Nemesis Nick at Sandcastle Water Park Blackpool April 2016

Date: Friday 1 April 2016
Venue: Sandcastle Water Park (Blackpool)
Who Went: Just me

N.B. Any use of "today" in this report means Friday 1 April 2016.

Rationale for Trip

As some of you may have gathered, I enjoy water parks, including Splashdown at Tower Park, Poole and Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool. Having travelled to Blackpool during the afternoon of Thursday 31 March for the RCCGB Blackpool Bash 2016, Friday daytime was an ideal opportunity for me to visit Blackpool's Sandcastle Water Park.

Welcome to Sandcastle Water Park

Just like Blackpool Pleasure Beach the rest of the weekend, it was only a short walk from the hotel where I stayed to Sandcastle Water Park. I got there just before 11:00. At the reception I paid the extra £6.25 for a Hyperzone wristband, which covers the Master Blaster, Sidewinder, Montazooma and Aztec Falls.

In the Pool Area

Once past the foyer, bar and changing rooms, the water park itself is vast. Since this was my seventh visit to-date, I remembered the layout quite well. When I entered the pool area approximately 11:20, I began with Master Blaster.

Master Blaster

One of the four Hyperzone slides, this requires use of a tyre. When I approached the tyre collection point I obtained a tyre almost immediately. However there was a rather lengthy queue upstairs, which tailed back on to the bridge over the wave pool, but I didn't mind waiting. Master Blaster is 250 metres in length and seems to go on for ever; there are several uphill sections. Part way along, you go through a tube slide, which exits the building, spirals around and re-enters the building. That's the blue spiral tube you can see sticking out of the left front corner of the building. Towards the end there's a final climb and a very steep final drop into the landing tray. Altogether a thrilling ride, one of the best in the water park, and worth the wait. For now I limited myself to just one go.

The launch point for Master Blaster has a label on its side with the following information:
Aqua Leisure International
Master Blaster Ride
Commissioned April 2006

One important question: the Master Blaster is described as a rollercoaster water slide, in fact it claims to be the world's longest indoor rollercoaster water slide, but does that mean it's a rollercoaster or not?

Montazooma

One of the two Hyperzone slides which opened in February 2012. This slide requires a special mat with handles and a curved front. On this occasion I was able to collect a mat without having to queue. Having collected a mat, I had to go up some steps, into a tunnel which had some special effect at the entrance, through the tunnel and up several flights of stairs to the top of a tower which was built when the Montazooma and Aztec Falls slides were installed. As I neared the top, there were two queues: one for Montazooma and one for Aztec Falls. The Montazooma queue was quite short at the time. When I reached the launch point I had to place the special mat, curved end facing forwards, on the slide top and lie on the mat head first on my belly, holding the handles at the curved end. Once launched I set off really quickly, and continued quite rapidly all the way to the end. Altogether a fun slide. Afterwards I enjoyed two more goes on Montazooma; I faced almost no wait for a mat at the bottom and only a fairly short queue for the launch point at the top of the stairs both goes.

Aztec Falls

The other Hyperzone slide which opened in February 2012; this requires use of a tyre. There were a few other sliders queuing for a tyre, but I didn't have to wait long to get one. After that I had to go through the same tunnel and up the same stairs as I did for Montazooma. The Aztec Falls queue tailed back considerably further down the stairs than the Montazooma queue, but I didn't mind the wait. When it was my turn to slide I had to sit on my tyre (just like Master Blaster). This was so amazing, I went down a dark closed tube slide. Halfway down I entered a giant bowl, and was whirled at speed once around the outer edge, followed by once around the inner edge into another dark tube slide which took me the rest of the way to the slide exit. Another exciting ride, definitely worth waiting for. Afterwards I enjoyed two more goes on Aztec Falls; on both goes the queue for tyres at the bottom was quite short and the queuing time at the top was similar to on my first go.

