Stevenage Half Marathon 07 November 2010 Nick White reports: Reportedly, following a trip to China, Katie Melua once penned the lyrics and sang 'There are 9 million bicycles in Beijing, That’s a fact'. Well, if she'd gone to Stevenage, the lyrics would have been along the lines of 'There are 9 million underpasses in Stevenage, That’s a fact', most of which were utilised in this half-marathon. Consequently, the 2 lap course, taking in the Fairlands Valley Country Park was never flat (hence Valley), with either long faux-flat sections of up and down, undulations and those blasted anaerobic pushes out of the 9 million underpasses, which although not very daunting at first, seemed to have a cumulative affect upon the legs by mile 12. Anyway, with being the cynical chap that I am, I thoroughly expected to bored witless running around this Hertfordshire Newtown. However, constantly twisting, turning, accelerating, fighting into the northerly gale and the musings of the locals had an unexpected affect of keeping my mind pre-occupied. Although I was pleased with my time, those people who wish to chase times might not want to run this race, since I wouldn't call it a 'quick course' for several reasons. However for me, compared to my previous endeavours for 2010, it felt like a grand-prix circuit.