Paddock Wood, I absolute love you. I had to rewrite that sentence and remove the expletive, that’s how much I love this race.

My first visit came in 2016. I’d just completed the Hastings Half in 2 hours and 14 seconds (another expletive removed) and rocked up at PW wearing my brand new Hastings Runners top for the first time, confident I’d smash the 2 hour mark. I was mistaken. Not helped by leaving my watch at home, one of many mistakes I’ve made over the years.

That almost began my decline in running and the next 2 years were a downward spiral, concluding with a 2 hour 34 half marathon at Hastings in 2018. I didn’t bother with PW that year.

12 months later with my first completed training plan under my belt I returned to Kent with little expectation. In the weeks building up to the race I’d run 2:14 at Eastbourne and 2:08 at Hastings. But as the miles ticked by and I could just about make out the 2 hour pacer flags in the distance, it suddenly dawned on me the sub 2 was a possibility.

It’s still my favourite ever running memory, catching the pacers around the tight finishing bend and seeing Michael Hamer’s beaming smile at the line.

2022 and 2023 saw further improvement in my times clocking 1:37:37 and 1:36:30, both PBs. Fast forward to Sunday and I was back. This time having done very little training at the pace I needed to run (4:30 per km or 7:15 per mile).

But with a recent successful training block and PBs at Canterbury 10 miler and Goodwood marathon (did I mention that), confidence was high and I knew it was a possibility.

Conditions were ideal, albeit a little nippy and during the warm up my supposed look-a-like from Ashford Striders came over to chat. He’d seen my video where I’d picked him out of the crowd at Hastings 5 Miler, mentioning the resemblance, he didn’t appear insulted which was a relief. Apparently at Rye 10 last year, upon climbing out of his car, a Hastings Runner actually asked him “How are you today Simon, what time are you aiming for?”.

After a pre race mix up with the starting pen signs, it was obvious many runners were positioned in the wrong place at the start. Made obvious by the comment of the chap in front of me “shit I’m in the wrong place”.

We set off and the pace was clearly too slow. I looked at my watch and it displayed 5:20 pace. Yikes. I leapt on the pavement to negotiate some dangerous overtaking maneuvers and nearly collided with a cone. I took another panicked glance at my Garmin. Still 5:20. Shit, this was bad. I could see my whole race unravelling right here, right now.

Luckily I was able to squeeze through some tight gaps and pass those clearly starting in the wrong place and I was relieved to see my watch beep at 4:29 for the first kilometre. In fact it proved fruitful as I continued that pace in the early part of the course, banking some much needed time. 4:20, 4:26, 4:24, 4:22.

Through 7 km I was already 39 seconds ahead of goal pace and knew at that point I could keep it steady. From that point on my pacing was great with splits of 4:32, 4:31, 4:31. 4:31. 4:26, 4:30.

This approach I find keeps me in the moment during races, knowing each kilometre is important and that I can’t lose time. My slowest split of the race came towards the end when I clocked 4:35 for km 18 and this gave me the kick up the backside I needed.

Kilometre 20 and 21 were my fastest two of the race at 4:18 and 4:04. I ran down the main street arm aloft, shouting “Let’s Go”, celebrating what I now knew was going to be a PB. Try it, the crowd love it and always respond.

Once my own race was done it was time to focus on the Team. Conal came in too quickly for me to get my place near the finish line with an excellent time of 1:39. His best half for many years.

Due in next was Rachael. Gunning for a sub 1:50. I was well placed with a view to the top of the bridge some 200 metres in the distance. This is the worst part for a coach and does provide some level of anxiety, not knowing when the runners will appear on the horizon.

When the 1:50 pacers appeared with absolutely no-one around them my shoulders slumped. The next 60 seconds seemed like an eternity but then she appeared in the distance. I double checked my watch and knew a PB was still a possibility. Rachael had dug deep having struggled late in the race and managed to clock a new personal best of 1:51. Amazing.

It was hard to miss Allan in his bright pink shorts as he appeared a few minutes later, seemingly struggling with an injury but I’m glad to say he was fine. He clocked 1:54 in the middle of his marathon training plan, not bad for an old fella (MV70).

If there was one runner I was confident was going to smash her PB, it was Alice, albeit her week had been hugely disrupted by agonizing tooth pain. There was some concern she might not make the start line but some painkillers (prescribed by the dentist I should add and not me) did the trick and once she was underway, there was never a doubt, with Alice knocking 8 minutes off her previous best half marathon time to clock 1:55.

Lindsey was next to appear, albeit not part of the Team officially, she’s been coming along to the Tuesday evening sessions and Sunday long runs, so she does feel part of the group. Lyndsey made the biggest improvement knocking over 20 minutes of her PB and break the 2 hour mark. An amazing achievement and just reward for her hard work. Also a nod to her children for their acceptance that Sundays are now movie days and to be spent on the sofa, with mum having most of the room.

So far so good and just 5 minutes late Kate came powering through to beat her time from 12 months ago by 4 minutes. Just having Kate around makes these races more enjoyable with her infectious enthusiasm and positivity. We love you Kate.

She was quickly followed by Jax who had promised to take this easy and follow the 2:15 pacers. That plan had clearly changed and she knocked a minute of her Goodwood time from 3 weeks previously, to clock another PB of 2:08. With Hastings in 3 weeks time Jax has announced her retirement from half marathons, I can only assume to focus more of her time on telling Coach Simon how amazing he is.

Before I even had the chance to indulge in my final Moroccan inspired falafel, Alison came down the bridge, combining Team Orange colours and the Hastings Runners vest, a perfect combination and one which helped her clock a PB of her own in 2:09.

With a little bit of time to spare I ditched my empty falafel box in the nearby bin and got to work on my Tesco crinkle cut crisps, hopefully before Jax arrived to share them (I love sharing really). I’d only managed to munch on a few of the crisps when Sue came over the bridge 10 minutes earlier than expected. Targeting a 2:40 she actually went 10 minutes quicker, recording her fastest half marathon in 4 years.

By now Jax had arrived and was digging deep into the bottom of my crisp packet to deprive me of much needed fuel. We waited as Mark came down the bridge, angry at being sent the wrong way, but still looking strong, as he completed his first ever half marathon. A great achievement given he’d only ran his first 10k last year.

An amazing day. I think everyone left feeling like they had performed to their ability with 6 personal bests as well as 3 runners producing their quickest half marathons for many years. To get the opportunity to enjoy these races which such great people just makes this the best job ever.

Thank you if you’ve managed to read this far and I appreciate your continued support. Congratulations to the team for your hard work and race times. These plans do work folks. Trust the process and the rewards will follow.