Blackpool Half Marathon
Preparation & Goals
After training hard with the club and really focusing on the advice and recommendations from our sessions, I decided to put it all into practice at the Blackpool Half Marathon. I had been applying those tips to my long runs and headed to the coast with a clear goal in mind: a sub-1:50 finish.
Race Day Conditions
After a 23°C travel day, I was relieved to find race morning much cooler. Fortunately, the running gods listened: race morning was a perfect 13°C with overcast skies and a refreshing sea breeze. The conditions were perfect for a PB attempt on this notoriously flat and fast course.
The Starting Line
Logistics were easy with the start, finish, and number collection all in one spot. Despite the usual long toilet queues as the 9:00 am klaxon went off, the small field of under 2,000 runners meant I could get right near the front. This was a game-changer, allowing me to find my rhythm immediately without being stuck in a bottleneck. The marathon and half runners started in opposite directions. Interestingly, the two groups started in opposite directions before merging seamlessly at around mile 2.
The Route
The course is a fantastic tour of Blackpool’s icons—the Tower, the piers, and the Pleasure Beach. The wide roads meant no zigzagging or wasted energy. At mile 4, we took a brief loop through a residential area before heading back to the promenade, running alongside the local trams. While not a “big city” crowd, there were lovely pockets of supporters along the route cheering us on. The signage was excellent throughout, clearly marking the miles for both the half and full marathon distances.
The mental challenge came at mile 8, passing the finish line and heading “out” of town. By mile 11, we dropped down onto the lower promenade for the final stretch. One last slight incline at mile 13 brought the finish line into view.
The Result
Crossing the line to hear my name called out was a great touch, but the real highlight came when the results were posted. Not only did I beat my target with a new PB of 1:47:13, but I also managed:
- 1st Place in my Age Category 🏆
- 26th Female overall
- 213th position out of 883 runners
I headed home with a lovely Blackpool Tower medal, a finisher’s T-shirt, and the pride of knowing the training had worked perfectly.
Summary: A flat, friendly, and well-organised event. Brilliant for PB’s.
Sarah Short
