What's the route like?

[George Anderson]

Leading up to last year's race I sent out an email describing the race route.

Though I will be doing this again nearer the time (probably two or three weeks before race day) something Tom wrote in his post on the "Not Sure" discussion gave me an idea for a discussion on the forum.

If you have run the race before, you can add your comments about the route right here - which bits do you find particularly challenging? How do you cope with the stretch down the A33? What is the start and finish like?

In short, what tips do you have for RHM Newbies?

To echo what Tom said about the hills, there really are only two main hills. One about 2 miles in and the other at around the 7 mile mark.

The rest is flat or down hill - yay!

George

[Jeremy Hopkins]

It's a fairly flat and pleasant course and the atmosphere around the town gives you a good lift. On the downside, the final approach to the Mad Stad is very tough mentally -after a seemingly long and boring stretch along the A33 the stadium seems very near, but then you have to do the Green Park loop which adds another couple (or so) of very long miles that you really could have done without ! Oh yeah, and the weather is usually awful (sleet in 2007 if my memory serves me well) - maybe global warming could help us this year...

[George Anderson]

Yes the weather can be appalling at the RHM but this year it is a little later so hopefully Spring will be in bloom!

Last year the weather was perfect don't forget - lovely sunshine, not too much wind, just the right temperature... I do remember the sleet year though - I think every body after about 1:40 got a drenching!

[Justin Saunders]

Last year the weather was perfect - shame I was just watching my brother run it! I was the one shouting at you all, handing out Jelly Babies from on top of the central reservation half way along the A33! Only now that I am into my running do I realise the value of cheering and Jelly Babies!

The hardest part for me (I'm actually bothering to run this year!) will be the stretch along Oxford Road, up and round, and then down Bath Road... Only because I live just off Southcote Road which we'll all pass twice! So close to home will be a killer I think!

[Gill Lightfoot]

The final stretch is a bit unrelenting, (particularly if you don't like 'Eye of the Tiger'!) BUT when you run - (drag yourself, hobble) - into the stadium at the end and everyone is actually cheering for YOU - it's brilliant!!

[katy]

I'm a newbie but I'm looking forward to the atmosphere but not so much to those hills!

[Gill Lightfoot]

katy, the hills are not that bad - honestly! Just take them slow and steady..... And, what goes up, must come down..... enjoy the lovely down hill bits... Good luck!

[CLH]

Hiya

Call me bonkers but my husband took me from Swindon up to Reading today (I've only ever been to Reading once before) and I did the half marathon (by car!! LOL!) it helped me re-focus and now I know exactly what is ahead and I have to say the route really isn't that bad, as others have said there really are only 2 hills to speak of, around 2 miles in and its fairly short and not too steep, around the 7 mile mark up Russell Street its a steady longer climb but nothing too awful and trust me I loathe hills!!

Am not looking forward to the 10-11.5 mile bit down the A33 but will save good music and lots of jelly babies to get me through! at the end of the day its still 13.1 miles and thats a toughie for a beginner like me who is doing their first half but I'm glad we went for a 'look around' !

Hope that helps

Corinna

katy said:

I'm a newbie but I'm looking forward to the atmosphere but not so much to those hills!

[Louise]

Could you be more specific about the hills! How long are they and how steep?

[Louise]

Is there a better map av. than the one on the website such as a walkjogrun one?

[CLH]

Hi Louise

This is from memory, the first one is at about 2.5 miles is pretty short I can't really say how long it is but definitley shorter and not as steep as running over a motorway bridge, so smaller than that. (probably more comparable to a small fly-over)

The one that is at around 7 miles is a very gentle hill in that its not steep just a steady climb and its reasonably long, am trying to think how far it might be but its basically up the whole street. As I said I am not a lover of hills and when I saw them I didn't think they were too bad at all. Someone else might have a different perspective to me as we'll all see things differently I guess!

Hope that helps a bit!
Louise said:

Could you be more specific about the hills! How long are they and how steep?

[George Anderson]

Neither of the hills are significant, though the first one does tend to catch many runners out who have gone off too fast.

You'll definitely feel them both but don't worry about them affecting your race. The course was the fastest half marathon in the country last year because it is regarded as being so flat.

I'm putting together a detailed map of the route along with notes on hills etc. so watch out for this soon!

[Aaron]

I haven't posted here for a while, but I can comment on the course since I ran it (slowly of course) in training last Sunday (I live around 15 mins walk from Madejski Stadium, very handy) The first hill is quite a short hill and the steeper of the two. Steep enough that you can feel it when you run. Not a big deal if you don't start off too fast. The second hill is longer but the climb is gradual and not as steep as the first hill. Probably twice or three times as long as the first. I'd say that's the easier hill, if you got your running rhythm going, if you sufficiently trained up, etc. If you look on the course map, the entire Russell Street part of the course is a hill!

I would also like to comment on the A33 part of the course. It is flat, but it is very straight. It feels like that stretch of road never ends, which plays nasty tricks on your mind and tired body. I think that's probably going to be the hardest part of the course. I ran a marathon which had an approximately 3 km long dead straight road around the 34 km mark, it was pretty much psychological torture.