My social life got in the way again at the weekend so I wasn't able to run on Sunday.
As a result I had to squeeze my long run in on Monday evening. Had I the foresight I'd have run home from work, but as it was it was nearly half past seven when I hit the road. The plan, such as it was, was to repeat last Monday afternoon's session.
I realised it would be starting to get dark by the time I returned, but forgot that it gets dark quickly in among the trees along the riverside trails and also I didn't reckon with the huge clouds of midges swarming over the paths. I had to stop at one point near the mill pond when I swallowed something and started retching, and later along the Cole insects were getting in my mouth, my eyes and even my ears! I was trying to run with a hand in front of my mouth and one eye half open, when it was dark enough to make it difficult to see with both fully open! As you might imagine this slowed me significantly - 7:15 turned into about 7:55.
Thankfully the bats kept their distance - I wish I had their sonar facility, and at least I got some extra protein.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Race Report - Cannon Hill parkrun Event #51 - PB!
There was talk of changing the route yet again so as to avoid potential problems with the cricket parking, as we knew that cars would be crossing the course to get to the temporary parking. In the end we stuck to the current route and kept our fingers crossed! As it turned out, the people in charge of the parking were very helpful and held the traffic up where necessary to let runners through, and there was actually no problem at all.
A sign mysteriously appeared at Fergal's Corner, which had one or two people wondering, but it had the desired effect of making Fergal smile and giving some of us a laugh.
I went down on the bus so that I could run home afterwards, and decided to take my new lightweight New Balance RC130X's to race in and wear the Saucony Hurricanes to run back. I met up with Joe and Gillan, and Jim was back too. I was surprised to see Paul again, after his DNF on Thursday, but he seemed in good spirits. There was another surprise when Mary asked the assembly whether any of the newcomers were likely to win and someone put there hand up! It turned out to be Tipton Harrier Martin Williams, Edinburgh Marathon winner and Commonwealth Games hopeful, and he did indeed win, in 15:30, not a record by any means, but pretty quick!
I was hoping, indeed expecting, to do well after Thursday's performance, and set off at a good lick. Almost immediately I saw out of the corner of my eye someone fall headlong. I didn't see much, but it sounded painful and drew sharp intakes of breath from me and others.
Putting that out of my mind, and ignoring the fast disappearing Martin Williams, I took the first turn by the Tearooms into the wind. Pretty soon I was feeling Thursday's race in my legs but the Garmin was showing 1:46 at 0.5 km. My pace slowed a little and fluctuated but a couple of kilometers in it still looked like I was on the pace. I got passed a couple of times even before I got to the leader coming back the other way along the river path. A chap who, with respect, looked as though he might be in my age group passed me easily and I had nothing to respond. The fact that he was wearing a full tracksuit didn't help my spirits! He is in my age group, and went on to beat me by six places and 53 seconds!
By the time I first got to Fergal's corner I'd picked the pace up a little, and was helped as usual by Fergal's encouragement, and seeing the new sign distracted me slightly but made me smile.
From there it was into the wind again and my slowest kilometer, but still sub-4 minutes, and then just a touch under 2 minutes for the penultimate half kilometer but a blistering (for me!) final half kilometer at 1:43. Total? 19:06. Wow. OK, not a 28 second PB but I didn't seriously expect that, and despite really feeling it in my legs, five seconds up.
I saw Paul at the end and found that it was he who had taken the tumble. He had gashes and grazes everywhere and had scored his second DNF in three days! This time he'd gone over on his ankle, and was asking about physios. Hopefully he'll get sorted out quickly.
This time last year, I was still chasing a 5km PB of 20:18 set at Tipton in November 2009, and which I never beat until the end of October at Cannon Hill parkrun with 20:14. By then I was desperate to go sub-20 by the end of the year, but with longer races and foul weather getting in the way I didn't quite make it. The best I could do was 20:01, again at Tipton. I hit 19:53 by the end of January, and have been chipping away at that all year, though it took nearly four months to beat 19:11. Now, of course, I'm back where I was last year, desperate to round down again! Sub-19 by Christmas!
After tea, toasted tea-cake and a good chat I headed home on the usual 5½ mile route, with a smile flickering across my face every few minutes when I suddenly remembered my PB earlier.
