Here we are at June then, doesnt time fly?
We went down around 4 on the Saturday, I had initially booked a room in the Holiday Inn about 3 miles out, but managed to change that to the “normal” Premier Inn we stay at in Swansea, which is just on the waterside, across the way from Wind Street. TRavel was fine, and we headed off into the city around 5ish to see where we might have food. The initial intention was just me and Sian, but both the boys were in town and at a loose end, so they joined us in the Piano and Pitcher for a couple before nosh.
The pub does cocktails, and after six they are two for one, which meant huge delays as all the numptees ordered these weird and wonderful concoction whilst I was waiting for a couple of pints and a voddy.
After four hrs of queuing we drank our drinks and headed over to the Maderia Resturant – which was pretty good. It was busy and we were put downstairs which was fine, and had some nice grub. I had the peri chicken, but the others mostly had pasta, which was very good indeed.
Back to hotel for kip – so not even a late one, I tried to be good this time.
Next morning we didn’t have top leave until 8:30 for the 10 min walk to the start – it was raining. I stood in a Pen and after a while realised it was the wrong one, so stood in another Pen for a very long, wet, cold time. First wave went, then about 10 mins after we went too.
Started well, running through the town, keeping at about 8:22 per mile, but after 2 miles took advantage of a queueless toilet, then back on track. We ran up along the main road on the front, right down to Mumbles – pretty decent run, slight incline at the end – but all good, feeling great we turned at half way after our second water stop and still on about 8:30/mile.
This stretch was beginning to get warm, and I soaked myself only to find that I was now even heavier than when I had started, and bumbled along the front toward the finish. There were quite a lot of cheerers, and music, so all in all a good event. Saw the boys at 10 miles (was running with my eyes closed around that point, so lucky to see them), and saw the rest of the crew at about 11.
It starts to get hard after about 10 miles on these runs – I think it’s slightly the pressure to keep some kid of pace up to get under 2 hrs, but it starts to be a little painful, and less fun around then. Around the front and crossed the 1 mile to go sign, with another dose of water, then uphill through Wind Street, where it really starts to hurt and around the back to the finish. Teeth gritted, it was keep that pounding now, I suspected it would be under 2 – but you o try to push that last half mile, it’s hard.
Just down the final straight, and over the line – 1:57:27, so quicker than the last one, but also flatter, and with less of a hangover.
Managed to sneak back to the hotel to have a shower before 12, then over the smoke haus for a couple of guilt free buds and a big pulled port sanga.
Swansea – done.