I’D spent many happy days in Liverpool. It was the city where I was a university student for four years, a city I thought I knew pretty well. And certainly among the races I’d being most looking forward to.
With a field of 7,500, the Liverpool Half Marathon is clearly a popular race on the north-west’s running calendar.
And for me, it was the first big city marathon of my 12 half marathons in 2011 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The race started in the one area of the city that has changed beyond all recognition since my student days – the docks. Back in the day it was just Albert Dock and Fred’s weather map.
But now there’s the Echo Arena, Liverpool One shopping centre, a giant Millennium-style wheel – just what happened to the bleak battered old docks where man feared to tread?
Liverpool is one of my favourite cities, and the Liverpool Half Marathon certainly didn’t let me down at all.
While it appeared terribly congested at the start, with seemingly all 7,500 runners jockeying for space, as soon as you’d crossed the start lane it was on to nice wide roads, allowing you to easily get into a comfortable running pace – something which you often can’t in bigger fields, and something which serious runners often complain about.
The first few miles were a steady climb – which I think shocked a few runners – but when you’ve trained in Mid Wales, you get used to hills.
Not only that, but the pain I’d suffered at Silverstone in my last race was largely down to the flatness of the course, so a bit of variety was a welcome relief.
We continued climbing up near the Anglican cathedral and Upper Parliament Square, and we were certainly back in the Liverpool I knew, eventually swinging round into Princes Park. It was a nice day and there were plenty of people lining the streets, which made for a great atmosphere, particularly in the early miles.
On Croxteth Drive at the approach to Sefton Park an enormous cheer went up – and to my surprise I realised the cheer was for me, Team Macmillan were out in force, doing a fantastic job of encouraging all the runners donning the green charity shirt.
I’d invested in an Ipod to help me with pacing myself, particularly during those difficult miles from about eight to 11 where the legs start to feel it but you’ve still a way to go.
And it did the job. The miles kept coming but so did the tunes. And somehow it seemed like the Ipod on shuffle has synced to my mood – every time I felt I needed a lift, suddenly the music choice did the job.
Three and half miles were eaten up in Sefton Park, and by the time we reached the underpass under Aigburth Road, properly back in my university stamping ground, we’d already passed the eight mile marker.
The next mile crossed through Otterspool park, before arriving at the Mersey – the point where I truly started to question whether some divine force had programmed my choice of music. As I hit the promenade, with views over to the Wirral, Mark Ronson’s version of Valerie came on. Scouse band The Zuton’s lyrics ‘Sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water’ had never seemed more apt.
From here it was the promenade all the way home – albeit there was four miles to go. And thankfully the weather was calm, I’d heard stories of being buffeted by the winds – runners last year battled into a strong headwind – but there was barely a breeze.
When I’d looked at the route before hand, the footpath by the Mersey had looked like it might be a long drag home. And I’ll be honest, there were moments where it seemed to be snaking into the distance, no end in sight.
But soon enough we rounded a corner and the 13-mile marker and the finish line were in sight. Crowds of people were lining the last few hundred metres, the atmosphere at the end was terrific.
All in all, my favourite half marathon of the year so far – and my time, 2.04.17 – a personal best by a staggering seven minutes.
A massive thank you to all the people who have sponsored me so far, I’ve now topped the £500 mark... keep it coming, I appreciate every penny.
Visit www.justgiving.com/marklingard