Run > Race

Up early for the drive to Peterborough. Left home just after

five for a really smooth journey. Stopped at Rugby services for the toilet and

a chance to loosen off. Got a couple of funny looks doing various drills in the

car park. And for the parents amongst you – there was a brilliant outdoor

playground and multi-level indoor soft play.

Stopped to collect my friend and was met with a mixture of

nerves and excitement on his behalf.

The pre-race set up was really smooth. Numbers had been sent

in the post, loads of space in the enormous grassy parkland, short toilet

queues. We were called to the first gantry and then held in group of 25. The start

was essentially a single file walk/run over the line. So quite a good way to be

with people of the right pace yet distance everyone appropriately.

Ben said he was pushing for sub 3:20 with anything under

3:25 a great result. I think his current PB was 4h something. To be honest, it

was 20 miles of trying to hold him back then a few miles of making him dig in.

The course was scenic – certainly more so than I had been

led to believe for the city. Lots of river-, canal-side and bike paths. It was

great to run within myself, and I was having to consciously slow us both down

as we tended towards 7:20 miling.

1:37:11 first half, chatting away and enjoying each other’s

company for the first time in a while, before a tough second half. There was

significantly more headwind on the return and several section of rooty paths or

very slippery mud. Not ideal on tired marathon legs. We split the second half

in 1:40, which I think is pretty good for an even effort given the conditions.

I had forewarned him, but it was interesting to see how

quickly his effort went from very controlled, to suddenly hanging on – at about

the 21-22M mark. I was politely asked to stop talking at this point! You could

tell it was a well-paced effort though as we were rapidly overtaking many

runners.

Overtook one poor chap who was doing a ‘full-Foster’ in the

closing metres. Had to be met by paramedics with 7 or 8m to go. Hope he is ok.

Ben’s family were there to cheer us on – a pretty epic day

for him and a very fun one for me. 3:17:11 on the clock so an absolute result

for him. A very well organised event (Sublime Racing) and the goodie bag was

good – locally made peanut butter by the jar (x2) - yum.

Tired this week, but obviously nothing like after an all-out

effort. Although did have my second vaccine on Monday. Only recovery running so

far: 4, 4, 6, 7, re-joining the 5am club last couple of days.

If for some weird reason, a heart condition or something,

you told me I could never full on race a marathon again, but I could do this

sort of hardish effort, I would take it. A lot to be said about running the

whole thing with a smile on my face and helping a mate out.

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 7:32(7:32/m) 178/190bpm [1342b/mi] 184/202rpm
2) 1m - 7:51(7:51/m) 183/188bpm [1438b/mi] 182/202rpm
3) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 185/190bpm [1329b/mi] 183/200rpm
4) 1m - 7:25(7:25/m) 183/190bpm [1354b/mi] 180/194rpm
5) 1m - 7:24(7:24/m) 184/187bpm [1362b/mi] 182/226rpm
6) 1m - 7:19(7:19/m) 182/187bpm [1332b/mi] 181/198rpm
7) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 188/192bpm [1348b/mi] 181/196rpm
8) 1m - 7:18(7:18/m) 186/193bpm [1361b/mi] 178/194rpm
9) 1m - 7:38(7:38/m) 190/193bpm [1450b/mi] 178/196rpm
10) 1m - 7:26(7:26/m) 189/193bpm [1403b/mi] 179/202rpm
11) 1m - 7:35(7:35/m) 188/191bpm [1428b/mi] 178/204rpm
12) 1m - 7:22(7:22/m) 189/193bpm [1394b/mi] 179/194rpm
13) 1m - 7:30(7:30/m) 190/193bpm [1422b/mi] 179/192rpm
14) 1m - 7:21(7:21/m) 191/195bpm [1401b/mi] 179/194rpm
15) 1m - 7:24(7:24/m) 188/191bpm [1388b/mi] 179/194rpm
16) 1m - 7:26(7:26/m) 184/189bpm [1368b/mi] 179/196rpm
17) 1m - 7:20(7:20/m) 186/189bpm [1362b/mi] 178/192rpm
18) 1m - 7:31(7:31/m) 186/188bpm [1398b/mi] 177/192rpm
19) 1m - 7:35(7:35/m) 185/188bpm [1399b/mi] 178/194rpm
20) 1m - 7:37(7:37/m) 186/191bpm [1416b/mi] 179/196rpm
21) 1m - 7:34(7:34/m) 186/191bpm [1410b/mi] 178/194rpm
22) 1m - 7:43(7:43/m) 188/193bpm [1454b/mi] 180/198rpm
23) 1m - 7:33(7:33/m) 190/192bpm [1433b/mi] 181/194rpm
24) 1m - 7:45(7:45/m) 185/188bpm [1431b/mi] 178/192rpm
25) 1m - 7:42(7:42/m) 185/189bpm [1424b/mi] 178/192rpm
26) 1m - 8:10(8:10/m) 186/190bpm [1522b/mi] 177/198rpm
27) 0.26m - 1:55(7:22/m) 186/191bpm [1374b/mi] 180/194rpm