On Sunday I took part in the Bristol Half Marathon. Over 24,000 runners took part in the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run which included a 10k as well as the half marathon. The 10k action kicked off at 8:30am before the half marathon waves started from 10:00am. It is our city’s big running event of the year so it was great to be involved in the race.

It was just two weeks after the London Marathon and I had been ill the week prior so decided I would not race the event but I definitely wanted to take part. I ended up pacing my girlfriend, Megan, round which proved to be a very enjoyable run and gave me a very different but positive race day experience.

I have never just run around in an event but instead always raced so it was a new experience for me. It was also a new experience for me starting in the masses. It was enjoyable though showing up at the race HQ and walking to start in a large group of people and then waiting in the group quite a way down the road from the start line as the commentator gets everyone fired up.

We were in the second wave and gradually filtered down the road to the start. We got underway at 10:20am and set off to complete 13.1 miles. The start line on Anchor Road wasn’t far from the race HQ in Millennium Square. Because it is such a big event the race is run on completely closed roads.

We followed the 10k route down the road through town but after about half a mile peeled off and onto the Portway. Then it was a long 3.5 miles out and 3.5 miles back. It’s not the most entertaining route but it is very flat and running under the Clifton Suspension Bridge showcases an iconic Bristol landmark.

Once we had run back along the Portway we re-joined the 10k route, ran along Cumberland Road and past Wapping Wharf. Then we did a lot of looping and switch backs around Redcliffe before heading to Finzels Reach and around Castle Park. It was around this point that there was the only significant hill of the race. It isn’t particularly long but with it being in the twelfth mile of the race it definitely bites for most runners.

After that we ran around Queen Square on the dirt path which proved to be the best part of the race. The path was lined with spectators on both sides and we ran three quarters of the square. The atmosphere was great and reminded me of a cycling race. The race was almost over and there were spectators the rest of the way until the finish. We ran up into the Old City and looped back around and down back onto Anchor Road to the finish.

It was very tough day for many with the heat proving to be quite intense but there were still some great performances. Megan ran a PB of 2:01:48 which was very admirable given the conditions (and my poor pacing!).

Max Davis (Bristol & West AC) won the half marathon in 1:06:24 with Rosie Hamilton-James (Westbury Harriers) taking the women’s title in 1:15:58. Dage Minors (Bristol & West AC) won the 10k in 30:24 as Gemma Steel (Charnwood AC) was first lady home in 34:59.

If you live in Bristol this is definitely a race to do. To be honest though, if I didn’t live in Bristol it probably wouldn’t be one that I would travel to but given it is our home race it was great to be a part of this iconic event.

Well done to everyone who raced and thank you to the Great Run organisers for organising (another) fantastic event! Thousands finished and lots of money was raised for good causes. I will be back next year and might go for it and see what time I can run on the course!