Sidewinder

One of the four Hyperzone slides, this requires use of a tyre. Bathers collect a tyre at the bottom and go upstairs to the launch point at the top. Once there one has to sit on the tyre and grip both handles tightly before being pushed over the edge by the lifeguard. There's a very steep drop (a long way down) into a ravine. Following the first drop, you go quite a long way up the other side, then down and back up the side you first came down, and so forth until you run out of momentum and grind to a halt at the bottom of the ravine, before exiting.

At last I decided to give this a go. I managed to collect a tyre at the bottom almost as soon as I got there, but there was a queue for the launch point at the top. When it was my turn I felt nervous about going on this, and nearly chickened out. Determined to try it, I sat on my tyre and gripped the handles as tightly as I could whilst waiting to be pushed over the edge. Once launched I felt so frightened on the first drop I shouted "Oh my God". After the first drop I was worried about losing my tyre, and therefore maintained my grip on the handles as tightly as I could for the rest of the ride. At the end I admitted to the lifeguard collecting / issuing tyres I wasn't sure whether that go was a pleasure or a punishment in the aftermath of my accident on Sidewinder in 2014. She asked if that had put me off Sidewinder and I answered "Yes". Anyway one go was enough for me for now.

Now that I had been on all four Hyperzone slides at least once each, I tried some of the non-Hyperzone slides, starting with Treetops Water Chutes.

Treetops Water Chutes

A set of three wavy slides side by side, thus three sliders can race each other. Looking downhill from the top, the left hand slide is blue, the centre one is yellow and the right hand one is red. These were made by Aqua Leisure International, commissioned 2004. The waiting time for these was minimal if at all. I enjoyed these three wavy slides twice each in the following order: blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow, red.

Duelling Dragons

Two fast closed tube slides, which are classed as White Knuckle Slides, but they're not part of the Hyperzone. The queuing time for these slides was generally quite short, sometimes one or two in front of me at the top but never very far down the stairs. I was hoping to go on both slides, but on this occasion only the right slide (as viewed facing the entrances from the top) was working; I enjoyed eight goes on it. The other Duelling Dragons slide (left slide facing the entrances at the top) was out of action all day.

Thunder Falls Water Slides

Two water slides, one is blue and one is yellow. These are mostly open top, however there's a short covered bit on the yellow slide midway. Both are fairly slow and quite long, thus they give long, gentle, relaxing rides. The waiting time for these was quite long, about two thirds of the way down the stairs. Nonetheless I didn't mind waiting, and enjoyed both slides twice each in the following order: blue, yellow, blue, yellow.

Master Blaster

Now for a few more goes on the rollercoaster water slide Master Blaster. I ended up having four goes. Each time the wait for a tyre at the bottom was minimal, if at all, but the queue for the launch point was quite long, sometimes tailing back as far as the bridge over the wave pool. On one of my goes, my tyre rotated part way along and I ended up travelling the rest of the slide backwards; going down the final drop backwards was really frightening. Thankfully I went forwards from start to finish on the other three goes.

Montazooma

After that I walked across the water park for a few more goes on Montazooma. I ended up having four goes. Each time the wait for a curved mat at the bottom was minimal, if at all, but I faced a few minutes' wait for the launch point at the top of the stairs. Each go was great fun, and definitely worth waiting for.

Aztec Falls

The obvious slide to go on next was Aztec Falls, I ended up having four goes. Each time there was only a short waiting time at the bottom for a tyre, but the queue for the launch point stretched some way down the stairs (considerably longer than for Montazooma). Nonetheless, each go was definitely worth waiting for.

Thunder Falls Water Slides

Now for a few more goes on the Thunder Falls Water Slides. The queue for these was now quite short. I had four goes on each slide in the following order: blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow.

Master Blaster

The final hour of opening was now well underway, so I returned to the Master Blaster, expecting to spend all the remaining opening time having as many goes as I could on it. This late in the day I was able to just take a tyre at the bottom. At the top the queue for the launch point was a fraction of its earlier length; it was now confined to the staircase leading from the upper floor to the Master Blaster launch point. I ended up having six goes on it, and each time I managed to face forwards all the way down.