Unfortunately my Garmin data was unusable, as somehow I'd managed to include all the time wandering around after the race and sitting in the cafe, and couldn't find a way to strip it out. Still, it was only a steady run so I estimated 44 minutes for 5.53 miles, so 7:57 mins/mile pace.
A sign mysteriously appeared at Fergal's Corner, which had one or two people wondering, but it had the desired effect of making Fergal smile and giving some of us a laugh.
I went down on the bus so that I could run home afterwards, and decided to take my new lightweight New Balance RC130X's to race in and wear the Saucony Hurricanes to run back. I met up with Joe and Gillan, and Jim was back too. I was surprised to see Paul again, after his DNF on Thursday, but he seemed in good spirits. There was another surprise when Mary asked the assembly whether any of the newcomers were likely to win and someone put there hand up! It turned out to be Tipton Harrier Martin Williams, Edinburgh Marathon winner and Commonwealth Games hopeful, and he did indeed win, in 15:30, not a record by any means, but pretty quick!
Martin Williams at Edinburgh
I was hoping, indeed expecting, to do well after Thursday's performance, and set off at a good lick. Almost immediately I saw out of the corner of my eye someone fall headlong. I didn't see much, but it sounded painful and drew sharp intakes of breath from me and others.
Putting that out of my mind, and ignoring the fast disappearing Martin Williams, I took the first turn by the Tearooms into the wind. Pretty soon I was feeling Thursday's race in my legs but the Garmin was showing 1:46 at 0.5 km. My pace slowed a little and fluctuated but a couple of kilometers in it still looked like I was on the pace. I got passed a couple of times even before I got to the leader coming back the other way along the river path. A chap who, with respect, looked as though he might be in my age group passed me easily and I had nothing to respond. The fact that he was wearing a full tracksuit didn't help my spirits! He is in my age group, and went on to beat me by six places and 53 seconds!
By the time I first got to Fergal's corner I'd picked the pace up a little, and was helped as usual by Fergal's encouragement, and seeing the new sign distracted me slightly but made me smile.
From there it was into the wind again and my slowest kilometer, but still sub-4 minutes, and then just a touch under 2 minutes for the penultimate half kilometer but a blistering (for me!) final half kilometer at 1:43. Total? 19:06. Wow. OK, not a 28 second PB but I didn't seriously expect that, and despite really feeling it in my legs, five seconds up.
I saw Paul at the end and found that it was he who had taken the tumble. He had gashes and grazes everywhere and had scored his second DNF in three days! This time he'd gone over on his ankle, and was asking about physios. Hopefully he'll get sorted out quickly.
This time last year, I was still chasing a 5km PB of 20:18 set at Tipton in November 2009, and which I never beat until the end of October at Cannon Hill parkrun with 20:14. By then I was desperate to go sub-20 by the end of the year, but with longer races and foul weather getting in the way I didn't quite make it. The best I could do was 20:01, again at Tipton. I hit 19:53 by the end of January, and have been chipping away at that all year, though it took nearly four months to beat 19:11. Now, of course, I'm back where I was last year, desperate to round down again! Sub-19 by Christmas!
After tea, toasted tea-cake and a good chat I headed home on the usual 5½ mile route, with a smile flickering across my face every few minutes when I suddenly remembered my PB earlier.
Unfortunately my Garmin data was unusable, as somehow I'd managed to include all the time wandering around after the race and sitting in the cafe, and couldn't find a way to strip it out. Still, it was only a steady run so I estimated 44 minutes for 5.53 miles, so 7:57 mins/mile pace.
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Race Report - BRAT Rowheath 5km Series - Race 3
As in June I waited for the official results to be published before posting my report.
My best time at Rowheath was that race in June where I returned a time of 19:42, 31 seconds outside my PB set at Cannon Hill parkrun. I've spoken to several people who agreed that the Rowheath course is around 30 seconds slower than Cannon Hill.
I forgot that the starter doesn't hang around here - presumably he doesn't want to hold traffic up too long - and I didn't give the Garmin sufficient time to locate satellites and ended up not managing to start it, so once again I had no time or pace information.
