Great East Run 2014 #peterhorror
Last week, decided that it was wise to completely bin off the bike and swim and purely dedicate time to run. I'm in OKish shape and a bit of leg conditioning would serve me well for a half marathon crack.
So, with 53 miles in 5 days I decided to go and get myself a nice sore throat on Thursday night! So rested Friday and Saturday but made the wise decision to pop out with the lads for a beer Friday night. Ouch, Saturday I was a mess and basically self medicated everything from Morrisons pharmacy in the hope it would help.
Woke up this morning feeling not too shabby, legs still tight but not worst ever so hopeful of a half decent turn out. Rain didn't help and if I was travelling solo there's a good chance I would have binned it off!
Traveled down with my man Paul and our better halves and met all the lads on the start line - Kye, Dan, Lee, Rodge, DC, Frank & Mr T. Good turn out from the boys!
Gun goes bang and it's business as usual. First mile, don't really feel in it. Busy around me and I'm avoiding feet. Also, not too happy with the triathlon laces in my shoes. First mile up in 5:53 then next couple of miles plod along in 5:58 and 5:53.
By now start feeling better and I'm not really killing myself. Little worried about dying so just keep it together. By now get into a little group of 5/6 and we all play cat and mouse in the wind. Next couple of miles 5:49, 5:52. By 5 miles start thinking hello, could be a good day here!
By now, the group were in is moving nicely but around 5 miles the girl in our group clips heals with her club mate and she goes flying. Ouch, just avoid her. Don't stop, club mate should have that covered. Noticed couple of miles before he had weird feet that flicked out behind so tried to avoid him.
Know from studying the course map for 30 seconds that the course was pretty much 6.55 miles into wind, 6.55 miles wind behind. Pushed on a bit to gap people in front. Catch a guy from Norwich RR and work with him a bit. BIG group with Brooksy and CovBaldy in up ahead and I'm trying to get on the back of that to enjoy the ride. Next couple of miles are steady as we get into the tough zone of the race.
Don't really make headway on the group, they stay roughly 45 secs up from here to the finish but we swallow up a few bits of schrapnel off the back and pass easy enough. Pass 10 miles in 59.20 on the Garmin and 59.59 on the mile markers. Think my Garmin was being a bit ambitious today but that probably helped me!
See Josh D just after 10 and the last 5k I have a go. Last few miles are quickest of the day.
Coming into finish with a little group I see that 1.18 is out of reach so finish comfortably for 1.18:03. 2nd quickest half mara and easily most consistent paced one. Think I could go fair bit quicker knowing that I could do that, was worried on the start 1.20 was a push so happy days.
Splits (from Garmin) - 5:53, 5:58, 5:53, 5:49, 5:52, 5:56, 5:54, 5:54, 5:50, 5:52, 5:43, 5:55, 5:46, 5:10 pace last bit.
Pretty much all the boys nailled it. Turner was first home with a 2 min PB. DC was a nose back bang on form, Brooksy had a 2 min PB, Dan was 1 sec faster than he wanted, Rodge ran 1:23 off 7 pints the night before, Frank smashed a 1.25 and my man Paul did his first half in 2:02 #smashedIt
Big shout to super supporters Ange and Ness who shouted everyone home and great to see them at the 12 mile marker when it was really needed x
So really happy with run form. Just keep doing what I'm doing (base work) as it's paying off without much injury risk. Don't think I'll be doing speed work until the new year at this rate. Really want to be running 50 mile weeks and to do that it needs to be manageable pace so I can stay strong. Speed work will put icing on the cake when I really need it.
This week plan is to keep running ticking over. Recover and come back strong. Main focus now though is to get bike right for Duathlon qualifier in November. I got 1 shot so can't mess about.
Monday AM) swim PM) bike
Tuesday AM) Bike commute PM) 10 run easy
Wednesday PM) 8 easy
Thursday AM) Bike commute PM) 8 steady
Friday AM) Tempo bike PM) Swim
Saturday AM) Park Run
Sunday PM) 10 easy
That will be golden routine up to qualifier if I can nail it!
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