So the first two weeks in February have been busy ones and ended with my birthday weekend. Whoop!!
It was my Birthday Friday which started right with a little birthday run and then a fun filled day and evening with family and on Saturday I travelled down to Worthing with my boyfriend ready for the Worthing Half Marathon on Sunday.
Recently I’ve noticed that my pace is not getting faster, there was a period of time I was hitting under 9 minute miles consistently but I’ve noticed recently that this isn’t happening; whether it’s because an extra half a stone has crept on, or the long runs are taking the priority but I wasn’t confident that I would finish this half marathon in under 2 hours but nevertheless that was the aim. My calf has been tight in recent weeks I was nervous but with my last two runs being ok I was optimistic that I would be able to cope, even if I had to stretch a little.
Added to that, with a few pints watching the rugby on Saturday afternoon and an amazing Italian meal out in the evening, a croissant in the morning it wasn’t the perfect preparation, but you have to live life!
So Sunday Morning we made our way to the start of the race, it was about a mile from our B&B so a nice little warm up walk; I’m not a person who warms up with a run (why run more when I’m about to run 13 miles, but maybe this is something I need to consider and work on?)
The start was pretty relaxed, on the seafront, loads of toilets, I had no bag to drop off so straight to the start line and no waves or pens so just joined the crowd, waved goodbye to my boyfriend the countdown began
The usual slow start until I reached the start line and then I was off, getting used to weaving round people for the first mile and not getting distracted by others. On my recent Marathon training day the coach told us to get into our bubble, try not to sit comfortably behind the slower ones or try racing with the faster people and I channelled this, focused on how I felt and tried to get into that comfortable pace.
The next few miles I felt comfortable but they were at a slightly faster pace than my target of 9.10 minutes per mile (a sub two hour half), so I tried to slow down a bit, which worked and I was going well and strong; the people dotted around the town cheering were fab and the route goes through the town and around the houses for a good 6-7 miles which was lovely as meant there were often people stood outside there house cheering and the route itself was quite distraction.
At 6 miles I made the decision to put in my headphones, I don’t run with music but I do have an audio book and I thought this would distract me for the next few miles which I thought would be the toughest, six miles down but still 7 to go!
Mile 7; we turned back onto the beach and began to run down the seafront, lovely EXCEPT the head wind. OH MY WORD the headwind! It was horrible and for the next 3 miles it was tough. We were running down the seafront and was now joined by the fast runners coming back toward the finish line, this was really nice distraction and I just couldn’t wait to turn around and start heading to the finish. That turn came at mile 10; a mile loop round a park and then back towards the finish! Although was it too late by then, those last few miles were slow, below target pace and 2/3 miles left to pull it back. Could I do it?
Mile 11, the wind behind us, although you don’t feel it half as much as when you are running into it but so much easier and I could feel the finish in site. I had markers.. the roundabout… the water station… the prom and then the finish.
I kept pushing, looking at my pace, a few started walking around me but I knew I had to keep pushing:
Mile 11- 9:08 – Perfect
Mile 12 – 9.00 – Faster, could I keep this up?!
Mile 13 – I was slowing down, had a pushed too hard too quick, the long promenade run to the finish felt just that; long!
With half a mile left I knew I hadn’t done enough, although the last 0.2 mile at a 8.17 pace, I saw my boyfriend just before the finish, smiled and was so pleased I had finished. I felt good, I was pleased with my run… I stopped by Garmin, looked at my time…
2:00:56! Bloody Hell! I was gutted.
I found my boyfriend and had a little cry, I was so disappointed that I just wasn’t good enough to get that sub 2 hours but he reminded me that the last half marathon I completed (Bristol in 2011) my time was plus 3 hours so I’ve knocked an hour off my time, plus there’s my goal for next time, the time to beat. He’s very good at calming down my silly disappointments!
I was so chuffed to get my medal and felt proud I had done it but had that slightly sour taste with those bloody 56 seconds! I still have that sour taste and now the sub 2 is my nemesis; Swansea Half in June is my next half and lets see if that will be the one, the magic sub 2!
Let’s not overlook my magic Strava that says I’ve got ALL the Pb’s! Must remember to look at the positives!
So now to reflect on the race; my legs were strong, no pain, my pace almost perfect (I blame the wind!) and the only problem was a bit of chaffing from my underwear (so too much info!) but I need to start seriously considering these things with only 10 weeks left to go. During the race I had also tasted out eating to maintain my strength, I had taken a Trek bar with me, the protein flapjack, and ate a third of it at mile 5 and although I didn’t feel sick afterwards I found it hard to eat and run, I didn’t eat the rest until after the race so I need to consider other alternatives to snacks; there are the gels, but they are gross! Or jelly beans which could be easier, I have ten weeks to practice so jelly beans go on my shopping list.
When I got home I purchased new running pants; Women’s running recently did a piece of underwear so I took there advice and purchased a pair of RunderWear briefs, the reviews are amazing and I’ve never been so excited to try new pants before! I also bought a SpiBelt, it had been on my Christmas list and although I have pockets in all my running trousers I think the SpiBelt will make it easier and be able to store those magic beans!
A rest day today, slightly soreness in my hip and legs, not painful just a little tight, which a good foam roll will help with. My back has also been playing up for the past few months I don’t think its running related so I’m off to the Doctors tomorrow to see if there’s anything I can do to address it and then back to it…
Next Race; London Marathon! AHHHHH!!
The Ginger Marathon Runner 