I had run this race before both in 2014 and 2015 so I knew what to expect!
In 2016 I had to withdraw a couple of weeks before the race after being hit by a car whilst out on my bike! However, we had a hotel already booked so we went to spectate instead, which is a whole different experience!
This year I was making a weekend of it with 9 other Ladies from my Running Club.
We left our home town of Kendal in glorious sunshine at approx 1pm on Saturday 27th May 2017 to travel the 80 miles to Liverpool. The week running up to the event had been extremely hot and I was slightly worried that my chances of a PB were going to be scuppered due to the heat!
However, surprisingly when we arrived in Liverpool at approximately 2.45pm it was much cooler and fairly overcast!
We were staying for 2 nights at The Adelphi Hotel, which was very central but extremely shabby and in desperate need of a refurbishment! I would certainly not recommend nor revisit!
After having a long wait to check-in with staff that obviously did not enjoy their job we deposited our cases in our room before heading to The Expo.
This was situated in the Echo Arena just a 10 minute walk away. We had a good mooch around all the stands and collected our T Shirts, before heading back to the hotel to get washed and changed in time to meet for dinner.
We had booked a table at The Amalia Italian restaurant, so that we could carb up for the morning! Unfortunately I think every other runner in the event had had the same thoughts and the restaurant was extremely busy and noisy! Despite booking a table we did not get our food until an hour and a half after the time we had booked for! When it did eventually arrive it was very nice, but our experience had been somewhat marred by the long wait!
We headed back to the hotel at around 10.30pm to get a good night’s sleep before the big day! However, this did not happen! Unfortunately, due to the central location of the hotel it was extremely noisy with loud music and total mayhem going on until the very early hours!
This year I have managed to notch up new PBs at both 10K and marathon distance and I was keen to add the Half Marathon to my list of accomplishments! I wasn’t 100% convinced that I was going to do it as I had not trained specifically for this event! In actual fact since running in The London Marathon a month earlier I had done very little running, and was therefore relying on my residual marathon fitness to pull me through! However, after a poor night’s sleep my confidence and hope of a PB were rapidly declining!
We were woken up early by our room service breakfast, which consisted of bread doorstops, cornflakes and prunes! If I ate prunes before running I would certainly be running!!! Thankfully I had brought a “just in case” breakfast in the form of a porridge pot and a banana with me! I opted to have this and gave the hotel breakfast a wide birth!
I opened the curtains to see the paths splattered from overnight rain and the sky covered with grey clouds and I was overjoyed. A quick flick onto my iPhone weather app informed me it was 14 degrees outside – much more bearable for running and far cooler than the temperatures of the previous week which had got up to 25C!
We left the hotel at 7.45am to head to the start line for the 9am Half Marathon start!
Due to the heat of the previous week I had opted to wear shorts and a vest top. It felt fairly cold and breezy first thing and I was beginning to have doubts about whether this was the right attire but it was too late now! Thankfully I had brought some “outer garments” to wear prior to the race!
On arrival at the start we met the others for a pre-race team photo and chatting helped dispel my nerves a little.
We had a quick look at the starting line and located the whereabouts of our starting pens before heading to the baggage drop-off point!
We had been warned that due to the Manchester attacks the previous week security would be tightened, and all bags scrutinised! I wholeheartedly agree with this but you also need to put the staff in place to enable this to happen!
At 8.10am, 50 minutes before the race start we headed to the back of the baggage queue – I am sure this was 13.2 miles long!! I was dismayed at the length of it but we didn’t have a choice but to wait!
Eventually, 40 minutes later we got to the front to discover that the extra security checks were being made by just THREE people! No wonder the queue was so long! By now I was feeling highly stressed that we were going to miss the start, and despite needing a nervous wee decided I didn’t have the time!
I said “Good Bye and Good Luck” to the others in my group who were in a different starting pen to me and I hotfooted it through the crowds to my pen.
I arrived dead on 9am to hear an announcement that due to the additional baggage security the start was being delayed by 15 minutes! I inwardly groaned – I would have had time to go to the loo afterall but it was too late now – no way would I make it back to the arena, queue for the loo and get back to the start in 15 minutes!
I looked around at my fellow runners and realised that the “Starting pen system” had somewhat fallen by the wayside this year! In previous years there had been very strict checks to make sure people started in the correct pens, and were sent away accordingly. This year I was in pen 4 and seemed to be surrounded by people who were supposed to be in pens 14, 15 and beyond! This makes it very unfair for those who want to race it and then get stuck behind much slower runners! I suppose with the additional security going on elsewhere they just didn’t have the manpower to enforce this system this year!
