Birmingham and Black Country Half Marathon – My first and possibly last “half”!

Billed as a point to point half marathon starting at Wolverhampton and ending in Broad Street, Birmingham, run entirely on the canal.

After a bad day and night on Friday I had resigned myself to not running this race, but an early rising daughter and lots of encouragement from Calvin persuaded me to give it a go.  After all the weather seemed suitable for a half marathon – overcast and a bit damp.

The start was interesting to say the least – over 500 runners were herded from the train station via large yellow arrows into the courtyard of the British Waterways Yard.  Here the historic buildings had a very ominous feel and I began to wonder what I had let myself in for.

A lone marshal stood near a black door, every minute calling out waves of runners to start.  This system was designed to minimise potential bottlenecks on the route but it reminded me of lambs to the slaughter!  Once a group of runners had assembled they went through the door of doom never to return.

There were lots of friendly runners many of whom seemed amused by my long socks – probably due to the fact I was estimating a 2.10 – 2.15 finish.

When wave 72 was called forward I found myself passing through the door with 3 other runners – all men and all looking to do sub 2.10 – I protested that I must be in the wrong group but was told it would be ok!

After a short walk to another marshal and a 10 second count down we were off!

Within half a mile it struck me how very windy the route was; not only that the clouds had cleared and the temperature was rising.

Somewhere around mile 2 I left my 3 fellow starter runners behind and pressed on.  Mile 3 was a blur probably because the mile marker was making its way down the canal!

Drinks at mile 4 were very welcome as was the canal side support from Calvin and Tally.

Just after the start of the 5 th Mile you enter the Coseley Tunnel which is ¼ mile long.  The tunnel was great, cool and out of the wind.  It also seemed to bring out the entertainer in my fellow runners.  Thanks must go to the team in front who chanted a marching song all the way through and helped me keep some form of rhythm in the near pitch black!

After being questioned (or harrased(?)) by a surly group of black Country youths hanging about on the canal, mile 5 was over.  Calvin and Tally made another appearance half way through mile 6 on a bridge 50ft above the canal.

For me the canal was a lovely place to run, it can be lonely, but you find your mind drifting, taking in the scenery and wondering how the whole thing was constructed.

It was only when I reached the water station at mile 8 that the wind dropped and I realised how hot it really was.  Calvin had managed to make an appearance here too but I was beginning to struggle and conversation was at a minimum!

By mile 10 I was queasy and had a pain developing in my left hip that was steadily getting worse.  Birmingham seemed a long way off and even though I was within 3 miles of the finish I could not see any prominent landmarks that would suggest it was nearly over.  I was beginning to doubt if I would finish at all!

I tried eating some honey but that made me feel worse so I started to try and get past some of the runners ahead of me.  I set myself the target of passing 1 person every kilometre – a target I managed to achieve even if 1 of them had collapsed on the side of the canal with dehydration!

The distraction proved useful and just after 11 miles I could finally see the tops of the canal side apartments.  Calvin and Tally made a final appearance 200 m from the finish spurring me onto to a semi sprint effort (I felt I looked like Roger Banister in the closing stages of the 4 minute mile but I think in reality it was more Fern Britton running for a bus)!

Sadly the finish was not signed in anyway so I only realised I had finished when someone told me I could stop running!  I didn’t feel too good after finishing, a situation not helped by the lack of water at the finish – something to do with there being no cups!

After 20 minutes or so I managed to collect my medal and head home.

My finishing time was 2.13.14 which, if I’m honest, I was a little disappointed by as I wanted to get under 2.10, but it was my first half and it was hot so hopefully next year I can beat it!

I would definitely do this race again – the format is interesting, the scenery is wonderful and finishing in Broad Street provided many a Saturday afternoon drinker with amusement!

Yasmine Al-Daftary

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