Why the Dickens would you want to restage the 2018 Slough Half Marathon?

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’

The 2018 Slough Half Marathon had a buzz about it like no other race I had ever done. Not only because it was the first Half Marathon (even race!) for a lot of the runners of our local running community but it was also the first time it was being staged after an 18 year gap!

Goodgym Slough was relatively ‘new’ but we still flooded the race with the #redarmy tee's. This was one of the only races I have done where ‘Everyone knows your name’…. It was so joyful to see so many familiar faces and to receive so many ‘Good Luck's ...…Cheers for that.

Did I mention the weather that day? Let’s save that till later

So, an epic race returning after an 18 year gap, supremely well organised, the happiest marshals I’d ever seen….so why wouldn’t we say:-

‘Please Sir, can I have some more?’

Sadly there was no more…but to of had the chance to ‘run our town’ was epic…so when sitting at my laptop one evening trying to think of another inventive training session for the team to do…I thought…let’s do a little Twist and give the team some Great Expectations! And re-live the Slough Half Mile by Mile.

(Why are Mr Dickens quotes being used you may ask?....Did you know he lived in Slough for a part of his life!)

Me, Myself and I

So the aim of this training session was to try and russle up 13 team members to run a mile of the Slough Half route at any time that suited them during the course of a weekend. I was conscious that I may not even get 13 runners interested so was ready to run a few extra miles myself.

I shouldn’t have doubted the team though…within minutes of posting the link in the what’s app group, Harsha was signed up as was Nisha, Ricky, Emily, Jenni, Pam, Naomi, Jen, Chrissy, Keira, Sara, Jenny! By 18:40 all miles had nearly been filled! And as always bright star Harsha suggested we try and do our miles on the same day…an idea I loved…..

Super Sunday

So, here we are on Sunday 7th June re-running the Slough Half Marathon (relay) in a pandemic under strict social distance rules (never thought these words would be used in one sentence!).

The allocation of miles was easy….everyone chose a mile near where they lived…some miles had more than one runner, but that was ok…12 weeks into a pandemic, we had all adapted our running styles and adopted new ones such as:

• The pavement edge run

• The cross over and cross back run

• The stop and let pass run

(These new running styles may even take off)

Fully briefed on mile number, runner before and runner afterwards, an estimated start time – we were on your marks set go

Your pace or mine?

Off went Ricky (running the whole half!), followed by Sandy and I.

Sandy and I both did this race in 2018 (Sandy was well equipped that day with an umbrella hat!)…but Ricky missed out…so he was on his own mission to see the sights of Slough.

We started the run in Salt hill park (one of Slough’s first outdoor spaces!)…each one of us just running our own pace to the next mile…which was up on Wellington Street to meet Pam..

Kelly’s Eye – 1 is Done

So, off went Pam up the Langley Rd (past her house!) for mile 1 to 2…Pam marshalled at the actual race in 2018…she was the first marshal we all recognised and got more cheers from us than she probably expected.

Me and you – Passed number 2

At mile 3 handover was Queen Quizzy Chrissy and Gail … Gail was also one of the fabulous marshals back in 2018…and Chrissy was running her first Half Marathon that day having trained so hard…

Cup of Tea – There goes 3

Naomi was on her virgin Slough half mile up into Langley High Street…Her mile was taking her up to Toby, but not for a carvery, but a quick selfie with Nisha and Kam

Knock at the door – That was 4

So off went Nisha and Kam to do number 4 to 5…a trip past Nisha’s house but no popping in for a baby’s nappy change or jaffa cakes this time…Nisha’s first race was the Slough Half..one she will never forget..Kam is our vetern runner…been there done that.

That was number 5 - it was Alive!

Doubling up for number 6 were Sara and Meera… Upton Court Rd…a runners paradise with our local parkrunners…plenty of space to social distance and run along here…nice to see to see you nice! Sara will remember this route well from 2018...It's where she put on the tunes and got into her zone and told me to just GO! Meera was cheerleading us that day…in the comfort of her house..

They had their Tom Mix with number 6

It was over to Rosa and I to get through Chalvey with mile seven…my final mile as I reached the end of my run today…but with Rosa and her long stride and speed, I let her go…let her go.. up to Ricky…(anyone seen Ricky? He started so he must finish…). Rosa also ran this in 2018…soaked yet smiling as always.

Thank heaven for Lucky 7

Ricky was already off on this miles, knocking them down one by one…

Shut the garden gate – he’s just completed 8

Over to Ciaran and Keira for mile 9….a trip into Manor Park and the Britwell borders…in 2018 these guys were our support team, our huggy bears....as we finished soaked and sodden, they still gave us a cuddle…

Take a line with number 9

But where is Jen whose running number 10…oh yes, I recall, she’s still in her den (running the route later on)…so over to Ricky to get that leg done..take on a gel now Ricky...

Into the lion's den...with Ricky and Jen

Running to Jenny for number 11. An injury preventing a full on sprint so a nice two wheeler version instead.

Give us a whistle for legs 11

And we are nearly home…only Harsha and Sut to go (plus Ricky)…Having run a dozen races, mile 12 was a cracking leg for our little egg. No hassle for our Hero Harsha..

Twelve with a kettlbell!

Onto the Farham Rd, on a bridge for the start for number 13...unlucky for some but not for our Super Sutyee…with just over a mile to complete into the finish line at Salt hill park…this was a breeze for our lemon squeeze..still wearing her lemon Tee, race number and medal from twenty eighteen!

As quick as a bean for number 13

WE DID IT!

What a wonderful morning….a few glimpse of our running pals…a nice leg stretcher run for everyone (and an epic sprint for Sara and Meera!)…and a creative way of showing our completed miles…(check out the photo's and you'll know what I mean)..

Well done to each and every one of you…

….but wait there’s more!

That Ealing Feeling

Remember I said that Emily and Jenni also signed up…they are part of the original Slough team but live in Ealing...so they were set a slightly different challenge.

Find a street any street as long as it spelt out : -

SLOUGH HALF MARATHON!

Well done ladies on your hunting..

Well that’s all folks!

And we didn’t even discuss the weather! Best nothing more is said about that. I think we are just grateful we didn’t start this run with trainers and socks soaked through! What a beautiful sunny day...for today's run..

Enjoy the selection of photos…suffice to say…those with us in close proximity to each other are from the actual Race back in 2018.....a few memories to share