Before the race there was a minute’s silence, held for those who had lost their lives or had been affected by the recent Manchester terrorist attacks. It was a very sombre start to a usually uplifting race! I was wearing a yellow ribbon as a sign of support and remembrance, and it was good to see that the majority of my fellow runners were also adorning yellow ribbons!
The race starts near Liverpool’s dock and finishes on the dockside itself, with the final four miles of the course actually running adjacent to the water. This finishing stretch can make or break a race depending on the direction of the wind. It was clear to see which direction the wind would be blowing as it ruffled through flags; the final four miles would be into a head wind.
The little confidence I had of a PB was slowly seeping away! To run a PB I had a 1:48:52 time to beat, which equates to running an even paced race consisting of 8:18 minute miles or faster! My game plan was to try and average 8:15 minute miles!
At around 9.15am the first lot of runners started, and before long I was on my way!
We started in an enthusiastic surge and I felt happy, I suddenly remembered how much I enjoyed this race and my nerves were literally left on the start line. I was grateful to be actually running it this year not stuck on the sidelines like I was last year! The streets weren’t as packed full of spectators as in previous years, perhaps some people had stayed away due to fear of further terrorist attacks. However, there were plenty of armed police clearly visible in an attempt to keep us all safe and I didn’t feel at all vunerable!
The first section of the route winds around the Liverpool city centre, and as I weaved past the famous 'Cavern Club' I felt comfortable and relaxed. The initial miles flew by and I kept to my pacing strategy completing mile 1 in 8:14, mile 2 in 8:11, and mile 3 in 8:03. It was around this point that we came across the first water station. I grabbed a bottle and carried it with me rather than discarding it on the roadside as so many others did!
As the route took a turn out of town we climbed a long drawn out hill, and then turned left sharply to continue climbing up an even steeper one towards China Town. A short downhill section then led us to a third consecutive hill, even longer and even steeper than the others. I was pleased I still had my water!
Coming from a hilly area in the Lake District, I would not usually describe these inclines as hills, but today they felt like mountains and my pace slowed considerably to an 8:48 minute mile! Once I had conquered these hills I gave myself a good talking to, took a gel for extra energy and got back on with the task in hand!
It hurt and my legs did not like it at all.
The route was kinder now as we started to head through local parkland, but I did not recover fully.
I ran mile 5 in a 8:20 minute mile, and pushed a little harder to run mile 6 in 8:03, mile 7 in 8:35, mile 8 in 8:19, and mile 9 in 8:35. Despite it being cloudy it was still very warm and humid and I was pleased I had shorts on as I was still overheating!
It was peaceful running through Princes Park and Sefton Park, the peace only disrupted by the live bands dotted around the course which popped up every now and again and offered extra motivation.
As we left Sefton Park the head wind of the dock beckoned for the last four mile stretch. Glancing at my watch I knew it would be now very difficult to get a PB. I had lost too much time already, but I continued to push on through the wind, taking a gel on board to hopefully give me a little extra boost! Mile 10 was slower again in 8:46, mile 11 in 8:50, and mile 12 in 8:53 minute miles.
On finishing, I collected my well deserved medal and a bottle of water before entering the Echo arena to collect the rest of the goodies on offer consisting of a Lucazade Sports drink, crisps, a banana and a bag of Haribo’s - but no bag to put them all in so I had to do a bit of a juggling act to carry everything!
I then headed to collect my bags. Thankfully the collection side of the process was much quicker than the drop off! After collecting my bags I headed to the toilets to change into some clean warm clothes before going to the finish line to cheer in the rest of my group!
It was incredibly emotional clapping all the finishers through, all in different states of exhaustion! I was hoarse from shouting my encouragement at everyone and had sore hands from clapping rather enthusiastically.
We headed back home on Monday morning after enjoying a rather more relaxed breakfast in the hotel!
Liverpool's Rock n Roll event has a unique feel; part of the global Rock n Roll series it is enjoyed by runners from across the UK and also the world. The event is packed with atmosphere and provides the biggest and best medal I have seen! The route incorporates Liverpool's city attractions, it’s beautiful parks, the famous dockside area, and has numerous live bands dotted around to provide extra motivation. It is simply a wonderful 13.1 mile tour.
This year I was making a weekend of it with 9 other Ladies from my Running Club.
