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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