By: Brian Jenkins

Race Date: 19^th January 2025

Venue: York, North Yorkshire

There are several theories as to the origin of the term “Brass Monkey”, or the phrase “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey“. One popular theory (although widely contested) is that it refers to a cannonball stand on a warship. When the temperature drops significantly, the brass cannonball stand (the “brass monkey”) contracts to such an extent, that the cannonballs will no longer be held securely, and then fall off the stand (rolling about the deck no doubt).

In that light “Brass Monkey” could be a suitable for a name for a road half marathon, in North Yorkshire, in the early days of the new year (in deepest, darkest midwinter). The race is so popular that there is a ballot months in advance, those lucky enough to be selected will have a place (on payment of the fee) and the weather on the eventual race day can only be guessed at.

Unsuccessful in the initial ballot, I got in on the second (the prize: original offers which were not taken-up). I had the place that I sought.

I did the race the previous year, so I knew what to expect, and when offered a place, I grabbed it.

The race starts at the York racecourse, is entirely on roads, and is flat (with only 77 ft of elevation over the whole half marathon distance) and as a consequence is fast, and is widely seen as an opportunity for a P.B. (which certainly proved true when I ran it the year before).

The event village and bag drop are all inside, giving competitors the option to shelter from the elements outside, only to venture out at the last moment, when it was time to race.

Both times that I have run the race I have been lucky, whilst certainly chilly, it was just about “warm” enough to thaw any ice that may have formed overnight. What is more, there was no risk of rain, and certainly no blizzards.

Judging by the shirts worn by the runners, the vast majority were running club members, and the number and variety of running clubs represented were a testament to the race’s popularity.

I started the race with a view to getting a P.B. and (hopefully) achieve my first half marathon with a time under 1:40, which I thought was achievable.

I started just behind the 1:40 pacers in the hope that I would be pulled-along in their slipstream, and get into a decent rhythm.

The race started, and we left the racecourse and headed south. In view of my sub 1:40 target, being behind the pacers wasn’t the ideal place to be, so at about the 1 mile mark I overtook the backpack flagged (and their entourage) in the hope of putting some distance between them and me.

The sky was grey, so there wasn’t much by way of sight-seeing to be done, but conditions were good, and my watch reassured me that I was on target.

At about 9 miles in, just after the loop or rural North Yorkshire (when the route was heading back to the racecourse), I heard the assembled pacers gaining on me. This was the encouragement I needed to build-up my pace (which had dropped a bit). I managed to keep ahead of them until about mile 12, when they inched past me.

The realisation that this would most likely mean having to make-do with just having had a “good run” (rather than coming back with a P.B.). I did a quick reassessment and concluded that I had “some more in the tank”, and managed to overtake the pacer group in about half a mile (with considerable encouragement from the pacers).

I gritted my teeth and kept on going, the sight of the race course coming into view certainly helped. I crossed the finish line with what I had hoped for: a P.B. and a sub 1:40 finish (just about). I wasn’t the only one to grab a P.B.

Although for most of the race I saw the pacer group as my nemesis, I have to admit that, looking back, they did their job (and did it well), and they deserve my thanks.

Fancy a potential P.B. race in the gap between the excesses of Christmas and the start of the road-running season in the spring? Look no further, and good luck in the ballot(s).

The race was won by: Lawrence Mccourt (Morpeth Harriers & AC) in 01:05:26 , and Heather Townsend (Leeds City AC) in 01:14:15

Striders’ Results: