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On Sunday 7th November, I took part in the Hertfordshire Half Marathon with my sister Fidelia. The last time I was there was in June this year which was moved from November 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown. It was a great turn out. It almost looked like the pre-COVID level. I think many people just feel that enough is enough. After having the double jabbed vaccination, people just want to get on with normal life again. It was a freezing cold morning but fortunately, the rain / snow didn’t materialise. This would be my 4th Herefordshire Half but it was my sister’s first. I promoted this event to her with great finisher’s t-shirt, beautiful medal and the iconic Knebworth House which is the stately Tudor home which has been used as pop concert venues performed by famous artists such as The Queen, Police, Paul McCartney and the like.
In my last report on the Stroud Marathon, a fortnight before this event, I mentioned about my British Computer Society Chartered IT Professional Exam on 21st October. After the Stroud Half Marathon, I was very keen to get back to form plus I had a bit more time for training. And I was very pleased to be informed by BCS that I have passed the exam.
Unfortunately, a few days before the Hertfordshire Half, I tore my posterior cruciate ligament on the treadmill when I tried to set a higher pace. It turned out to be a very bad idea. I was just too silly and I ended up getting was exactly the same injury as when I first got back in 2012 while I overstretched my left leg after finishing the Stroud Half Marathon with a very bad cramp. I had been using the Rock Tape (aka Kinesiology Tape) to help ease the pain. The pain seemed to have improved a bit. I wrapped my left knee with fresh rock tape on the morning of the Hertfordshire Half but I still felt the niggles during the run especially during the downhill. I usually try to make up the time I have lost from the uphill by acerating during the downhill but I couldn’t this time. I was very slow both ascending and descending. Never in a second, I wanted to turn to walking mode as it’d be extremely difficult to pick up the rhythm of running again. I just quietly carried on and working on my mental strength.
I crossed the finish line in 2 hours 30 minutes 52 seconds. This was probably my slowest half marathon time but on the bright side, I finished. My sister finished in 2 hour 17 minutes. The Rock Tape rocks. Without it, I wouldn’t have been even on the start line at all. In life, we all have setbacks. It is a matter how we manage our injuries. As for me, I never take the pain killers as I don’t want to mask the pain. Pain is a signal to let us know there is a problem in that area. When I felt the pain, I slowed down. I didn’t push as I didn’t want to aggravate my injury. I took it easy. After the Hertfordshire Half, I rested for the whole week. I continued to use the Rock Tape and I was quite relieved to feel some improvement on the injury.
I would do it again next year. I really like this event. It is only half an hour car journey from my home. The marshalling was excellent and the event was very well organised. The route is around the country lanes in Stevenage area which had been kept traffic-free especially for this event. The route is very scenic with very well sign-posted mile marks. Another big bonus of this event is the free official photos for each and every runner to download on Facebook.