Half Marathon #2 takes place at a very familiar location (as I coach there veery week), Battersea Park. Starting and finishing at the Park's Bandstand this flat course covers 8.75 laps of the park, making it easy to follow and great for any spectators hoping to follow runners around the course. One of two organised half marathons in my challenge, there is a medal up for grabs at the finish.

Distance:  13.1 miles

Duration:  1 hr 38 mins 15 secs (official chip time)

Blister Count:  +1 = 2  (back of the left achilles this time - might need a better preventative blister strategy)

Another glorious day for a run, a flat course, a decent amount of shade and water stations en route. Ideal for only my second back-to-back (2 in 2 days) half marathons.

My first reflection is what a fantastic event. Brilliantly organised, great location and the support... oh my goodness, the support! I couldn't believe it when we passed through the start line and turned on to Carriage Way, to find the course lined with supporters offering encouragment the WHOLE WAY ROUND. An amazing turnout and it really made this a special run. Thanks to Mel Hyde, one of the players I coach, who I passed on lap three and who waited at the turn into Central Avenue to wave me on (well I say she stopped for me - we never had that conversation and she could have been supporting someone else. But a familiar face along the route was very much welcomed nonetheless).

One of the benefits of taking part in organised half marathons, is the people you run alongside (or in front). Or 'targets' as I like to think of them, always pushing you to give a little bit more. And, ego + spectators = no walking. Running in laps could be monotonous but instead it allowed me to break the run into bite-size pieces and focus on one section at a time.

The final two miles turned out to be the quickest of the run. Not sure that this was a particularly sensible move with 11 more half marathons to go. But it felt right and of course, it didn't take me long to look at the results page on the website afterwards. Not my quickest, but 130th overall out of 1,323 finishers (and 9th in my category) will do for a back-to-back.

Medal in hand... job done... would highly recommend this event to anyone thinking about taking on a half. Thanks to all at www.runthrough.co.uk for making this such a special event!