It was cold this morning as a few of the brave souls huddled together in the Action Heart marquee made their way outside to watch the walkers set off, half an hour ahead of the main event, and then dashed back inside, teeth chattering and knees knocking - or was that just me? Anyway, a short while later we went for a short jog down to the loos and back, then I pushed my way into the pack to try to get warm again.
The start was just a few minutes late, waiting for official photos (you may be able to see my hand waving, about 27th from the left...) and for the Deputy Mayor to say something or other, then we were off, just as the rain started.
As usual, especially in races I've not run before, I started too far back and was overtaking clearly slower runners for a while before I was able to get any speed up. This was compounded by a Birmingham Half Marathon-esque bottle neck immediately after the start line.
I'd been warned that this was not a PB course as it's quite hilly. It's pretty much uphill for the first couple of miles, then as the route forks left from Wolverhampton Street onto Himley Road the horizon dips and it's fast downhill for about three quarters of a mile, levelling briefly before dropping down again for another half mile along Coopers Bank Road. I must have made up more time than I realised on this section, as I was pretty much resigned to a slow run and was not checking on my pace.
Turning left again towards Pensnett and again onto the High Street, the last mile and a quarter was tough heading back uphill, with just the last few hundred yards seeming to level out as the course snakes through the hospital grounds to the finish line. I was caught by surprise when a marshal said it was only 300 metres to the finish, and I should have been well into my sprint finish! I picked up the pace, but sadly failed to pick up any places. It was only later that I realised I was within a lick of my PB!
The results were published commendably quickly and I was just ten seconds off the PB I set in January last year. I have a doubt over the accuracy of the results though. My pal Joe, who was definitely there (I saw him finish, and he drove me home!), is nowhere to be found in the results.
All in all, that was a great result for me in the circumstances, so I'm looking forward to smashing that PB at the Centurion GP race next Sunday!
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