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. It was not quite a PB as my Manchester Half time of 1:37:47 later in the year would beat it, but 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.