The lifeguard who was at the tyre issue / collection point for Sidewinder when I went on that earlier was now at the Master Blaster launch point, and she recognised me. Whilst waiting for one of my goes on Master Blaster, she asked me if I'd had any more goes on Sidewinder. I said my one go on it earlier was my only go so far this visit, but I'd enjoyed plenty of goes on other slides including Montazooma and Aztec Falls. She said I needed to get used to Sidewinder again, as I might like it again, just like I used to.

As I left Master Blaster I momentarily considered trying Sidewinder again, but as I passed Sidewinder I felt too nervous to go on it, and instead fancied a few more goes on Montazooma and Aztec Falls.

Montazooma

When I got to the mat collection point at the bottom of Montazooma, I was able to take a mat without having to wait. The queue at the top of the stairs was now very short. Having enjoyed one go I was able to keep my mat to have a second go. After that, I resisted the temptation to have further goes on Montazooma so I could fit in a few goes on Aztec Falls.

Aztec Falls

Without further ado I switched to the tyre issue point for Aztec Falls, and was able to take a tyre straightaway. The Aztec Falls queue at the top of the stairs was also quite short now. I ended up having two goes on Aztec Falls, and was able to keep my tyre between them. Although I was tempted to have further goes on Aztec Falls, I chose not to, in order to have a few more goes on Master Blaster, and perhaps also Sidewinder, before closing time.

Sidewinder

At last I decided to be brave and try Sidewinder at least once more. I was able to collect a tyre from the issue point without having to wait. At the top, there happened to be no-one in front of me. Once again I was nervous about going on this. Anyway, I placed my tyre on the launch platform, sat on my tyre, gripped the handles very tightly and the lifeguard pushed me over the edge. I managed to remain quiet during the first drop, and subsequent rises and falls this time. At the end of this go, I felt like having a second go, and was able to keep my tyre. There was one other bather in front of me at the launch point, but when it was my turn, I sat on my tyre, gripped the handles and waited to be pushed over the edge. Once again I remained quiet on the first drop and subsequent rises and falls. These two goes weren't as bad as I'd feared, but I'm still not sure whether I really enjoyed them or not. Anyway I left Sidewinder after my second go.

Master Blaster

It was now almost closing time, but I still managed to fit in three more goes on Master Blaster. I was able to just take a tyre from the collection point on my first go of this batch, and keep it between goes. Furthermore the queue for the launch point was now really short; at most the top few steps of the staircase from the upper floor to the launch point. My third go on Master Blaster was my final slide on anything for this visit; once that go ended, I gave up my tyre and headed towards the changing rooms.

Due to my desire to have as many slides as possible, I missed a few non-slide facilities. Firstly I didn't go in the wave pool or swim around the Ushi-Gushi River Creek flowing river at all this time. One other attraction which I missed is the Caribbean Storm Treehouse. This is a play area with a number of features including water jets you can aim at other bathers, and a giant coconut which gradually fills and tips to spill its contents over you.

I finally left the pool area at 17:57 (it was due to close at 18:00). Whilst exiting the changing rooms and passing through the reception area I deliberately kept my hoody off so as to show my T-shirt which I had printed for my 44th birthday last September. A few other customers and a member of staff were mystified when they saw the front, until I showed the back. I finally left the building around 18:15. A few minutes later I returned to my hotel to prepare for the evening.

Summary of my day in order of activity

Master Blaster 1
Montazooma 3
Aztec Falls 3
Sidewinder 1
Treetops Water Chutes blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow, red
Duelling Dragons right slide (as viewed from the top) 8
Thunder Falls Water Slides blue, yellow, blue, yellow
Master Blaster 4
Montazooma 4
Aztec Falls 4
Thunder Falls Water Slides blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow
Master Blaster 6
Montazooma 2
Aztec Falls 2
Sidewinder 2
Master Blaster 3

Cumulative Summary of Slides

Slide	Total
Aztec Falls	9
Duelling Dragons right slide	8
Master Blaster	14
Montazooma	9
Sidewinder	3
Thunder Falls Water Slides blue	6
Thunder Falls Water Slides yellow	6
Treetops Water Chutes blue	2
Treetops Water Chutes red	2
Treetops Water Chutes yellow	2
TOTAL	61

Outro

Highlights

Re-riding the thrilling Hyperzone slides Master Blaster, Montazooma and Aztec Falls, plus other slides.
High slide count.

