Another repeat of the surprising pace I seem to find for this race.
Blew my own expectations right out of the water - hoping (probably expecting, tbh) a 38:xx, but not overly concerned if PB pace wasn't there as I knew I ran this race "too well" two years ago, and worry that I peaked too soon in the Chester build up.
So after checking splits for the last two iterations, I set off with 6:10-6:15 avg pace in mind, and a 6:10 first mile. Did my usual approach of starting mid pack, despite knowing I would overtake quite a lot of those ahead.
First mile clipped along nicely, no great exertions but was moving quickly. Soon caught up with a couple of West Cheshire runners and after going under 6:10 decided to sit on them until the 2m mark to steady the pace. Turned out they carried me to a 6:00 mile by 2miles, and I was still feeling good.
Cruised past on the way over the fly-over again, but could hear one of them sticking with me.
Out past the 5k mark and where I'd done 19:15 previously, this was a 18:54, so I knew I was motoring, but also feeling strong, especially with the downhill mile to come.
Caught up with a VRAC runner just as we turned on to the A51, and again decided to sit in rather than accelerate - I didn't want to push on down the hill as I remembed how uncomfortable I felt in the last mile on the previous runs.
WCAC runner had also caught up, and whilst my HR came down a couple of clicks we were still in the 6:0x territory.
Glanced at the predictor as we turned off the A51 and saw it was still showing 37:xx, so chose to be careful up the first rise and reassess. 1km to go and I was still on for a 37:5x, so decided to try to hang on.
That killer of a little rise at the end was nearly the undoing of me as the retching started just as I crested the rise, and it was all I could do as we turned in towards the finish not to have to stop and heave - managed to leave that to just over the finish line! Was overtaken by the WCAC and VRAC runners on the run in, but after a few minutes waiting to see if this would be 38:00 or sub 38, got the text with the final results. Over the moon!!
Split Summary
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1) 1m - 6:07(6:07/m) 158/167bpm 95cal 9.81/10.29mph
2) 1m - 6:00(6:00/m) 168/171bpm 100cal 10/10.21mph
3) 1m - 6:08(6:08/m) 172/175bpm 106cal 9.78/10.08mph
4) 1m - 6:02(6:02/m) 171/174bpm 104cal 9.93/10.21mph
5) 1m - 6:04(6:04/m) 170/172bpm 103cal 9.89/10.21mph
6) 1m - 6:09(6:09/m) 172/176bpm 107cal 9.75/10.27mph
7) 0.23m - 1:30(6:29/m) 175/179bpm 27cal 9.26/10.44mph
6:07 6:00 6:08 6:02 6:04 6:09 1:30