Arriving at the Arena in Telford with 700+ other racers all warming up and chatting calmly I began to assess the competition working out who I would and wouldn’t beat. Everybody looked fit though, and I regretted not training harder. The weather was nice though, it was cold as we stood about but once we started running it was a welcome chill.
Once we got underway I used my dad as a pace setter. He run the course and had more of a plan as far as timing strategy was concerned than I.
I had to make a quick pit stop when nature called. It was the longest I have ever taken to empty my bladder, and was dismayed to find when I had rejoined the pack that I was amongst people I had spent the first 40 minutes overtaking.
I was feeling fine by the time we got to Ironbridge. There was a large crowd of people there and their cheering really did give a boost to the confidence but after crossing the bridge there was a single track slog where the only thing I had to focus on was the runner in front and the knowledge that every footfall from this point onward was further than I had ever run in one go before.
I hit the Wall. I have never hit the Wall before but I had run out of fuel. My leg muscles had nothing left and I was struggling. I did have a plan though, I had a lucozade gel in my pocket, and there was a water station coming up. This water station I was going to walk through and actually drink the water rather than jog thorough sort of splashing myself in the vague area of my mouth. My supporters were also at this station and were quite unsupportive though, all I could hear was my sister and Mum laughing and exclaiming that I can’t stop and had to keep running!
This was the last bit of flat ground before the long uphill grind out of Ironbridge and it was brutal. This was the first stretch where I could run no longer and had to walk. For the whole of this hill I alternated between running and walking, and every time I started to run again I found my legs had seized up just that little bit more.
The final 3 miles was a long flat stretch of footpath I know well from my childhood so I knew where I was and roughly how far I had yet to run, I sort of shut down and just ran as fast as I could (which by now wasn’t very fast) focusing on each foot in front of the other. There were quite a lot of club runners who had a more comprehensive strategy than me and had saved themselves for the final push. I was overtaken by so many people who had something left for the final mile, I had nothing, and it was quite demoralising being overtaken by people who I had waltzed past earlier on in the race.
I crossed the finishing line in 2 hours 1 minute and 32 seconds. Finishing 427 out of the 660 people who managed to complete the race. (Race Results.)
I had a couple of targets set, I wanted to finish in no more than 2 hours 30 minutes as I knew this was achievable. Anything longer and I would have to re-evaluate whether I was up to this whole thing. And then I had a mind that I might be able to complete the half marathon at about the 2 hour mark if I can get my head down and just grind out the miles and I was 1 minute and 32 seconds shy of that. So I am happy with my performance.
I am most proud of my dad though, after leaving me for dust when we got to the hill out of the gorge, he finished 293rd with a time of 1 hour 53 minutes. If I am half as fit when I am in the Veteran Men category I will be more than happy.
As always I am feeling the pain today. I have joggers nipple, and a really sore right armpit where my skin was rubbing on the t-shirt over the 2 hours. I have a collection of small blisters on both of my feet which are nothing compared to blisters I have had in the past. My knees are really sore though and they are the reason why I am hobbling around today.
I am however really happy with my performance, it has given me the confidence that I can finish the Great North Run in September with a decent time and as long as I can keep on top of the training I am going to see if I can knock 15 minutes off that time.
Once we got underway I used my dad as a pace setter. He run the course and had more of a plan as far as timing strategy was concerned than I.
I had to make a quick pit stop when nature called. It was the longest I have ever taken to empty my bladder, and was dismayed to find when I had rejoined the pack that I was amongst people I had spent the first 40 minutes overtaking.
I was feeling fine by the time we got to Ironbridge. There was a large crowd of people there and their cheering really did give a boost to the confidence but after crossing the bridge there was a single track slog where the only thing I had to focus on was the runner in front and the knowledge that every footfall from this point onward was further than I had ever run in one go before.
I hit the Wall. I have never hit the Wall before but I had run out of fuel. My leg muscles had nothing left and I was struggling. I did have a plan though, I had a lucozade gel in my pocket, and there was a water station coming up. This water station I was going to walk through and actually drink the water rather than jog thorough sort of splashing myself in the vague area of my mouth. My supporters were also at this station and were quite unsupportive though, all I could hear was my sister and Mum laughing and exclaiming that I can’t stop and had to keep running!
This was the last bit of flat ground before the long uphill grind out of Ironbridge and it was brutal. This was the first stretch where I could run no longer and had to walk. For the whole of this hill I alternated between running and walking, and every time I started to run again I found my legs had seized up just that little bit more.
The final 3 miles was a long flat stretch of footpath I know well from my childhood so I knew where I was and roughly how far I had yet to run, I sort of shut down and just ran as fast as I could (which by now wasn’t very fast) focusing on each foot in front of the other. There were quite a lot of club runners who had a more comprehensive strategy than me and had saved themselves for the final push. I was overtaken by so many people who had something left for the final mile, I had nothing, and it was quite demoralising being overtaken by people who I had waltzed past earlier on in the race.
I crossed the finishing line in 2 hours 1 minute and 32 seconds. Finishing 427 out of the 660 people who managed to complete the race. (Race Results.)
I had a couple of targets set, I wanted to finish in no more than 2 hours 30 minutes as I knew this was achievable. Anything longer and I would have to re-evaluate whether I was up to this whole thing. And then I had a mind that I might be able to complete the half marathon at about the 2 hour mark if I can get my head down and just grind out the miles and I was 1 minute and 32 seconds shy of that. So I am happy with my performance.
I am most proud of my dad though, after leaving me for dust when we got to the hill out of the gorge, he finished 293rd with a time of 1 hour 53 minutes. If I am half as fit when I am in the Veteran Men category I will be more than happy.
As always I am feeling the pain today. I have joggers nipple, and a really sore right armpit where my skin was rubbing on the t-shirt over the 2 hours. I have a collection of small blisters on both of my feet which are nothing compared to blisters I have had in the past. My knees are really sore though and they are the reason why I am hobbling around today.
I am however really happy with my performance, it has given me the confidence that I can finish the Great North Run in September with a decent time and as long as I can keep on top of the training I am going to see if I can knock 15 minutes off that time.
2 comments:
I don't know much about the discipline mate but considering you had never run the distance before I am well impressed by your time and performance. Fair play sir.
Thank you. Like I say, I am pleased and it is a result I can build on.
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