Lowlights

Feeling nervous during each of my three goes on Sidewinder.

Summing Up

Wow, a wet and wild day of water sliding in the UK's largest indoor water park in Blackpool, in Granadaland. By staying in all day, I certainly got my money's worth. Once again I managed to stay in until almost 18:00 without eating or drinking anything (apart from a cup of tap water mid-afternoon). Some lifeguards and other staff I spoke to late in the day were amazed I went that long without eating. My big breakfast around 8:30 set me up for the whole day. It's a pity I felt nervous again each time I rode Sidewinder, and ended up having just three goes on it all day. That used to be one of my favourite slides prior to my accident on it during my April 2014 visit. Is there any hope of me regaining my confidence on Sidewinder? Thankfully I still enjoyed enough goes on Master Blaster, Montazooma and Aztec Falls to make it worth paying the extra £6.25 for a Hyperzone wristband. If you've not yet been there, and you enjoy water parks, I strongly suggest you pay it a visit. In order to get your money's worth, I recommend staying in all day. Going in after the ERS on Sunday of the Blackpool Bash (i.e. around midday) may not give you sufficient time to do Sandcastle Water Park justice. Surprisingly I don't recall seeing anyone else from the RCCGB in there. Being as this was the Blackpool Bash weekend, I'd have thought a few other members who had arrived Thursday evening or Friday first thing for the Blackpool Bash would have taken the opportunity to spend Friday daytime at Sandcastle Water Park, especially riding the Master Blaster rollercoaster water slide.

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Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run

Date: Sunday 13 March 2016
Venue: Bath
Who Went: Over 1000 runners including me

Introduction

The Bath Half Marathon 2016 was due to take place on Sunday 13 March 2016. Just like 2014 and 2015, a much shorter 1 mile Family Fun Run was also planned for that day. Having already participated in the Bath Half Family Fun Run in 2014 and 2015, I was determined to enter the Family Fun Run again in 2016, and hopefully achieve my best time and placing to-date. Late November 2015 I looked at the Bath Half website, and they were already taking bookings for the Family Fun Run 2016, therefore I registered for the Family Fun Run 2016.

Race Pack Arrival

My excitement began Friday 26 February when I received an A4 envelope for the Bath Half 2016 Family Fun. It contained the following items:
My race number - FR 1153 (this included a tear-off baggage label which also had the number on)
IPICO timing chip (in a sealed envelope, not to be opened until race day)
Bath Half 2016 Half Marathon and Family Fun Run Race Day Guide
Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirt (size XL)

Interestingly I quickly noticed that the Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirt was made by Gildan, At least it had Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run as well as the sponsor logo (Bath Rugby Foundation) on it this year, unlike last year when it had just the 2015 sponsor logo (Jamie's Farm) and no mention of Bath Half 2015 Family Fun Run.

Days Before Race Day

Unfortunately the weekend before the Half Marathon and Family Fun Run, I was struck down with a chest and throat infection. Thankfully due to adequate treatment I gradually got better through that week, and as the week progressed it looked increasingly likely that I would attempt the Fun Run, even if that meant doing more walking than running, and no expectation of getting my best time yet. Obviously therefore I was unable to have any practice runs during that week.

Race Day

Before the Race

The big day arrived, Sunday 13 March 2016. From very early on parking suspensions and road closures were in place on the streets of Bath required for the Half Marathon and Family Fun Run. Given my state of health through the week leading up to Race Day, I had to make a final decision whether or not to attempt the race. When I woke up on Race Day, I felt well enough to go ahead with the Fun Run after all, on the grounds that it's only one mile, not 13.1 miles (as in the half marathon). However my hopes now turned to completing the course start to finish, most likely with a mixture of running and walking; I had abandoned any hope of getting my best time yet. I put on my Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirt and running socks and shoes. In addition I attached my timing chip to my right running shoe before leaving home, to save myself having to do that later.

