Nafplio halfmarathon 2017

My 4th straight race in Nafplio (been here all the editions from the beginning in 2014), but first time for the halfmarathon distance (previous 3 appearances were in full distance races). The route is rather boring and not really super scenic to be honest, but it's the closest marathon for me, I like to run in the spring, the city itself is very beautiful and the organization is awesome - that's why I keep (and will) coming here every year. Back to the route, it's a loop of 21k (run twice for marathon race) that is actually two out-and-back in two different directions (first one by the beach in north-west/west direction; second one into the land in north-east/east direction). And this year it was tiny bit changed by adding extra 2k in first outing and cutting 2k from the second one - which, I personally think, made the struggle a bit easier (more flat).

This year I signed for a spring marathon in my home town in Poland (mid-April) so I decided that I will race halfmarathon in Naplio as part of training program. Since I have very ambitious plan for 3h marathon finish, the plan for the half in Naplio was 1:25' (~4:00/km pace). The weather in the morning was quite pleasant: ~10-12C, no much wind really and rather clear sky. I did manage my pace between 4:00-4:05/km so my finish time slipped about 30", which is OK and I take it :-D It's still my new half PB with 1:25'25.

Few thoughts I had after the race (and watching marathon runners continuing their struggle for the second lap), being here all 4 years, were about the two races: half and full. And my conclusions are that this is a perfect halfmarathon race and at the same time a nightmare full marathon race! And here's why:
1) Seems that the weather pattern is always the same (at least was for the 4 years now): it's sunny but nice and cool in the morning, but it gets to ~20C (and above) later during the day, and the wind picks up always ~11:00AM. So while it's a nice running weather for the first loop, it gets rather brutal for the second one!
2) the route, as I mentioned, is boring... but if You do only one loop, it's still ok: You go out by the beach, then return to the city, the out inland and return and boom, You're done, not too bad. But if You continue for the second loop, then You go out AGAIN, come back AGAIN, go out AGAIN, and come back AGAIN <-- this is killing!
3) There are ~600-700 runners for the half race and ~200 for the full (some averages over the course of 4 years), which means that for the first loop You have plenty of company running in all possible paces. But when after 21k You are off for the second loop, all ~600-700 runners are gone! and the rest of ~200 are all spread in such distances that You are actually lucky to even see anyone in front of You. You are basically running alone for the second half <-- killing!

So, after always struggling mentally and weather-wise for previous 3 years with full race, and after really enjoying this years half effort, I think I might be sticking to half race here in Nafplio for the future...