A pal from my old club Sparkhill Harriers lined up next to me at the start. Paul was usually faster than me in cross country races, but I don't recall running with him in any road events. I figured I'd do my best to track him, and see how it went.
About 400 meters in I was having to work really hard to maintain something like 13th position, a couple of place behind Paul, but around the corner and approaching the first hill Paul was going backwards and I passed him fairly easily despite losing places to others. I later learned that he'd fallen right out the back and subsequently pulled up.
Over the rest of the first lap I was to-ing and fro-ing and having little tussles, but winding up around 20th.
On the second lap I was feeling like I'd over-done it, and yet I was holding my own. I lost a net one place over the lap, contriving to place myself in amongst a row of Bournville Harriers, as was made clear by the locals shouting for everyone around me, though I think I did hear a little shout for me from one of the Bournville supporters, Sharon. Two of those who overtook me around this time turned out to be the first two ladies.
I was determined not to lose any more places and was delighted to be able to produce a burst of relative speed to finish but was too far from the lady in front to catch her. Entering the funnel I thought I heard the marshal shout 30, which I knew would be the seconds of my time, but while I certainly didn't think I could have managed 19:30 I hoped I'd done better than 20:30.
The results are now out, and clearly I must have misheard, as the seconds of my time are not thirty, but thirteen. 19:13 is faster than I could have hoped for, so I'm very happy! That's just two seconds outside my PB so if, as I suggested, Cannon Hill is 30 seconds faster, I should look forward to a new PB by 28 seconds tomorrow! 18:43?
My best time at Rowheath was that race in June where I returned a time of 19:42, 31 seconds outside my PB set at Cannon Hill parkrun. I've spoken to several people who agreed that the Rowheath course is around 30 seconds slower than Cannon Hill.
I forgot that the starter doesn't hang around here - presumably he doesn't want to hold traffic up too long - and I didn't give the Garmin sufficient time to locate satellites and ended up not managing to start it, so once again I had no time or pace information.
A pal from my old club Sparkhill Harriers lined up next to me at the start. Paul was usually faster than me in cross country races, but I don't recall running with him in any road events. I figured I'd do my best to track him, and see how it went.
About 400 meters in I was having to work really hard to maintain something like 13th position, a couple of place behind Paul, but around the corner and approaching the first hill Paul was going backwards and I passed him fairly easily despite losing places to others. I later learned that he'd fallen right out the back and subsequently pulled up.
Over the rest of the first lap I was to-ing and fro-ing and having little tussles, but winding up around 20th.
On the second lap I was feeling like I'd over-done it, and yet I was holding my own. I lost a net one place over the lap, contriving to place myself in amongst a row of Bournville Harriers, as was made clear by the locals shouting for everyone around me, though I think I did hear a little shout for me from one of the Bournville supporters, Sharon. Two of those who overtook me around this time turned out to be the first two ladies.
I was determined not to lose any more places and was delighted to be able to produce a burst of relative speed to finish but was too far from the lady in front to catch her. Entering the funnel I thought I heard the marshal shout 30, which I knew would be the seconds of my time, but while I certainly didn't think I could have managed 19:30 I hoped I'd done better than 20:30.
The results are now out, and clearly I must have misheard, as the seconds of my time are not thirty, but thirteen. 19:13 is faster than I could have hoped for, so I'm very happy! That's just two seconds outside my PB so if, as I suggested, Cannon Hill is 30 seconds faster, I should look forward to a new PB by 28 seconds tomorrow! 18:43?
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Extending the Interval Session
Back to Swanshurst Park for the speedwork on Tuesday, building up the efforts to four minutes - four repeats of four minutes off two minute jog recoveries.
The jog there and back went well, and I think I've worked out how to record the session on my Garmin now, but still managed to keep hitting the wrong button, or the right one at the wrong time!
As a consequence of that, I've had to estimate my pace for a couple of reps, and ended up doing five reps rather than four as the third one was only two minutes.
So, here are the stats, then:
Rep 1: ~6:10
Rep 2: 6:25
Rep 3 (2 mins): ~6:15
Rep 4: 6:20
Rep 5: ~6:15.
Strange how the estimated ones are the faster ones, isn't it?