Just after 10:00 I set off for the Runners Village, located on the Recreation Ground. I entered the Runners Village via the main entrance accessible from Bath Sports Centre car park. Once inside the Runners Village my first stop was the first aid tent, where I obtained some safety pins to attach my number to my T-shirt. My next decision was whether to keep my jogging bottoms on for the run, or take them off and run in my black shorts which I already had on underneath them. After some thought I decided to remove my jogging bottoms, place them in my rucksack and run in my black shorts, despite the possibility of my bare legs getting cold before the start of the race. However I decided to keep my fleece top on, but fully unzipped, for the race, as I thought I might feel a bit cold in just a T-shirt. Whilst waiting I had a few pictures taken of me around the Runners Village, and spoke to a few Half Marathon runners; I wished them luck at running 13.1 miles, but said there's no way I could face running that far. I admitted to some others that, despite running start to finish without stopping or resorting to walking in 2014 and 2015, I was likely to have to walk some of the Fun Run course this time.

Eventually I headed for the Luggage Tent which was divided into bays. The far left bay was for the Family Fun Run, whereas each of the other bays was for a specified range of Half Marathon runner numbers. I handed my rucksack in at the Family Fun Run bay. After 10:30 runners were asked to proceed to their relevant starting positions. Family Fun Run participants had to assemble in Edward Street before the Half Marathon was due to start at 11:00. Having previously run the Fun Run in 2014 and 2015, I knew exactly where to go; I got there around 10:50. Several other fun runners were also wearing their Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirts, just like me. Whilst waiting I spoke to a few other fun runners about my desire to enter the Family Fun Run 2016. It was dry and sunny whilst waiting, albeit a little chilly; I was glad to keep my fleece top zipped up whilst waiting for the start, but unzipped it just before the start of the Fun Run.

Following the countdown the Half Marathon runners started at 11:00. Whilst waiting in Edward Street, Family Fun Run participants were able to watch the Half Marathon runners go by. I was standing quite close to Great Pulteney Street, so I had a fairly clear view of the Half Marathon runners. The white numbered runners passed by, followed by the green numbered runners and finally the orange numbered runners.

Family Fun Run

Once all the Half Marathon runners had passed by the time was around 11:20, and Family Fun Run participants were led to the start line. Although I had run the route start to finish without stopping or resorting to walking in 2014 and 2015, I was less confident this time, and expected to more walking than running this time. When everyone was in place, the officials gave the final ten seconds countdown, the starting horn sounded and everyone set off.

The Fun Run involved running the first half a mile of the Half Marathon course, i.e. the east end of Great Pulteney Street, followed by Darlington Street and Pulteney Road, before doing a U-turn to return to the start. I started my own stopwatch when the starting horn sounded. Due to the large number of runners between me and the start line I walked slowly to begin with, and started running when I crossed the start line. Thus I actually crossed the start line what seemed like a long time after the horn went. Once past the start line, I knew the golden rule was to pace myself, not run too fast to begin with, and not worry about other, faster runners passing me. In fact I ran fairly slowly to begin with. Everyone had to keep to the right hand side of Darlington Street, to the right of the roundabout at the bottom of Bathwick Hill and to the right of Pulteney Road. The outward leg was not as demanding as expected; I overtook several other runners, especially on the downhill section of Pulteney Road. As I neared the Family Fun Run turnaround point (the traffic island beneath the railway bridge just past North Parade Road) I could already see some runners starting to head back on the other side of the road. At the turnaround point, officials ensured everyone went around the island, keeping to the right of the island both directions.

After the turnaround point, the return leg seemed much harder, especially along the uphill part of Pulteney Road. This is where I expected to slow down to walking pace this time, but somehow I managed to continue running at a pace I felt reasonably comfortable. Eventually I reached the flat bit at the top, and having turned the corner into Great Pulteney Street the end was in sight. I speeded up a bit and overtook more runners, until I could get no faster. Thankfully I maintained the speed I'd reached until I crossed the finish line. Hurray, against the odds I managed to run from when I crossed the start line to the when I crossed the finish line without stopping or resorting to walking part of the way! An amazing achievement, considering my state of health during the week leading up to Race Day.

