Last weekend, Newport & District Running Club’s Ashley Moore was one of the first people to take part in a metric half marathon in the UK. Afterwards, he was kind enough to write us this report:
On Sunday 9th October the first ever UK metric half marathon took place. 13.1km or 8.14 miles, an unusual distance to test all that took part. A relatively small field with representatives from all local clubs and independents looking to bridge the gap between 10k and the full half marathon distance.
We set off 10 minutes after the half marathon runners but along the same route. It was quickly apparent there was a group of approximately 10 competitive paced runners at the front of the field. I held 3rd place for the first loop of the course running at target 10k pace but managed to find a bit more up the hill on the first pass and went into second. On the run into the end of the first lap downhill I was overtaken and found myself in 3rd again.
With 3 miles to go and another uphill my legs had more to give and the runner in front began to fade. His legs had gone and I opened up a gap and came into the end with a comfortably uncomfortable 2nd-place finish. Greeted with water, a banana and a can of beer, it was a race well run and the distance enjoyable.
Newport & District Running Club 