Grant & Stone Wycombe Half-Marathon

right, the old thread got hijacked...let's start again.

No Toes, Susie, and others, report back here!

10days away now...

 wow this party has really died, new host? 

Right, you've talked my into it, Stevie G!  Haven't run it the past 3 times, so about time I tried again - my 11th attempt, and about time I did a decent time!

Oh, and if it's as hot as it was yesterday for the Hughenden Manor 10K, I want my money back! Talking of this, didn't think I'd find a local race with a harder start than Wycombe, but reckon it was!

Anyway, looking forward to having a go at the legendary Wycombe Half again, it's been too long...

Great stuff mate, 10 times so far is impressive. Sometimes it's worth coming back to a race after a few years away to show you what you've been missing. Hadn't done the Marlow 5 for 4 years until coming back to it this year, and like the Wycombe half it's a great race. 

You should try the Bradenham 10k if you want a  challenge, its gone for this year, but June next year look out for it. A semi fell race, 2 laps and you'll probably come out about 4-5mins slower than your 10k normal!

Although, how hard was the Hughenden Manor start then if it's harder than Wycombe's start!

Bradenham may be coming back in the Autumn Stevie G - race organiser needs some volunteers I believe....

 It's not the first hill in Wycombe that gets me, as you just attack that and get it out the way - it's the long , slow, almost imperceptible climb from 8M to 12M that always hurts most. It's only around 130ft spread over the 4 miles, but it sure messes with your pacing!!

 I ran through Hughenden yesterday and saw bits of the route. Given that Hughenden is my regular training ground I was tempted, but £18 for EOD was steeper than Marlow Hill!!

Got a 5k to do first Busboy, then it's Wycombe half time! I remember feeling incredibly relaxed in 08 and 09 knowing I was only doing the 10k and could snake off near the colleage on 3miles and downa  long delightful steep hill and almost be back!

This year look forward to the likes of you and a few similarly paced people in the 18th to 25th kind of positions mixer pacing me along!

And agreed on the last miles slog, I run that route plenty but you don#t really notice it at easy pace, but at race pace and when that many miles in you sure do! When I do effort sessions and run out that way, it never escapes my notice that the efforts back are always harder!

The little hill just after 12miles is always a great little sharp shock as well! Only about a 10metre climb over 200metres but always feels tough!

I think I'll save Bradenham for a cross country I do in late December, an excellent way to round the year offin my local xc series!

Does anyone have a postcode for the start? 

Thanks

can I enter on the day?

Thanks...

It sounds like this one has some tough climbs, does anyone know if the 10k part of this race has the same challenging hills? Starting to get a little nervous about it now!

AnnaMG - the 10K and Half both start off up the same hill ... an 80m zigzag climb on the second km. But then it's mostly flat and downhill for the 10K after that.

80metres? Is that all it is,  I'm sure from about 1/4mile to 1 1/4mile it's a climb!

Thenn at 3k on the 10k you have about 50metres rising a bit, before a lovely 3/4mile very steep descent, and then hitting the bottom of the hill knowing you only have 4k left.

The half marathon obviously has the same first mile hill, and then a couple of ups and downs you barely notice, before a pretty steep 1//2mile descent down a nicely Wooded road. After this you have a few hundred meters before a little climb for say 200m, quickly followed by another 200m descent.

The last 6miles look flat but apparently rise by about 100feet which explains why the pacing isn't quite as easy as it should be. Then just after 12miles you have a 50metre slight climb, which hits you a bit at that stage, before a nice similar descent that takes you within touching distance as will now be able to hear the commentator. You then have another 0.8miles to enjoy the river and longingly look over the water longing to finish!!

One last park section and you're there!

Thanks for the info, it's always nice to know what you're up against.

Have a good race.