As I approached the finish line I saw 0:08:25 on the official gantry clock, and therefore knew I'd already taken longer than the last two years. Having crossed the finish line the time on my own stopwatch was 8 minutes 39.36 seconds, which was considerably longer than my stopwatch times in 2014 and 2015. Although I appreciated and understood my own stopwatch time was unofficial, it was good enough for me until I could get my official IPICO timing chip time later.

After the Race

Having passed the finish line, I walked back to the Runners Village via Great Pulteney Street and William Street. All Family Fun Runners were given a Fun Runner Finisher medal (which included the race date) and goody bag for completing the course. A professional photographer photographed me with my medal around my neck. The next stop was the de-chipping station, where officials removed runners' timing chips from their shoes and placed them in the bucket. The official times were expected to be published on the Bath Half website during the evening. I showed my stopwatch time to the officials who removed my timing chip, and to several other Fun Run finishers. They were all impressed with my stopwatch time, and thought it was good, even though I admitted it was considerably longer than in 2014 and 2015. Next I collected my rucksack from the Luggage Tent. After that I hung around the Runners Village for a bit, to have further photos taken of me around there. Around 12:20 I put my jogging bottoms back on and left the Runners Village for the final time via the Bath Sports Centre car park.

It was now lunchtime so I bought myself a baguette from a sandwich shop in the city centre. Afterwards I walked across Widcombe Footbridge and, on my way home, watched several Half Marathon runners running their final mile. I also showed a few other spectators my Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirt and medal, and told them how I'd got on with the Fun Run. Just before 13:00 I was back home, where I consumed my baguette and relaxed for an hour or so.

Late Afternoon

After 14:30 I went to Waitrose Café, where I enjoyed a large cappuccino coffee. On my way there, and in the café, I spoke to a few Half Marathon runners who had completed their race; I was amazed and surprised at their having completed the 13.1 miles. I deliberately still had my Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirt (including the number) and medal on, so I was able to show them my T-shirt and medal, and say how I got on in the Fun Run.

I took the opportunity to look at the Bath Half website. The official Bath Half Family Fun Run 2016 race results were already there. Here are my official times. Notice there are actually two times; gun time and chip time.

Gun time 0:08:38 (from the sounding of the start horn to when I crossed the finish line)
Chip time 0:08:07 (from when I personally crossed the start line to when I crossed the finish line)
Thus the time I measured on my own watch (8 minutes 39.36 seconds) was close to my gun time.

I was the 332nd runner past the finish line, which in a field of 1010 runners was good. If you filter the list to just the Adult over 40 category (which I'm in), you will see I was 63rd past the finish line out of 244 runners in the Adult over 40 category.

I already had a near enough idea of the time I took, measured on my own watch. Naturally I was disappointed to have finished considerably further down the field compared to 2014 and 2015. Nonetheless my time and placing can still be seen as excellent considering my state of health in the week leading up to Race Day, and me not being able to have any practice runs that week as a result.

Full results available here. If you wish to display just my entry, my race number as recorded in the results table is 21153.

It was still dry and sunny when I left. After 16:00, I walked along Great Pulteney Street towards the start / finish point. The last Half Marathon runner had now crossed the finish line, and the street was deserted compared to earlier. Officials were now clearing up. In addition I spotted a truck carrying mile markers, so evidently those had been removed from the route already.

After Race Day

During the days which followed I looked at the Family Fun Run photos. There were two professionally taken photos of me at the Runners Village after receiving my medal (which I knew about). So far I haven't bought any of my photos. However I have downloaded my free certificate which was available from the website. The time recorded on the certificate is my chip time.

Comparison Table

Here is a comparison table of my Bath Half 2014, 2015 and 2016 Family Fun Run results:

Year	2014	2015	2016
Own stopwatch	6 mins 49.98 sec	6 mins 59.42 sec	8 mins 39.36 sec
Gun time	0:06:48	0:07:01	0:08:38
Chip time	0:06:43	0:06:48	0:08:07
Position	90th	106	332
Total number of runners	924	938	1010
Adult over 40 position	6th	9th	63rd
Adult over 40 number of runners	220	232	244
Age Performance %	54.44	53.20	43.53

As you can see, I did considerably worse this time than in 2014 and 2015. Hopefully I'll be able to improve on my 2014 results next year.