One of these days I'll get it right! I'll probably try the same session again, maybe next Tuesday.
The jog there and back went well, and I think I've worked out how to record the session on my Garmin now, but still managed to keep hitting the wrong button, or the right one at the wrong time!
As a consequence of that, I've had to estimate my pace for a couple of reps, and ended up doing five reps rather than four as the third one was only two minutes.
So, here are the stats, then:
Rep 1: ~6:10
Rep 2: 6:25
Rep 3 (2 mins): ~6:15
Rep 4: 6:20
Rep 5: ~6:15.
Strange how the estimated ones are the faster ones, isn't it?
One of these days I'll get it right! I'll probably try the same session again, maybe next Tuesday.
Another Paced Long Run
Progressing from my 'Paced Long Run' on Sunday 10 July, where I ran the first two thirds at an easy pace and the last third at target race pace (or 'TRP'), this time I decided to make it the middle third at TRP.
I also tried out a new bottle belt, which has three small bottles. I chose to fill each bottle differently - the first would be water, the second my home-made electrolyte drink and the third ice. The electrolyte drink is just a half-and-half mix of red and white grape juice diluted with water and with a pinch of 'Lo-Salt' added. I use Lo-Salt rather than normal table salt because it has roughly a two-to-one combination of Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride. The ice in the third bottle is water by the time I get to it, but at least is still cold after an hour's running.
I took two gels but unfortunately could only fit one in the pocket on the belt (design flaw!) so slipped one in behind one of the bottles. This turned out not to be a great idea, as it slipped back out within the first three miles, leaving me with just the one. Also, I managed do forget to fill the first bottle with water!
I took the same route, along the Cole Valley trails with a loop around Majors Green then back up the Cole. The faster middle third is also the hillier third on this particular route.
It was cool and windy most of the way, and rained during the last third, but the sun came out and shone brightly for the last half mile or so.
I managed my pace fairly well, aiming for 8:20 either side of 7:15 in the middle, and actually averaging 8:18 and 7:14 respectively for the first two thirds, though in the last third I over-did it slightly, struggling to get back down to 8:20 and actually averaging 7:46!
Despite the mistakes with the water and gel, the run was very encouraging, as it felt relatively easy throughout. I remembered to avoid the nettles and brambles too!
I also tried out a new bottle belt, which has three small bottles. I chose to fill each bottle differently - the first would be water, the second my home-made electrolyte drink and the third ice. The electrolyte drink is just a half-and-half mix of red and white grape juice diluted with water and with a pinch of 'Lo-Salt' added. I use Lo-Salt rather than normal table salt because it has roughly a two-to-one combination of Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride. The ice in the third bottle is water by the time I get to it, but at least is still cold after an hour's running.
I took two gels but unfortunately could only fit one in the pocket on the belt (design flaw!) so slipped one in behind one of the bottles. This turned out not to be a great idea, as it slipped back out within the first three miles, leaving me with just the one. Also, I managed do forget to fill the first bottle with water!
I took the same route, along the Cole Valley trails with a loop around Majors Green then back up the Cole. The faster middle third is also the hillier third on this particular route.
It was cool and windy most of the way, and rained during the last third, but the sun came out and shone brightly for the last half mile or so.
I managed my pace fairly well, aiming for 8:20 either side of 7:15 in the middle, and actually averaging 8:18 and 7:14 respectively for the first two thirds, though in the last third I over-did it slightly, struggling to get back down to 8:20 and actually averaging 7:46!
Despite the mistakes with the water and gel, the run was very encouraging, as it felt relatively easy throughout. I remembered to avoid the nettles and brambles too!
Monday, 8 August 2011
Race Report (nearly) - Colwick parkrun - Freedom Run
In Nottingham for the weekend, I went with my friends Sophie and Liz to Colwick park for the parkrun there. It's a young parkrun, this being event 7, and numbers are still relatively low.Unfortunately, partly due to our tardiness but also to unclear directions on the event website, we arrived at the wrong end of the park. After wandering through the maze of paths looking for a crowd of runners we found some volunteers at the finish funnel, only after most of the field had passed us in the woods. After a chat with them, we decided to go to the start and join in anyway, reasoning that despite starting 20 minutes late we'd still finish ahead of some walkers who were expected to take around an hour.
