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Beijing Half Marathon

10/19/2014

18 Comments

 
Picture
This is not my image. I sourced it from google, as, oops, massive blogger fail: we lost the camera on which we took all our marathon weekend photos. D'oh! Oh well, these things happen. Maybe it will find its way back to us.
As you can probably tell from the above photo, the air quality yesterday in Beijing was terrible! I didn't realise just how bad it was at the time, but come to think of it, there were a lot of people wearing masks. Hmmm.... Luckily I was only doing the half so had a total of one hour and forty-four minutes of sucking down some filthy air. So, yes, that's right: 1:44 was my time (I think - it took me a little while after crossing the finishing line to remember to press stop on the Garmin, so who knows - it could even be 1:43?? Haha...).

After all my talk re: I won't even wear a watch this time, and will go entirely by feel and for fun (which I still did), I ended up wearing the Garmin, mainly for practical reasons, as we were pushed for time and I had a second race looming which consisted of getting back across town to our hotel, and getting showered and checked out in time before rushing off on the third leg of the race-day to make it to the airport in time. I'm glad I wore it in the end, as I didn't even cross the starting line until a good 9 minutes after the race had officially started, such was the massive queue of runners.

Yes, the race was huge! A huge sea of runners, stumbling and weaving around each other, pretty tightly packed for the first 10kms or so, and with a tiny bit more room to breather for the last few kms, but not much. At first, I was a little frustrated with the human traffic jam and constant weaving and speeding up then slowly down to avoid crashes and tumbles. However, it soon struck me: this is fricken awesome! Look at us: thousands of people all coming together for the sole purpose of running and because we love to run. Plus, I was running solely for fun, and for no set time or pb, so what did it matter if I got held up or trodden on slightly??

Some other things about this race:

One thing I have finally mastered, after years of these races, is managing to drink from the little paper cups and not choke - not even one splutter this time, and I was drinking while running. Result.

A highlight of the race was seeing my friend, who was running the full marathon, about 9kms in. I was amazed we managed to find each other amongst the thousands upon thousands of runners, and we chatted for about a kilometre, which was great. Oh yeah, actually, he took a photo of me while running, an action shot of sorts, so stay tuned, I may have one photo from the race coming your way soon.

There were a few costumes on display too. My favourite was a guy in a tight leopard costume complete with a fixed loop for a tail which his girlfriend/running partner was firmly holding onto. What a great idea for not losing each other in the crowd.

Gutted I didn't catch your last name or details at the end of the race, but thanks to the friendly American man for keeping me company in the last few kilometres of this race. Just when I was starting to struggle and feel like I was about done (the bad air methinks) this dude shows up and tells me encouraging things and we chat for a bit and then power on to the finish line together. Thanks Scott if you somehow are managing to read this - it was loads of fun striding to the finish line with you!

All in all, it was a good race, with terrible air pollution (which can't be helped I suppose) but I was thrilled to be running around this amazing country's Capital with so many other people. 1:44 was my 2012 time for the Shanghai half marathon, so perhaps this is my 'natural' half marathon time? Pretty happy with this anyway, even though this race was definitely not about time or getting a pb (not sure how anyone would anyway, due to the congestion, unless they were right at the front with the elites). Now it's on to training for some longer runs again, prior to the upcoming 100km event. More on this training in the next post.

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!





18 Comments
Kristina link
10/19/2014 01:20:53 pm

Wow, I can't believe some people ran with masks on. I think the heat from breathing out would drive me crazy if I had a mask on!

I am really impressed with your 'just for fun' finishing time AND your ability to drink from the cups while running! I always have to walk slowly through the aid station to make sure I don't spill everything down my top!

I hope your camera makes its way back to you!

Reply
Lou link
10/20/2014 08:40:05 pm

Thanks, me too, mainly for the pictures on it. Yep, I can't stand running with a mask - cue a wet, uncomfortable face, but then, am worried about what I have breathed in instead??

Haha, I haven't managed to not get it all over my chin and top, but I can now manage to drink it (some of it) without choking.

Reply
running schlub link
10/20/2014 12:45:59 am

Wow?? Masks?? That is some bad air pollution. That is a great time, way to throw down a good run with that plume of smog floating around as you run.