Outro

Highlights

Running the whole route from start to finish without stopping or resorting to walking.
Getting my Finisher medal at the end.
Talking to other runners (Half Marathon and Family Fun Run) before and after the races.

Lowlights

Taking considerably longer than I did in 2014 and 2015.

Summing Up

Altogether another great race day, it was my third time of entering the Bath Half Family Fun Run. Although I didn't run the Half Marathon, it was nonetheless really satisfying to run a tiny portion of the Half Marathon route with over 1000 other Family Fun Run participants on race day. Obviously I'm disappointed to have finished considerably further down the field compared to 2014 and 2015, but I'm overjoyed I was able to attempt the Fun Run at all considering I was unwell during the week leading up to race day. Best of all I'm amazed I managed to run from the start line to the finish line, albeit fairly slowly; I thought I'd have to walk a substantial part of the route this time.

Furthermore Family Fun Run participants received their official Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirts in their race packs before the event. The advantage of receiving them before the Fun Run, rather than with the medal at the end, meant many Fun Run participants including me wore their Bath Half 2016 Family Fun Run T-shirts during the Fun Run, which added to the enjoyment of the race. Of course I can now wear mine with pride this summer. My Fun Run Finisher medal, which I received after completing the race, will also be a lasting souvenir of the Fun Run. It's a pity the organisers didn't give each Fun Run finisher and Half Marathon finisher a free blue Team Bath hoody, made by Surridge, but I guess that would be asking a bit too much. Well done to everyone else who participated in the Fun Run. Even more so congratulations to those who completed the Half Marathon, and thus received their medals and Half Marathon Finisher T-shirts, I'm amazed and surprised they can run 13.1 miles. How on Earth, in the world, do they do it? Many thanks to Running High Events Ltd for arranging the Half Marathon and Family Fun Run 2016.

The weather was excellent; a dry and bright sunny day, although it seemed a bit chilly at the time of the Family Fun Run. Nonetheless I felt comfortable running in my fleece top (fully unzipped to show my T-shirt) and black sports shorts. Just like last year, the Fun Run and Half Marathon attracted a huge crowd of spectators.

What's the betting I'll take part next year? Fun Run 2017 - with pleasure. Half Marathon 2017 - I don't think so! There's no way on Earth I could face running 13.1 miles! The sheer thought of it puts me off. A more realistic next step, would be a 5K run somewhere.

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Cardiff International Pool - Saturday 9 January 2016

Date: Saturday 9 January 2016
Venue: Cardiff International Pool
Who Went: Just me

Rationale for Trip

For the sixth year running I wanted to start the year with a visit to Cardiff International Pool to enjoy the fun pool and water slides. During Christmas 2015 I set my mind firmly on going to Cardiff International Pool on Saturday 9 January 2016.

Getting to Cardiff

I got to Bath Spa station around 08:40, and must have just missed one direct train to Cardiff Central by a few minutes. Fortunately I was able to catch the 08:47 train from Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads followed by the 09:21 train from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central. Having finally reached Cardiff Central at 10:16 I had a much needed takeaway regular Americano from Greggs Bakers before catching a bus from Westgate Street to the Sports Village.

Cardiff International Pool

Cardiff International Pool is located at the Sports Village. I finally got there a few minutes after 11:00. When I walked up the path to the entrance, there was a longish queue outside as the leisure pool wasn't due open until 11:00. Being as it was now after 11:00 they must have either been running a few minutes late, or it was taking several minutes to admit everyone waiting. Being my seventh visit to-date, the place was already familiar to me.

The leisure pool area has the following features:

Red flume

Starts by taking sliders around a bend to the left, into a clockwise spiral. This is followed by an anticlockwise
spiral, and you land in catch tray. Slow.

Orange flume

This begins with an anticlockwise spiral, followed by a clockwise u-bend, to land in a catch tray. Faster.

