Just like yesterday I only entered this race due to the Star Wars themed medal. I'd have rather not done this race at all, but I'd entered it, so I was going to do it. So another hour of driving, I was back in Milton Keynes for the second time in two days. I'd be passing by this way in four more days on my down to London before my trip to India too. The M1 would be far too familiar.

Once I’d got my number I headed over to the red start, and positioned myself between the 1:30 and 1:35 pacers. Within seconds of that, Colin, one of the twins that me and Carmen know from the ukrunchat days spotted me, and we spoke until the race started. In doing so, I did forget to warm-up a little.

I set off at an easy-ish pace, and was soon behind Alex, the 1:35 pacer that Carmen knows. Once the space opened up a little, I found myself running alongside for a few hundred metres whilst he told the people around him that he was banking time in the first two miles. I looked at my watch at that point and saw I was doing 6:50/mi already, a sub-90 minute pace, so I slowed down. It was probably good timing too as I’d just hit the hill up to where we’d be turning towards the start line from yesterday. I could definitely feel that 5K in my legs still, but I figured once this little bit at the top of the hill was done I’d be on my way back down it, and from there it shouldn’t be too bad. Around 5K in was the first water station.

I noticed it felt a little humid, and I wondered if it’d rain during this race. I’d brought a poncho with me, but I’d left it in my car. I’d just have to run quicker - 4 miles were already done, and the last couple of miles had been noticeably quicker. Once turning off the main road onto the housing estate I tried to control my pace a little more, knowing there’d be a brief incline coming up - that was a lot shorter than I remembered it to be though, and now 5 miles already. I also remember the path that led to the humpback bridge as well.

The next water station was quite a while before 10K, and this time I gulped too much water in one go and about choked on it - making my throat feel sore temporarily. I kept the pace going, and thought that the church ahead is where normally the Winter Half would go past. I wasn’t completely sure though, but this course turns left there.

“May the Course Be With You. This is the Way”

I saw yet another Star Wars themed sign on the way out of Woughton on the Green, celebrating Star Wars day. The lumpiest bits were behind me for now, and I could focus on moving. I started to wonder if maybe I could beat my Prague time today - with the last few miles at sub-07:00, it didn’t seem out of the question if the rest was like this.

At 7 miles in I passed Willen Lake, and kept thinking of bits that reminded me of either the Winter Half or the 20 mile race - both of which I felt I’d probably done more than this one. I couldn’t remember for sure what the rest of this one was like.

There were bits I remembered around mile 9 from when I’d done this race a couple of years ago when Carmen had paced it. I thought we might be heading towards Campbell Park now, and started to wonder of that meant this was the one that went up the big hill there. I was wrong, but not completely wrong. This one really did have a big hill in it, one that dragged on and on, and it was the one which when I encountered it last time, I thought “never again.” Ooops.

I walked briefly before I got there, but at mile 10, in Simpson. The worst of the inclines was in front of me, and I walked up it all. At that point I knew even matching Prague was out of the question. I got running again though, past the lakes at Ashland, and eventually I could see the MK Dons stadium ahead, with just under a mile to go.

As the stadium loomed closer, I started to think I should hold back on the pace a little - I shouldn’t let my eagerness to finish cause my pace to creep up too much. I’d want something left for a quick finish through the stadium. I turned left into the carpark, and then stuck close to the fencing - letting my pace creep up despite best intentions.

Thirteen miles done and now I was just about at the top of the ramp down into the stadium. I could hear the noise from inside and my pace increased further. It was 6:13/mi pace as I entered, and I continued to run close to the wall. Despite this, and with plenty of space besides me, one runner shoulder barged into me, almost knocking me over, as he overtook. Okay that was it. I was going to overtake him now - I wouldn’t do the same, but I wasn’t going to have him finish before me after doing that. After having lost some speed from staggering forwards after the collision, I quickly sped back up and reached almost 05:20/mile as I rounded the final corner. I wasn’t actually sure if I’d overtaken him or not, as I was now focussed on finishing as quickly as possible.

I finished in position 201 of 3,291 finishers, with a time of 01:33:31 - about a minute slower than Prague. That was okay though - it was better than I’d expected considering the marathon and the 5K I’d done on these legs in the last week.

After getting the medal, there’s then some water, and inside the hall you’re given a goodie bag containing a flapjack and 4 vouchers for getting a free 1/4 chicken from Nando’s. It was only valid within Milton Keynes for the next two weeks - no use to me then. I then collected my MK Challenge medal - something I didn’t get to do last time I did both races. Maybe this time it’ll be never again for the weekend.