By Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson nabs a PB in the Worthing Half
Cold, wet and windy – the three elements all runners dread when trying to run PBs. Inevitably, the weather gods didn’t disappoint on 12 February and it was indeed cold, wet and windy… I was aiming for a sub 1:30 given the nature of the course – quote: “the fastest course in the South East”. Setting off around 6:50 m/m pace would get me there with time to spare.
The first 6-7 miles are full of twists and turns through the housing estates adjacent to the seafront, this then spits you back out onto the promenade where the crowd (very loyal and very cold) give you a gentle clap of encouragement before you start the 6 mile out and back heading west along the seafront. I found myself about 400m metres behind the 1:30 pacer at mile 9, however I knew he had gone out too hard and sure enough at around mile 10 lots of runners started tailing off heading into the last 5k – which is when the headwind kicked in!!
Feeling really good I picked it up and began passing those who had gone out a bit hard running the last 5k in sub-20 minutes. I brought the hammer down the last 400m and crossed the line. I couldn’t help thinking “ I could have gone out a little harder”, but I can’t grumble as I had achieved what I set out to do. Finishing time 01:28:43, something to beat next time…
I advise anyone who wants to run a PB to run the Worthing Half as it is the flattest course I have ever run
Striders results:
106th Jim Stephenson – 1:28:43
340th Natasha Swan – 1:40:22