We left our home town of Kendal in glorious sunshine at approx 1pm on Saturday 27th May 2017 to travel the 80 miles to Liverpool. The week running up to the event had been extremely hot and I was slightly worried that my chances of a PB were going to be scuppered due to the heat!
However, surprisingly when we arrived in Liverpool at approximately 2.45pm it was much cooler and fairly overcast!
We were staying for 2 nights at The Adelphi Hotel, which was very central but extremely shabby and in desperate need of a refurbishment! I would certainly not recommend nor revisit!
After having a long wait to check-in with staff that obviously did not enjoy their job we deposited our cases in our room before heading to The Expo.
This was situated in the Echo Arena just a 10 minute walk away. We had a good mooch around all the stands and collected our T Shirts, before heading back to the hotel to get washed and changed in time to meet for dinner.
We had booked a table at The Amalia Italian restaurant, so that we could carb up for the morning! Unfortunately I think every other runner in the event had had the same thoughts and the restaurant was extremely busy and noisy! Despite booking a table we did not get our food until an hour and a half after the time we had booked for! When it did eventually arrive it was very nice, but our experience had been somewhat marred by the long wait!
We headed back to the hotel at around 10.30pm to get a good night’s sleep before the big day! However, this did not happen! Unfortunately, due to the central location of the hotel it was extremely noisy with loud music and total mayhem going on until the very early hours!
This year I have managed to notch up new PBs at both 10K and marathon distance and I was keen to add the Half Marathon to my list of accomplishments! I wasn’t 100% convinced that I was going to do it as I had not trained specifically for this event! In actual fact since running in The London Marathon a month earlier I had done very little running, and was therefore relying on my residual marathon fitness to pull me through! However, after a poor night’s sleep my confidence and hope of a PB were rapidly declining!
We were woken up early by our room service breakfast, which consisted of bread doorstops, cornflakes and prunes! If I ate prunes before running I would certainly be running!!! Thankfully I had brought a “just in case” breakfast in the form of a porridge pot and a banana with me! I opted to have this and gave the hotel breakfast a wide birth!
I opened the curtains to see the paths splattered from overnight rain and the sky covered with grey clouds and I was overjoyed. A quick flick onto my iPhone weather app informed me it was 14 degrees outside – much more bearable for running and far cooler than the temperatures of the previous week which had got up to 25C!
We left the hotel at 7.45am to head to the start line for the 9am Half Marathon start!
Due to the heat of the previous week I had opted to wear shorts and a vest top. It felt fairly cold and breezy first thing and I was beginning to have doubts about whether this was the right attire but it was too late now! Thankfully I had brought some “outer garments” to wear prior to the race!
On arrival at the start we met the others for a pre-race team photo and chatting helped dispel my nerves a little.
We had a quick look at the starting line and located the whereabouts of our starting pens before heading to the baggage drop-off point!
We had been warned that due to the Manchester attacks the previous week security would be tightened, and all bags scrutinised! I wholeheartedly agree with this but you also need to put the staff in place to enable this to happen!
At 8.10am, 50 minutes before the race start we headed to the back of the baggage queue – I am sure this was 13.2 miles long!! I was dismayed at the length of it but we didn’t have a choice but to wait!
Eventually, 40 minutes later we got to the front to discover that the extra security checks were being made by just THREE people! No wonder the queue was so long! By now I was feeling highly stressed that we were going to miss the start, and despite needing a nervous wee decided I didn’t have the time!
I said “Good Bye and Good Luck” to the others in my group who were in a different starting pen to me and I hotfooted it through the crowds to my pen.
I arrived dead on 9am to hear an announcement that due to the additional baggage security the start was being delayed by 15 minutes! I inwardly groaned – I would have had time to go to the loo afterall but it was too late now – no way would I make it back to the arena, queue for the loo and get back to the start in 15 minutes!
Before the race there was a minute’s silence, held for those who had lost their lives or had been affected by the recent Manchester terrorist attacks. It was a very sombre start to a usually uplifting race! I was wearing a yellow ribbon as a sign of support and remembrance, and it was good to see that the majority of my fellow runners were also adorning yellow ribbons!
The race starts near Liverpool’s dock and finishes on the dockside itself, with the final four miles of the course actually running adjacent to the water. This finishing stretch can make or break a race depending on the direction of the wind. It was clear to see which direction the wind would be blowing as it ruffled through flags; the final four miles would be into a head wind.
The little confidence I had of a PB was slowly seeping away! To run a PB I had a 1:48:52 time to beat, which equates to running an even paced race consisting of 8:18 minute miles or faster! My game plan was to try and average 8:15 minute miles!
