Nike Milton Keynes Half-Marathon

Thanks Mick et al. The race was once again well organised and the marshals friendly, especially the enthusiastic policewoman. I don't know why people kept going on about that underpass thingy. I flew through it..

There is one gripe-the amount of bottles that are wasted. Most people just take a few mouthfuls then throw the bottle aside ready for landfill.

(Now I am going to get slated by people who are unable to drink out of a cup while running and prefer a bottle(or two)).

Boo hiss - my chip time was about 29 seconds slower than my Garmin time, and my photos are flippin awful!

Otherwise I really enjoyed this.  I did get my second best half marathon time, missing out on a PB by 45 seconds or 1 min 14 seconds depending on whether you go by chip time or watch time...  I actually got my PB on at this race 2 years ago (missed it last year due to injury), so I guess I'll be back again next year to try again! 

 If it hadn't been for that pesky headwind in the last few miles, I might have done it this time round!

Straitjacket - yes who was that whinger that kept going on about the restricted space in the underpass  It was OK but it if had been in the first two miles, it would have been fun ! Yes the Policewoman was giving plenty of support.

 Don't start the bottle discussion !!!!

It always generates a lot of debate. People are usually roughly 50/50 split between preferring cups and preferring bottles. Also the difference in land-fill between the two probably isn't that much. Except for the fact that as the cups are lighter, many never make it to land-fill but end up living in a hedge for 14 months  It is easier for organisers to transport bottles and just undo the lid rather than transporting cups and water containers and filling them (the wind makes that fun as well).

The bottles also contain water that has to be transported from wherever it is bottled, and that usually makes bottled water 'worse' than tap water, even if the tap water is served in plastic cups. And the plastic cups will also use less plastic 'per head' than the bottle per person.

Having said that, I wouldn't have wanted to be manning a water station using cups yesterday.

Solution really ought to be for runners to bring their own water in a reusable bottle or bottles, and carry enough for the race, and not rely on the organisers to provide it.  There could be water stations where you swap a reusable bottle for a full reusable bottle and get some money back when you return it at the end.

#1442 Darkman - 1:29 - on Garmin 1:29:38 was near the front at the start so should be accurate
#97 Hashette - 1:58 - finished on 1.58.50 chip time
#1135 Tim of MK - 1:48
#1113 Troglodytes - 2:10 - on Garmin 2:11:15 (13.39miles)
#2178 Wine Man - 1:50:00 - 1:55:40 on my watch
#856 Icemaiden - 2:15:00 - unofficially 2:16:57, but still a PB  knickers to that wind though.
#531 Scrabble - 1:39:59 - 1:38:50 on Garmin and 1:39:50 on clock so pretty sure I finally went sub 1:40!!
#43 Melds - 2.15 ... ish! 
#1423 Aviator - 1:40:23

Well done all!

I'm a great fan of bottles.   But then I do drain each and every one that I take,  as I lose loads of liquid.  

Those wee plastic cups don't give me nearly enough,  so at races where they're offered I have to stop completely at each drinks station and drink two to three cups full.   

But I agree,  there were loads of runners who just took a couple of  sips and discarded their bottles.

Perhaps the solution,  at bigger events like this,  might be to offer a choice.  Or alternatively smaller bottles.

But please,  no return to just half-filled cups.  

Gatton

Your request before the start to ask slower runners not to stand at the front was heeded by a couple near me who decided to go back further.  The start near the front was smooth and didn't see anyone tripped up and everyone around me got out clean and smoothly onto the road.  Didn't realise that was you so will look out for you next race you attend.

Looked at my finish times Gun time: 1:29:41 Chip Time: 1:29:36 Position: 144th MV50 Position: 9th very pleased with that, was my 3rd half this year.  Now thinking about this Sunday when I'm running the Ashby 20 a longer distance obviously so pace is all important.  See if I can beat 2hrs 20mins for this one for a PB.

My thought is bottles are better, they can be fully recycled I should know I worked many years ago for a company that made the PET bottles for pop and spring water.  Although they should be from a local water source like Asbourne Water not from some mountain in Switzerland or Iceland.

Interesting .. how far from the front were you. i seem to think that the speakers were not powerfull enough.. (they were not mine)

Gatton

I will be running in the Stafford HM on the 16th then the Friskney HM on the 30th.  Not running the FLM but running in the White Peak Marathon on 16th May so looking for HM distances plus in a build up to the event.

I'm sure our paths will cross at some other event this year, maybe the 'other' MKhalf later on at the school, always enter that one as love that course as well.

Hi Darkman, Lara, Icemaiden and all

Sorry i didnt make it to this one and have not been on here for ages but i really went off running for a while.

i have no idea why, but im hopefully getting back into it now.

I hope you all had a great race. I really enjoyed this one last year and hope all the runners do this time.

Hopefully i can catch up with you all soon at another race, any suggestions 

Take care all and happy running.

Leon.

TV pictures of the race can now be found on the Bucks TV website at

http://www.buckstv.co.uk/miltonkeyneshalfmarathon2008.html

 See if you can spot yourselves!

MickBrom

Blimey

 I made it onto the 'Winners' video its a brief shot but clearly me going over the line not long after they interview the winning lady.

Leon
Had that feeling myself and stopped running for 3-4 months it happens to most people but once you get out there again you will realise you have missed it and soon get into the swing of wanting to run races again.