As it turned out, we then couldn't find the start, because there was no-one there of course and there are no markings. We set off anyway, from about the right place as it turned out.
I jogged along with Liz for a little way, then decided that I should at least get a decent workout so ran on ahead. I was soon up to around threshold pace, and kept this up to the finish. I didn't sprint for the finish.
The route is, like most parkruns, very pleasant. It's also virtually flat, but the surface is rather variable and there's a very tight turn to be negotiated twice. I think it should be fairly fast, but not a PB course if like me you're used to the likes of Cannon Hill or Brueton parkruns.
Liz and I both decided not to take an official time, so didn't enter the finish funnel, but my Garmin showed 20:57.
In the end I logged the run as my first parkrun 'freedom run'.
Colwick are getting the same sort of numbers as we did when we first started Cannon Hill parkrun. What surprised me was that Colwick felt really low key, as though it was just a few friends out for a run, while at Cannon Hill, I guess because we were more involved with the organisation, felt rather more stressful!
The volunteers were really friendly and chatty, just like parkrun volunteers everywhere, it seems. They have a regular walking group who have taken part every week and the volunteers are happy to hang around until everyone has finished, which has been over an hour most weeks, and over 80 minutes on one occasion. So, well done and thanks to the volunteers.
As it turned out, we then couldn't find the start, because there was no-one there of course and there are no markings. We set off anyway, from about the right place as it turned out.
I jogged along with Liz for a little way, then decided that I should at least get a decent workout so ran on ahead. I was soon up to around threshold pace, and kept this up to the finish. I didn't sprint for the finish.
The route is, like most parkruns, very pleasant. It's also virtually flat, but the surface is rather variable and there's a very tight turn to be negotiated twice. I think it should be fairly fast, but not a PB course if like me you're used to the likes of Cannon Hill or Brueton parkruns.
Liz and I both decided not to take an official time, so didn't enter the finish funnel, but my Garmin showed 20:57.
In the end I logged the run as my first parkrun 'freedom run'.
Colwick are getting the same sort of numbers as we did when we first started Cannon Hill parkrun. What surprised me was that Colwick felt really low key, as though it was just a few friends out for a run, while at Cannon Hill, I guess because we were more involved with the organisation, felt rather more stressful!
The volunteers were really friendly and chatty, just like parkrun volunteers everywhere, it seems. They have a regular walking group who have taken part every week and the volunteers are happy to hang around until everyone has finished, which has been over an hour most weeks, and over 80 minutes on one occasion. So, well done and thanks to the volunteers.
Getting a Few Miles In Before the Weekend
It's been quite a busy weekend and I'm afraid I've fallen behind somewhat on my postings here, so I'm playing catch up again!
I ran 7.6 miles home from the office on Thursday evening at a very steady 8:35 pace, apart from the hill up Dads Lane and through Highbury Park which was more like 9:15.
My left hamstring was still a little tight from Tuesday's speed work. It was intended as a slow run, so I'm not concerned that I finished some 6½ minutes behind my fastest time for the route, but I hope the ham loosens up.
Mileage is still down on target, but there's plenty of time to pick it up before Bristol.
I now have my sponsorship form for the Matthew Good Foundation, so I've started alienating my friends and family! If anyone's interested in making a donation or paying tribute to Matthew, or just to learn a bit more about the foundation, please visit the website.
I ran 7.6 miles home from the office on Thursday evening at a very steady 8:35 pace, apart from the hill up Dads Lane and through Highbury Park which was more like 9:15.
My left hamstring was still a little tight from Tuesday's speed work. It was intended as a slow run, so I'm not concerned that I finished some 6½ minutes behind my fastest time for the route, but I hope the ham loosens up.
Mileage is still down on target, but there's plenty of time to pick it up before Bristol.
I now have my sponsorship form for the Matthew Good Foundation, so I've started alienating my friends and family! If anyone's interested in making a donation or paying tribute to Matthew, or just to learn a bit more about the foundation, please visit the website.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Not Much of a Run
Well my arms were OK, but my left hamstring was feeling a little tight after last night's efforts. Maybe just as well then that Joe and I were joined by Joe's son Gillan who, how shall I put this? isn't quite as quick as his dad.