At around 9.15am the first lot of runners started, and before long I was on my way!
We started in an enthusiastic surge and I felt happy, I suddenly remembered how much I enjoyed this race and my nerves were literally left on the start line. I was grateful to be actually running it this year not stuck on the sidelines like I was last year! The streets weren’t as packed full of spectators as in previous years, perhaps some people had stayed away due to fear of further terrorist attacks. However, there were plenty of armed police clearly visible in an attempt to keep us all safe and I didn’t feel at all vunerable!
The first section of the route winds around the Liverpool city centre, and as I weaved past the famous 'Cavern Club' I felt comfortable and relaxed. The initial miles flew by and I kept to my pacing strategy completing mile 1 in 8:14, mile 2 in 8:11, and mile 3 in 8:03. It was around this point that we came across the first water station. I grabbed a bottle and carried it with me rather than discarding it on the roadside as so many others did!
As the route took a turn out of town we climbed a long drawn out hill, and then turned left sharply to continue climbing up an even steeper one towards China Town. A short downhill section then led us to a third consecutive hill, even longer and even steeper than the others. I was pleased I still had my water!
Coming from a hilly area in the Lake District, I would not usually describe these inclines as hills, but today they felt like mountains and my pace slowed considerably to an 8:48 minute mile! Once I had conquered these hills I gave myself a good talking to, took a gel for extra energy and got back on with the task in hand!
It hurt and my legs did not like it at all.
The route was kinder now as we started to head through local parkland, but I did not recover fully.
I ran mile 5 in a 8:20 minute mile, and pushed a little harder to run mile 6 in 8:03, mile 7 in 8:35, mile 8 in 8:19, and mile 9 in 8:35. Despite it being cloudy it was still very warm and humid and I was pleased I had shorts on as I was still overheating!
It was peaceful running through Princes Park and Sefton Park, the peace only disrupted by the live bands dotted around the course which popped up every now and again and offered extra motivation.
As we left Sefton Park the head wind of the dock beckoned for the last four mile stretch. Glancing at my watch I knew it would be now very difficult to get a PB. I had lost too much time already, but I continued to push on through the wind, taking a gel on board to hopefully give me a little extra boost! Mile 10 was slower again in 8:46, mile 11 in 8:50, and mile 12 in 8:53 minute miles.
I was disappointed with myself at this stage as I had lost the mental battle with myself!
However, I somehow picked up some extra pace in my legs and pushed for the finish, roared on by the finishing crowds.
However, I somehow picked up some extra pace in my legs and pushed for the finish, roared on by the finishing crowds.
I had managed the final mile at an 8:13 pace – dead on my target!
It’s just a pity the rest of the race hadn’t gone to plan!
As I crossed the finish line I stopped my Garmin and was pleased to see that my overall time wasn’t as disappointing as I had originally thought! I had finished in 1:50:22, less than 2 minutes slower than my PB!
On finishing, I collected my well deserved medal and a bottle of water before entering the Echo arena to collect the rest of the goodies on offer consisting of a Lucazade Sports drink, crisps, a banana and a bag of Haribo’s - but no bag to put them all in so I had to do a bit of a juggling act to carry everything!
I then headed to collect my bags. Thankfully the collection side of the process was much quicker than the drop off! After collecting my bags I headed to the toilets to change into some clean warm clothes before going to the finish line to cheer in the rest of my group!
It was incredibly emotional clapping all the finishers through, all in different states of exhaustion! I was hoarse from shouting my encouragement at everyone and had sore hands from clapping rather enthusiastically.
I even saw the first full Marathon runners cross the finish line in an incredibly fast time of 2:33:53!
Once our entire group had finished, we continued to support the last of the Half Marathon runners through before heading off to get our free beer!
We spent the rest of Sunday celebrating our successes – most of the runners in my group actually achieved PB’s despite the wind!
Once I received the official results I was delighted that I was actually 26th in my age group, and 314th female!
We headed back home on Monday morning after enjoying a rather more relaxed breakfast in the hotel!
Liverpool's Rock n Roll event has a unique feel; part of the global Rock n Roll series it is enjoyed by runners from across the UK and also the world. The event is packed with atmosphere and provides the biggest and best medal I have seen! The route incorporates Liverpool's city attractions, it’s beautiful parks, the famous dockside area, and has numerous live bands dotted around to provide extra motivation. It is simply a wonderful 13.1 mile tour.
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