The Ruby Run Half Marathon

Here's a little race tale for you......

Most of you know that I don't like racing, not because I don't like a challenge, but because I don't like paying to run!

After cancelling the Self Defence course on Sunday I realised that I had a day free and didn't know what to do. So I went into town, bought a copy of Runner's World, went to the Seven Stars, got myself a coffee and perused the magazine's race diary section....as you do!

So, I found a few races in July that were of interest, but it was July's edition, so back home I went and checked on the Runner's World website and found 'The Ruby Run Half Marathon' in North Devon. Entered straight away, so my Sunday was planned.

Half Marathon is a tough distance for me, I'm used to plodding for hours and miles, a half is short and speedy, it was going to be a push, but I was happy for the challenge.

Up at 5am, I took the dogs out and drove to Hatherleigh, from there I drove the route to Holsworthy. seemed somewhat undulating and at the time I thought to myself, this was no PB route and under 2 hours would be nice. I pulled up in the car park and waited with others for the 8.30am coach.

Chatting to the others who were waiting, some had done the route before. Every year they change the direction of the route, this year we ran from Hatherleigh to Holsworthy, next year it's the other way round. One way was harder than the other...turned out that this was the harder way, as I had suspected from driving the route on the way there.

We piled onto the coach and sat on it for a further 30 minutes, this was going to be a long day, the race wasn't due to start until 10.30am.
At 9am we set off along the route in reverse, we were noticeably going downhill a lot on the way there. Hills don't really bother me too much anyway, not when you live in Totnes, except the downs, don't like them much.

We arrived in Hatherleigh, got off the coach and headed in to register.

I got my number 84, and sat outside, propped up against a wall in the sunshine. It looked like the weather may be hot, and not the lovely drizzle I was expecting. Mind you, after the heat of The Forces March, and only 13 miles, it was going to be okay.

I chatted to a couple of guys from the coach, exchanging running tips and talking about ultra-running and The Forces March, actually I told a lot of people about the FM so hopefully a few may want to do it next year.

There were walkers at the Ruby Run, and also relay teams which is quite special, they were mainly young boys doing the relay and was good to watch their change-overs on route, what a good idea for people to get to experience a race, even if they could only manage 2 miles.

We grouped together and then we were off! I was fairly near the front, feeling competitive and there were only a few women ahead of me, one of them a young lady by the name of Meisha was in front of me, I was close to her at the start but she sped off, always in sight, I just couldn't get close to her.

The weather was changing, it was getting hot, the inclines were gentle, but long, I wasn't feeling it, I was too pacey compared to usual standards, then there was a downhill section, and in the words of the legend that is 'Downhill Running Lady' aka Rita from The Forces March I went for it. I'm not much of a downhill runner as a rule, but I threw myself down it, arms flailing, running like a small child without a care in the world. I started overtaking people, unheard of on the downhill for me ut I felt I was making up time, my legs were just carrying me with no effort, I actually enjoyed it.

By around mile 8, I was starting to get into it, it takes me that long these days, by mile 9 and 10 I was feeling fresh and ready to go further and faster. I caught up with Meisha finally. This was the longest she had run, I was now in Ultra-mode. I ran with her and she asked to run with me for a bit, I was glad to, we chatted as we ran, our spirits lifted and by the time we knew it mile 12 was close.
Meisha told me to go ahead if |I wanted to, but  I wasn't going to leave her at this point, we were going to keep going together and finish in under 2 hours which we both wanted.

That last hill....what can I say, it was a beast, Meisha's boyfriend had met us on route by then and ran up hill with us, soon we were up the top, turning into the square, we held hands and speeded in to the finish line at 1.46.13 joint 5th females and she got 1st local female back! Awesome running and a new friend.

So, interesting, I like to study what has happened, and it seems I can push faster and still have more miles in my legs, by the end of the half I could have carried on, I had almost only just got into my stride, bodes well for the future and the 101 miler in January. More races are needed so I can push myself to my own limits, I appear to be in the zone for getting better, faster and stronger and I couldn't be happier. Bring on the next race....July 26th...coast path again in  North Devon.