Sunday 13 March 2011

Surrey Spitfire 20

Boy, was that hard work. Our aim was to run a marathon pace of 8:30 minute miles (we are going for 3:45 in Brighton) to see if we could hack it. It was a rainy, dank morning and I really didn't feel like running and neither did my brother. But run we did and the weather was kind as by mile 4 its had stop raining and was a very nice temperature. We started way too fast running sub 8 for the first 2 but we settle down and we hit just below the 8:30 pace every mile on the first 10 mile lap.

We had over 4 minutes 'in the bank' as we started lap 2 but it was starting to hurt. My stomach was horrible due to the gels and maybe the clams I had last night. I felt I was hanging on and it wasn't surprising give I hit the half marathon point at about 1:46; my PB until the Brighton Half.

I dug in, knowing I just had to keep going to beat my previous PB of 1:53:26. My brother has bursts of speed but I could see he was working hard. The last mile was agony but I was under the 2:50 mark. My brother decided to sprint the last 500 meters but I let him go.

I was delighted with my PB and it gives me a real chance of a 3:45 in Brighton.

Time: 2:47:05
Position: 235 out of 661
First: 1:50:39
Last: 4:16:53
Nutrition: Water at every opportunity. High5 gel (x1), Clif Blocks (x1), SiS Gel (x1).

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Meon Valley Plod 2011

What a race. This was my fifth running of this race and one I always look forward to; it is my favourite. It all started so well. It had rained on the Saturday so the course would be wet but not too bad. It was nice and sunny which looked great and the forecast was for run after 5pm so I had on shorts, my compression top and a running top along with my sunglasses (these would look ridiculous by the end).

The first 7 miles were fine with good weather, good conditions and a decent pace (9 minute miles unless it was a big hill or blockage like a stile). Then, we hit the mud. This was nasty, sticky, evil stuff that tried to suck your foot down on every step and collect all over your shoe. I spent a good proportion going sideways, trying to stay on my feet and generally acting like a drunk on my way home from the pub. It sucked all the energy from your legs. Then, it started to rain and kept going for the last 8 miles.

The mud just never ended and I started to get very cross with it, calling it lots of names and using abusive language. It turns out mud can take a lot of insults.

I ran strong over the last couple of miles to make sure I was well inside the 4 hour mark and would have been 5 minutes quicker if I hadn't tripped up and gashed my knee but that is cross country. With all that, I love this event.  I didn't enjoy it this time as much as other years but it is still my favourite and I will be back next year.