32. Leipzig Half Marathon

After a fairly sporadic training schedule interrupted by university and work commitments, trips home and a holiday (involving more food and beer than is really good for me) the big day of my first half-marathon arrived: The 32. Leipzig Half-Marathon! We got up early and had a hearty breakfast with obligatory banana milkshakes and then cracked out the motivational CD whilst making final preparations (liberal application of Vaseline to the nipples etc.) before heading to the start area at Jahnalle in Leipzig. Arriving at the start an hour before the event meant the nerves started to grow by the minute and after many trips to the toilet it was finally time to watch the leaders of the full marathon complete the course which was a nice distraction from the impending challenge.

On lining up at the start gate amongst the mass of other runners the adrenaline was pumping as I tried desperately to calm myself and not start too fast! It didn’t work and as soon at the gun went I could not hide the smile of being amongst so many other runners, running in the middle of the road, stopping traffic and being clapped all the way for the first few kilometres. Needless to say the idea of running to a decided pace had gone out of the window.

Finally, on reaching the Deutsche Bucherei I had managed to find my running rhythm but then it dawned on me that I needed a quick toilet stop so it was into the bushes quickly...following that I was worried of having lost time so up-ed the pace again. On arriving at the Volkerschlachtdenkmal I was really enjoying the run, the masses had thinned out but I was still over-taking people and was way ahead of my planned time....I crossed the 10km in 48mins!! Things then went smoothly until about the 17/18km mark when the error of starting too fast hit me as my legs started to really hit. Being the proud bugger I am though and with so many people watching I gritted my teeth and carried on counting the white lines pass and getting lost in my playlist until, quite unexpectedly we rounded the corner for the final straight which made me find some energy tucked away somewhere I hadn’t looked before to up my pace a bit and to manage crossing the line in 1’48” elated and over 12 minutes faster than what I had expected.

Being my first half-marathon I have nothing to compare it to but the organisation of the event both prior to the day (application and registration procedure), on the day and the support around the course was fantastic and it made it a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying event!

32. Leipzig Half-Marathon Playlist:

Hunting for Witches - Bloc Party
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Sugar, We’re Going Down - Fall Out Boy
Hey Ya! - Outkast
Over and Over - Hot Chip
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Shoot the Runner - Kasabian
Caring is Creepy - The Shins
Talk - Coldplay (makes me think of my bro!! The biggest motivation possible!! Cheers mate!)
Lets Push Things Forward - The Streets
The Way It Is - The Prodigy
Grace Kelly - Mika
Higher Ground - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Living for the Weekend - Hard-Fi
Sing for the Moment - Eminem
Monster - The Automatic
All The Small Things - Blink 182
Just the way I’m Feeling - Feeder
When You Were Young - The Killers
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
What’s My Age Again? - Blink 182
Hold Tight! - Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beak....

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