He also suffered a stitch at about 1½ miles. After a pause Joe and I went on, but stopped to wait for him at the 3 mile mark. It took Gillan a while to catch up, because he'd got lost in the meantime!
So what I'm saying is, it was a slow one this evening. That's OK though, as our Wednesday session is generally a slowish one for me, and is more a social event than a training run, but it hasn't really progressed my training.
My mileage has been really low for the last few weeks for various reasons, and more importantly I've missed some important sessions, and I need to get back into the swing of things.
Bristol half marathon is only 5½ weeks away and this weekend's schedule is, like the last few, pretty much shot, and Saturday's parkrun may be my only run of the weekend.
He also suffered a stitch at about 1½ miles. After a pause Joe and I went on, but stopped to wait for him at the 3 mile mark. It took Gillan a while to catch up, because he'd got lost in the meantime!
So what I'm saying is, it was a slow one this evening. That's OK though, as our Wednesday session is generally a slowish one for me, and is more a social event than a training run, but it hasn't really progressed my training.
My mileage has been really low for the last few weeks for various reasons, and more importantly I've missed some important sessions, and I need to get back into the swing of things.
Bristol half marathon is only 5½ weeks away and this weekend's schedule is, like the last few, pretty much shot, and Saturday's parkrun may be my only run of the weekend.
Matthew Good Foundation
Great news regarding the Matthew Good Foundation. The website is up and running at www.matthewgoodfoundation.org.
We have a small, and growing, team running for the foundation in the Bristol HM, Chris Price, who ran in the Humber Bridge Half, has pledged to run 32 half marathons in 2012 in support of the foundation (that's one for each of Matt's years), and Michael Shakesheff is running the Hardmoors 60, on the Cleveland Way route, also for the foundation.
Should anyone like to make a donation or join the Bristol HM team, or indeed leave a tribute to Matt, they can do so via the website. Once Gift Aid registration is completed there will also be justgiving and virginmoneygiving sponsorship pages. In the meantime I'll be pestering all my family, friends and work colleagues with sponsorship forms!
We have a small, and growing, team running for the foundation in the Bristol HM, Chris Price, who ran in the Humber Bridge Half, has pledged to run 32 half marathons in 2012 in support of the foundation (that's one for each of Matt's years), and Michael Shakesheff is running the Hardmoors 60, on the Cleveland Way route, also for the foundation.
Should anyone like to make a donation or join the Bristol HM team, or indeed leave a tribute to Matt, they can do so via the website. Once Gift Aid registration is completed there will also be justgiving and virginmoneygiving sponsorship pages. In the meantime I'll be pestering all my family, friends and work colleagues with sponsorship forms!
Back on the Intervals
It was back to the weekly speed session this evening, and having had a few weeks off intervals I went back to four times three minutes with two minutes jog recovery.
I still haven't mastered the knack of timing my intervals, so some of the times are estimated, but in terms of pace I reckon the intervals went 5:57, 6:11, 6:03 & 6:02. It was a lovely sunny but not-too-hot evening, with lots of people out running, walking dogs or just chilling, so it was really enjoyable, despite the hard work.
I'm going to Nottingham this weekend to visit friends. We'll take in the Riverside Festival, and I'm to be subjected to my first professional Cricket match at Trent Bridge (I've resisted until now, but they've finally ground me down). On Saturday morning though, three of us plan to run at Colwick parkrun. That will be my sixth different parkrun. I don't think it's a PB opportunity, as although it's fairly flat it has an assortment of surfaces including grass and 'informally surfaced paths', whatever that means.
I still haven't mastered the knack of timing my intervals, so some of the times are estimated, but in terms of pace I reckon the intervals went 5:57, 6:11, 6:03 & 6:02. It was a lovely sunny but not-too-hot evening, with lots of people out running, walking dogs or just chilling, so it was really enjoyable, despite the hard work.
I'm going to Nottingham this weekend to visit friends. We'll take in the Riverside Festival, and I'm to be subjected to my first professional Cricket match at Trent Bridge (I've resisted until now, but they've finally ground me down). On Saturday morning though, three of us plan to run at Colwick parkrun. That will be my sixth different parkrun. I don't think it's a PB opportunity, as although it's fairly flat it has an assortment of surfaces including grass and 'informally surfaced paths', whatever that means.