Yellow flume

Starts with a bend to the right, into an anticlockwise spiral, and finally a straight drop (fairly steep but not vertical), landing in catch tray. Faster still.

The above three flumes are closed tubes all the way down. They don't have names, unlike the flumes at Splashdown Poole.

Space Bowl (blue)

A short flume takes you round an anticlockwise loop into space bowl. After whirling around, you fall into a 2.5 metre deep landing pool, which you must swim out of as quickly as possible. For that reason you must be able to swim to be allowed on this.

Children's Play Structure

A multi-level play structure. This includes a short green water slide (closed tube), but that slide is for children only, just like the rest of the play structure.

Leisure Pool

This includes a river run.

There's no roller coaster water slide (as in the Master Blaster at certain other water parks I've visited), but then again, you can't have everything I suppose.

The slides were made by Aqua Leisure International, and commissioned in December 2007. Labels on the catch trays of the red, orange and yellow flumes show the following information:
Red flume: 850 Series Ride A
Orange flume: 850 Series Ride B
Yellow flume: 850 Series Ride C

Session Overview

Having changed I entered the leisure pool around 11:20 and headed straight for the water slides. Unfortunately the queues for the red, orange and yellow flumes, plus the space bowl were longer than I would have liked. Due to my desire to have as many goes on those as possible, I spent my entire time queuing for, and sliding them, and didn't go in the leisure pool or river run at all. Anyway I began by sliding the red flume, followed by the orange and yellow flumes once each. After that I wanted to go on the space bowl. Just like all my previous visits there, the lifeguard asked me if I can swim before my first go on the space bowl. I told the lifeguard I can swim, and had been on this particular space bowl on previous visits, as well as space bowls elsewhere, so I was allowed to go down it. During my remaining time in the pool area, I enjoyed sliding the red flume, orange flume, yellow flume and space bowl another six times over. I finally left the leisure pool around 15:30, and the building about 15 minutes after that.

Summary of my sliding in actual order:

Red flume, Orange flume, Yellow flume and Space bowl in sequence 7 times over.

Cumulative summary of slides:

Slide	Total
Red flume	7
Orange flume	7
Yellow flume	7
Space bowl	7
TOTAL	28

Mid Afternoon Snack

Having left Cardiff International Pool, I walked to nearby Morrisons, though due to the building work in the immediate vicinity of the new Ice Arena Wales it took me longer than I'd have liked to get there. Around 16:00 I finally reached Morrisons Café where I enjoyed a much needed pack of four Chicken Caesar sandwiches, which included a free packet of ready salted crisps. I also had a cup of coffee.

Remaining Time in Cardiff

Having left Morrisons, I caught the next bus to Cardiff city centre. Back in the city centre I went to Krispy Kreme in St David's Centre, where I enjoyed a lemon meringue doughnut plus a small Americano coffee. Afterwards I took the opportunity to walk around St David's Centre including some shops.

Journey Home

Just after 18:30 I got back to Cardiff Central station and annoyingly the 18:26 Portsmouth Harbour train had gone. I considered catching the 18:55 Taunton train in the hope of getting a connecting train at Bristol, but just before 19:00 it still hadn't left, so I eventually decided not to catch that after all. Instead I left the station and went for a walk around part of the city, including past the Castle. I returned to Cardiff Central around 19:15, caught the 19:26 train to Bath Spa, and reached Bath at 20:38.

Outro

Highlights

Sliding the red flume, orange flume, yellow flume and space bowl at Cardiff International Pool again.
Doughnut and coffee at Krispy Kreme, St David's Centre, Cardiff.

Lowlights

Slide queues longer than I would have liked throughout my visit.
Overall slide count lower than I'd have liked as a result of the long queues.

Summing Up

Altogether a great day out, my first time of going water sliding anywhere for 2016. It's a pity the queues for the water slides at Cardiff International Pool were longer than I'd have liked, and consequently I only achieved seven goes on each slide in just over four hours, but I enjoyed each of my goes very much. Apart from that I was appallingly ill-timed with catching trains on this occasion. Missing a train by just a few minutes can delay me considerably in reaching my destination.

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