So with everything else going on during 2009 the only event I ran was Velka Kunraticka which was a very pleasant 3.1k over hills and through a couple of streams here in Prague.
2010, then, needed from the begining to have some good events in it. The Prague Half was a great start in this regard.
The biggest challenge seemed from the outset to be the timing, the event coming barely a month after the ice started melting during daylight hours so I could again do my long runs, at least, outside. The second timing consideration comes not from the timing of the half itself but the rather curious situation where the Prague full marathon is but five weeks later. The result is, of course, that the half becomes a step-back week’s long run on the route to a full marathon. If you see what I mean.
All that aside, I had a great day. The course (and I seem to have a different perspective to Prague’s longer term residents here) was fantastic; crossing the Vltava no less than six times and affording us all wonderful views of the city. The event was reasonably well supported and, seemingly invevitable chaos at water stations aside, very well organised.
We also got a nice t-shirt.
Ultimately though I could have run in driving snow, at minus ten, through a post-industrial wasteland with people throwing rocks at me and I’d still have thought it was a great event as I smashed my personal best for the half marathon by eleven minutes, coming in at 1:53:12, having enjoyed every step and pretty much unable to run another.
More photos in gallery.
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