Monday, 1 August 2011
Race Report - Jane Tomlinson 'Run For All' 10 km, York
I had a really nice weekend up in my birthplace of York, visiting with family and friends, seeing a really good blues guitarist on Friday night with my ex, watching York City beat League opponents Hartlepool ('The Monkey Hangers'!) in a pre-season friendly and, finally, beating that 10km PB set back in 2009!
I always thought that PB time was a little suspect, as Bournville's Leafy 10 isn't what I'd normally consider PB course, as though not hilly it is certainly 'undulating' and quite a lot of it is on rough woodland trail.
It would have been nice to crack 40 minutes, but that was always unlikely on a hot day with over 5,000 runners in York's narrow streets. Those factors added to my delight at taking 68 seconds out of my previous best.
The start was held up for ten minutes or so, allowing late-comers to come down the course towards us before joining the throng. Apparently there had been traffic issues. Again. Car parking is a real issue for this event, and definitely requires more thought from the organisers.
As usual I tried to get further forward than I have in previous years, and as usual there were still many much slower runners in front of me, despite signs alongside the starting pen showing target times. It's so frustrating having to side-step people who stop dead in the first kilometer having gone much faster than they can cope with.
As you might expect from a city centre route in a medieval town, there are a lot of corners to be negotiated, and again the sheer numbers meant that every corner was a bottle-neck.
The course straightens out somewhat with around 4 km to go, as it leaves the city centre and follows the river Ouse, then it's over Millennium Bridge and there's only a few more corners before the finish on Knavesmire Road by the racecourse. This no doubt contributed to my 'negative splitting' - my second half 47 seconds faster than my first. Despite this, the four times I was overtaken (I think) were all in the last 3km, three in the last 500m. I was overtaking people throughout the race. A marshal was calling positions on the river bank around about the 7km mark (coincidentally near my old house on Frances Street), and I was 140th there, but finished 99th (81st by chip time).
All in all, I have to say the event was well organised and marshalled, but as is often the case with charity-organised races there were just too many runners.
I'm 'well chuffed', as we say in Yorkshire, with 40:38 in my first, and possibly only 10km race this year unless I manage to squeeze one in after Chester.
I always thought that PB time was a little suspect, as Bournville's Leafy 10 isn't what I'd normally consider PB course, as though not hilly it is certainly 'undulating' and quite a lot of it is on rough woodland trail.
It would have been nice to crack 40 minutes, but that was always unlikely on a hot day with over 5,000 runners in York's narrow streets. Those factors added to my delight at taking 68 seconds out of my previous best.
The start was held up for ten minutes or so, allowing late-comers to come down the course towards us before joining the throng. Apparently there had been traffic issues. Again. Car parking is a real issue for this event, and definitely requires more thought from the organisers.
As usual I tried to get further forward than I have in previous years, and as usual there were still many much slower runners in front of me, despite signs alongside the starting pen showing target times. It's so frustrating having to side-step people who stop dead in the first kilometer having gone much faster than they can cope with.
As you might expect from a city centre route in a medieval town, there are a lot of corners to be negotiated, and again the sheer numbers meant that every corner was a bottle-neck.
The course straightens out somewhat with around 4 km to go, as it leaves the city centre and follows the river Ouse, then it's over Millennium Bridge and there's only a few more corners before the finish on Knavesmire Road by the racecourse. This no doubt contributed to my 'negative splitting' - my second half 47 seconds faster than my first. Despite this, the four times I was overtaken (I think) were all in the last 3km, three in the last 500m. I was overtaking people throughout the race. A marshal was calling positions on the river bank around about the 7km mark (coincidentally near my old house on Frances Street), and I was 140th there, but finished 99th (81st by chip time).
All in all, I have to say the event was well organised and marshalled, but as is often the case with charity-organised races there were just too many runners.
I'm 'well chuffed', as we say in Yorkshire, with 40:38 in my first, and possibly only 10km race this year unless I manage to squeeze one in after Chester.
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