start isn’t it? You feel fresh, hopefully well rested, and everyone around you seems to be dragging you along! I can’t speak for all the other runners, but I know I spent the first 5km around the airport repeatedly telling myself to slow down but secretly willing myself to run faster! Once the airport loop was tackled, the real “grind” of the race began.
On balance, Farnborough Winter Half is a relatively flat course, but when you’re several miles deep and looking at another rolling hill you can’t help but think someone’s played a prank on you! Roaming around Cody Technology park, and off towards Laffan’s bridge it’s actually easy to believe we are further out in the country than we really are.
There’s a lovely part, as you come into Rushmoor, when you get a chance to try and spot your friends running past you. For me it served as a great distraction and a chance to celebrate just how brilliantly everyone was doing! I got to enjoy about 15 minutes of being cheered on and cheering on others in return. Whilst lovely, I also found that bit dragged a bit (a switch back at 8.5 miles can do that to a person) but I perked up as I headed into the woods.
Having run this race before, I know we end with a return to the airport, so as my watch showed 11 miles and I emerged from the woods, I knew it was time to really get moving. The quicker I go, the quicker I finish right? And as you run around the airport, and see the 2 and 3km markers you get a chance to reflect on your race so far. Whether the running Gods have been kind or cruel to you, you have still achieved something incredible.
This year the finish had to change slightly, and I can’t be the only person who tried to kid themselves that the race organisers might have moved the finish. Surely it was around that corner? Or this one? Hang on…..it’s a bit longer than 13.1 miles! Then, finally it arrived and we could use our last bit of energy, leaving everything on the course as we threw ourselves over the line and got handed our well earned medals and gloves! Another half marathon done (or a first one completed)!
This year at Farnham Town Running club we had so much to celebrate with all of our runners putting in fantastic performances.
Owen Hardy lead the pack and came through in 1:31, soon followed by Harvey Wickham (1:38) and Gordon Randall not too far behind earning a PB (1:42). Stuart Williamson played the role of pacer to Jack Jeffrey and together they secured a time of 1:44 (an 11 minute PB for Jack!). Sophie McGuinness, who initially fancied a gentle run got a 10 minute PB (1:48), with Piero Rizzi and Sophie Deadman-Nicholls coming in not long after (1:49). Emma Roberts ran close to PB pace in 1:51 (but got distracted by a plane!), Jordan Hale ran a brilliant 1:51 as well and Susan Doherty finished in 1:55. Amy-Claire Palmer ran the half in 2:02 whilst Sarah Harris pulled off a PB by almost 4 minutes (2:02) and Jonathan Craig finished his first half marathon in (2:06). Carla White finished her first half in 2:10 with me (Laura Bartlett) just behind her in 2:11. Sharon Robinson finished in 2:12 with Tony Newton getting a 2 minute PB (2:14) and Gary Sheehan finishing his first half (2:15) just behind him.
Long story short, it was a fantastic morning of running from our Farnham Town members!
Let’s not forget the volunteers that actually meant this event could even be put on! So many people gave up their time to line the course, make it safe and provide some much needed cheering including our own Sam Wake! Volunteering at these events can be incredible fun and gives you a chance to see a completely different side to a race. Give it a try!
Finally, my take home tip from the event. If you wear a club top that says “Run Leader Laura” on the back, be prepared to hear the words “run leader Laura” quoted at you over and over and over again!
Well done again everyone! Same time next year?
Race report written by: Laura Bartlett
