Race: Mold 5.5m (Border League race 5)
Time/Position: 28:33 (12th from 294 [2nd V40])
After two disappointing races, it was about time for a better performance, so this was pleasing. It's always a tricky course tactically. You have to be reasonably measured in terms of energy expenditure on the long hill to Nercwys, but can't be too cautious or it becomes impossible to make the distance up over the remaining three miles. I stayed in touch with a largish group up to Nercwys, then gradually made up some ground to hang off the back of it for a while. I was then pleased to find I was feeling reasonably good on the undulating terrain back to Mold, so I deliberately pushed it on all the short hills - especially the last one, when I pulled away from the front of the group I was with. Unusually, I then managed to hold my position for the long and tiring run-in up the exhausting 'false flat' to the finish. I think I'm currently second V40 with two races to go, but it's still very tight and both remaining races come immediately after marathons!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Wrexham half marathon
Race: Village Bakery (Wrexham) half marathon
Time/Position: 1:19:15 (14th from 500 [3rd V40])
This was intended to be a full PB attempt as part of my London training. Lack of spare time, and a focus on short races, meant that I didn't really have the miles in my legs though. I started reasonably well, going through 5m in 28:50, and stayed on target for 1:16 until somewhere on the muddy tracks between miles 7 and 8. A surprisingly strong headwind, a tiny incline, and my lack of long runs led to the inevitable consequence. I developed a crippling stitch and started to drop back. However, something then happened that eclipsed that slowing pace. Some miscreant had changed the race markers at a distant road junction. Some runners went left, some right. I've done the race a few times before but in my oxygen-starved state couldn't remember which way it went. Cue an incredibly frustrating waste of precious time as we decided which arrow was correct! I suffered less than many (several runners cut the corner), but by the time we got going again all tempo, all commitment was lost. I was then fighting a losing battle, going through 10 miles in 59:40 and struggling to finish in sub 1:20. I can't help contrasting my performance with my last half marathon at Vyrnwy. I came into that having done no road running for eight months, struggled for the first five miles but then adapted to the tarmac and kept 5:59 pace going to the end. This time, after far more recent speed training and racing, I started well but could not sustain the pace. Not rocket science. I finished in a reasonable position, but whoever changed the signs completely ruined the race for the first 30 or 40 runners. The North Wales Championships were abandoned, and the race more or less invalidated.
Time/Position: 1:19:15 (14th from 500 [3rd V40])
This was intended to be a full PB attempt as part of my London training. Lack of spare time, and a focus on short races, meant that I didn't really have the miles in my legs though. I started reasonably well, going through 5m in 28:50, and stayed on target for 1:16 until somewhere on the muddy tracks between miles 7 and 8. A surprisingly strong headwind, a tiny incline, and my lack of long runs led to the inevitable consequence. I developed a crippling stitch and started to drop back. However, something then happened that eclipsed that slowing pace. Some miscreant had changed the race markers at a distant road junction. Some runners went left, some right. I've done the race a few times before but in my oxygen-starved state couldn't remember which way it went. Cue an incredibly frustrating waste of precious time as we decided which arrow was correct! I suffered less than many (several runners cut the corner), but by the time we got going again all tempo, all commitment was lost. I was then fighting a losing battle, going through 10 miles in 59:40 and struggling to finish in sub 1:20. I can't help contrasting my performance with my last half marathon at Vyrnwy. I came into that having done no road running for eight months, struggled for the first five miles but then adapted to the tarmac and kept 5:59 pace going to the end. This time, after far more recent speed training and racing, I started well but could not sustain the pace. Not rocket science. I finished in a reasonable position, but whoever changed the signs completely ruined the race for the first 30 or 40 runners. The North Wales Championships were abandoned, and the race more or less invalidated.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Nercwys mountain biking
A short trip around Nercwys forest with M: his first foray off-road on his new mountain bike. We rode through the middle of the forest on the main track first, then sampled the narrow and surprisingly rocky singletrack to the west. M enjoyed the descents! Tried to increase the running mileage again this week, after last week's enforced lay-off. Will run up Famau tomorrow night but rest on Saturday with a view to a PB attempt at the Wrexham half on Sunday.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Nick Beer 10k
Race: Nick Beer 10k (Llandudno)
Time/Position: 36:34 (15th from 870 [4th V40])
Having spent the week in the Ukraine, in a freak cold snap of -26C, I certainly felt well-rested coming in to this race: running was not an option in Kiev or Kharkov! Baffling, then, that this turned into my worst performance since the Brenig race last summer. I felt tired almost immediately, suffering even on the gentle initial climb around Marine Drive then really slowing for the steepest inclines past the lighthouse. I then recovered and pushed it on the descent, getting up to 11th place, before finally accepting that it wasn't my day and comprehensively blowing for a second and final time on the tiny hill past the tram station! An unpleasant finish along the prom ensued, feeling very uncomfortable and very tired. Well over two minutes down on my time at Twin Piers, a mere three weeks ago. No idea what the problem was: possibly cumulative sleep deprivation after a busy week away, or possibly just one of those days.
Time/Position: 36:34 (15th from 870 [4th V40])
Having spent the week in the Ukraine, in a freak cold snap of -26C, I certainly felt well-rested coming in to this race: running was not an option in Kiev or Kharkov! Baffling, then, that this turned into my worst performance since the Brenig race last summer. I felt tired almost immediately, suffering even on the gentle initial climb around Marine Drive then really slowing for the steepest inclines past the lighthouse. I then recovered and pushed it on the descent, getting up to 11th place, before finally accepting that it wasn't my day and comprehensively blowing for a second and final time on the tiny hill past the tram station! An unpleasant finish along the prom ensued, feeling very uncomfortable and very tired. Well over two minutes down on my time at Twin Piers, a mere three weeks ago. No idea what the problem was: possibly cumulative sleep deprivation after a busy week away, or possibly just one of those days.
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