Wilmslow Half Marathon 2025: Smashing My Sub 1:40 Target

The Goal

Sub 1:40 in the half marathon had been my target for months. I chose Wilmslow because it is fast, flat, and close to home in South Manchester. The course goes through Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, and Knutsford before looping back. Good tarmac, minimal elevation, and decent crowd support for a smaller race.

The Race

Conditions on race day were close to perfect. Cool, overcast, minimal wind. I went out at 4:40/km pace and tried to hold it steady. The first 10K felt controlled and I was right on target. The second half was harder, as it always is, but I had done the training and trusted the process.

I crossed the line with a chip time of 1:38:17. Well inside my sub 1:40 target. Smashing the 1:40 barrier for the first time felt incredible.

What Happened Next

What I did not know at this point was that exactly one month later, I would be standing on the start line of the Manchester Marathon having agreed to run it the night before with zero marathon training. But that is another story entirely.