Reply
Lou link
10/20/2014 08:42:07 pm

Thanks Schlub!! yeah, the pollution on Sunday was one of their most hazardous, dangerous days - nice one Weather! Loads of people were wearing masks, but I really hate running in a mask (wet, hot face) so figured as I was 'only' running the half that I would just wing it and hope for the best. Or just pretend the smog was some billowing, beautiful cloud instead. :)

Reply
David @ Captain Speedypants link
10/20/2014 02:11:23 am

You are one speedy chick. Great job on your finish and surviving the Beijing air. lol.

Reply
Lou link
10/20/2014 08:42:51 pm

Thanks David!! I hope I survived, lol... No cough or anything nasty appearing yet. :)

Reply
Kim link
10/20/2014 08:40:36 am

Great job!!! Your time is awesome and it sounds like overall it was fun (minus the nasty air!). Cool that you met a guy to help push you through the end.

Reply
Lou link
10/20/2014 08:45:06 pm

Thanks Kim!! Yes, it was just at the right moment too. He was a 'natural' hey - this was his first half marathon and he got 1:40! Seemed a breeze for him hey... And it was very encouraging, when we got to the last 100m and veered off towards our finishing mat, he said 'cmon, let's have some fun! Let's stride to the finish line!' I took that to mean sprint?? I am still pretty clueless re: 'strides' and 'striding' - running blogger fail perhaps? Or a work in progress, lol... :)

Reply
Kristen link
10/20/2014 11:04:44 am

Great job, lady! Did you wear a mask too? I could not imagine running in a mask for that amount of time. Wouldn't you get claustrophobic? Nice work mastering the art of drinking out of the little white cup full of water. I spill on myself all the time and am typically more careful when it's an energy drink.

Reply
Lou link
10/20/2014 08:46:39 pm

Thanks Kristen! Nope, no mask for me, although maybe I should have? Yes, they make me feel very claustrophobic and hot, and I end up with a wet, clammy face. Haha, I do spill a lot on myself, just don't choke and splutter any more. (Maybe it's 50% on my top and chin and 50% down the hatch now?) :)

Reply
Karen link
10/20/2014 09:59:07 pm

Congrats on great a race!! Even if it isn't a pb, it's still a really awesome time :) I saw so many pictures and the air quality looks so awful :( How often does that happen?! That is scary! That is really crowded, that's always weird feeling kinda claustrophobic when you are outside. Our 10K event here is like that, its like 40,000 it's crazy. How cool to see a friend in the middle of that crowd lol

Reply
Lou link
10/29/2014 01:37:55 pm

Thanks Karen!! Yeah, think the air is a constant battle in Beijing (one of the many reasons I'm glad to be up here in relatively fresh aired Inner Mongolia!) Yeah I know - I was so surprised (and happy) to see him! :)

Reply
Amy link
10/21/2014 01:14:49 am

I am so nostalgic for my first ever marathon in Beijing! I did see a news article that even the People's Daily admitted that the air was too poor on race day for a marathon. Good for you for sticking through it and I hope you do not suffer long term effects for it! Awesome time, too!

Reply
Lou link
10/29/2014 01:38:54 pm

Thanks Amy!! What was the air like for your Beijing Marathon? What an awesome place to have your first ever marathon! What a memory... :)

Reply
Tina@GottaRunNow link
10/29/2014 11:52:40 am

It seems like it would be very uncomfortable running a race in a mask. Hopefully, it didn't bother you to run in that pollution. Sometimes something here, the pollution I think, gives me a raspy voice after a long run. Congrats on a fast finish time!

Reply
Lou link
10/29/2014 01:41:02 pm

Hi Tina! Thanks!! Yeah, sometimes my lungs feel a bit weird in the day following a race if the air has been bad (this race and one in Shanghai last year). Fingers crossed all is well though. I have tried running in a mask a couple of times here in China and it's awful! Wet, clammy face and very uncomfortable. Keeps you very warm though, which can be a plus. :)

Reply
cheryl link
10/30/2014 11:41:37 pm

Wow! I can't imagine those conditions. I don't think I would have been able to run with a mask--I would get claustrophobic.
Great time!

Reply
Lou link
10/31/2014 12:09:57 pm

Thanks Cheryl!! Yeah, running with a mask must take a lot of training/patience - I've tried a couple of times but you just end up with an uncomfortable and wet face. :)

Reply



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