The London Landmarks Half Marathon is the only half marathon to pass through both the City of Westminster and the City of London. It is a closed-road race in central London. It's unlike any other route - not only does it allow you to explore the City of London while running, which is always a bonus - but it also allows you to take in the city's unique hidden treasures and famous landmarks.
You get to see some of the most famous sights in London, such as the London Eye, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, Nelson's Column, the Gherkin, and the Shard.
I would want to say that I noticed my surroundings, but that would be lying because I was totally preoccupied with the task at hand. More than 18,000 runners participated in the race, spanning a wide range of abilities. This was a significant shift from normal since the closed-road central London route made it possible for runners to spend the day on normally congested streets.
I have no issues about the day; it was excellent.
London Landmarks: The Race
I didn't really have any nerves leading up to the start, I know my schedule is quite hectic and full on, so I spend a lot of time training and making sure my body is capable of completing the challenges. With races coming thick and fast I know I have to prepare my body in such a way to adapt to the pressures and situations it finds itself in. The preparation allowed me to take the day in my stride.
There was 10% that wanted to go for it, go for that PB but the other 90% wanted to be sensible, save yourself for the London Marathon in two weeks, and do you know who won? The 90%. I still achieved a good time nevertheless but because of my schedule, I decided to save myself.
Don't get me wrong, there were times during the race I wanted to abandon the idea and just go for it, but I knew deep down this would be the wrong move. I aimed to maintain an average pace of 4:30-4:45 per km, not too pacy but a good speed. That was my target pace in the build-up. I knew if I could do this comfortably then a 5:00 per km for marathon pace is more than achievable. My race strategy paid dividends because when I saw other runners faltering or coming into trouble I was more than capable of going faster and further - it didn't seem that big of a challenge, which I hope is a good sign.
London Landmarks: The Atmosphere
There were a lot of visitors on the streets. To be honest, I didn't think that many people would attend. It might not seem like much, but it makes a difference when random people are cheering you on and supporting you at every turn and on every street.
The audience encouraged you to keep going, so you didn't feel overwhelmed by the 21.1km of pavement; instead, you took it step-by-step and counted down each km. Since they had gone to the trouble of coming out in the first place, you felt compelled to return the favour.
London Landmarks: The Charity Side
This year London Landmarks announced they had passed the £50 million mark since its inception - which is massive and to be a small part of that is wonderful. It's very rewarding when you are able to make a difference
People ran for over 500 charities which for most have a close connection to the charity and it has helped them in some way or another. It's a great way of giving back and proving to yourself you're capable of so much more than you originally thought.
There are a plethora of amazing charities to select from; the key is to identify one that holds personal significance for you and give it your all. Someone may be inspired when awareness is raised and the charitable picture is seen by new people.
London Landmarks: The Overall Experience
Although I had only heard good things about it and had never done it before, I had a fantastic time. For my part, I thought the course and its route were excellent. Another aspect of the event that I really appreciated was the crowd. I had no idea how many people would be involved, and it was quite touching to watch so many people swarm the streets in support of friends, family, and loved ones.
I would wholeheartedly suggest it to others since it was incredibly delightful, and witnessing it in person made me believe that there is still good in society and that the power of the human body is still there but prospering.
I'm writing this in the hopes that my efforts will eventually benefit other people. If I can inspire others, boost their confidence, and help them feel better about themselves, I can feel proud of the work I've done and offer them encouragement. You may want to give up, or you may believe it is too much and you cannot accomplish it; you must push this to the back of your mind. You have more mental strength than you realise, so try to make an impact.
I don't like being called an inspiration or inspirational person because I'm not, I'm just some guy doing some running. That's all I'm doing in my eyes. If I'm able to make a difference - no matter the size - I can be happy and proud of that.