Run > Race

Wokingham Half. 8.06 8.13 8.00 8.11 7.56 8.10 8.05 8.18 8.06 8.16 8.12 7.48 7.44. This year I remembered to *have breakfast*. Set off feeling reasonably comfortable at just over 8-min miling, and had to resist the urge to go faster. Brief walk at the water station at about 4 miles, and managed to drink most of a cup. The miles were flying by, and the new jinks in the course helped immensely. Took a gel as I hit 5 miles, just to try to prevent me running low on power. KB told me about OB, and the decision was made there and then to do this to show Eric who was boss. Through half way, and another little brisk walk at the Hurst water station. Remarked that I've never felt this good this far into a half, and we're still averaging about 8.05 - brill. We see a boy and his mum (the b(p) family it later transpires) taking pics, and that's all great - we shout to them, and they shout and wave back. The farm lanes always do for me, and we emerge at 9 miles with me feeling a bit more ragged than we entered, but KB is cheerful and positive, the b(p)'s cheer us on again. I take my second gel (the orange one, crucially second) at 9.5, and it's time to put in the hard yards. There's a water station, and the first return up the motorway bridge for the 10 mile marker, and it's clear it's gonna be hard from here - but it's half the distance of a club run left, and Eric won't beat us. KB burns up the next hill, and I'm left to play catch up, but it's just about doable, and we pass the roundabout, and the last motorway bridge looms. I remember the slopes we came up on the other side, and I know this is the last big obstacle, and by now I'm shouting that I'm gonna kick the crap out of Eric, and the adrenaline gets me up the hill. The remaining miles seem to stretch out, and KB is burninating comfortably infront, but it's all about hanging on. About seeing every mile as less than 8 minutes of struggling. Round one bend, round another, and it's just the wind tunnel (which someone's unplugged - thank the lord) of Bell Foundry Lane, and the last corner to go. Look at my watch - half a mile. Well inside my PB. Push push push. Last corner, loads of shouting, back into Cantley, it all goes a bit blurry, and I stick what's left on the fire - but even then as I'm sprinting for the line, I feel another gear (this is the bit I must remember for next race), and I'm done. Panting, but feeling so much better than post-Cardiff. Great race - and more to come.