Getting fit and staying there

Training going well and I’d taken this race seriously unlike last year when I’d trained up to about 8 miles and no more. That said, given the “bigger picture” (VLM) I said I’d run round with a friend who hadn’t run much recently due to wedding, honeymoon, new house and new job. Pretty good excuses.Met a neighbour whose wife was going to drive up to town. She did. We left at 8 and arrived at 8.15 (for a 9.30 start). Nearly punched someone in the car who said to a mate of his “Why did you put 2.30+ on the form? You could do that going backwards” Grrrr.

I’ve been late for a couple of races and it’s mega stressful so I’d much rather be early. Gave me a chance to wander round and chatted to David (school dad who’s run with a few Fetchies before – this was his first half), Chris (ex school dad), Nick (another school dad, he commentates on rugby and was doing the warm up introductions on the stage), Siamese Pete (definitely met him before but where?) and finally met up with ocean at about 9.25. By then I’d realised that I was garmin-less. I’d left it in my bag which had been handed in about half an hour ago. Oh well – might be quite liberating to run without it.

After some banter which involved David’s friends admitting that they thought the Fetch Everyone on my shirt meant that I was running for a dog rescue charity, we were off. Taking it slowly. Very slowly. At mile 1 I asked ocean what the first split was and she said 11.42. Whoops. How did that happen? That should have given me an indicator of what was to come. Saw Running Beer and NBFS at three different places along the route. Waved to lully, pete and shouted at gojosiego who was ultra focussed and ignoring/didn’t hear me. This was my race to try Lucozade (think of the share price) jelly beans just before the water stations. Don’t think they had an effect on me either way to be honest. Couldn’t quite stomach the Percy Pigs and chewy snakes they were handing out later though.

At about halfway I “dumped” ocean and strided off into the distance. I felt good. I had energy. It must have been the energy I’d saved in the first half. It lasted half a mile. Then I slowed down. And down. And down. My final splits were 1.12.58 and 1.21.11.Becky and the girls said they’d meet me by the Percy Pig station at 11.5m. They didn’t. Bus problems. Amazingly met them in the home straight. By accident. That cheered me up as did RunningBeer demanding a sprint finish. Not today. Normally but not today

So finished in 2.34.09. Despite claiming to all that I wasn’t interested in PBs it was disheartening to finish so far out. Got some lovely suppotive texts though. Much appreciated.

Here are my 5 half times for comparison:

Royal Parks Half Marathon, 10 Oct 10 2:34:09, 11:46/m

Royal Parks Half Marathon, 11 Oct 09 2:29:13, 11:23/m

** Reading Half Marathon, 2 Mar 08 2:17:02, 10:28/m **

Ranelagh Richmond Half Marathon, 13 May 07 2:20:05, 10:42/m

Reading Half Marathon, 25 Mar 07 2:22:57, 10:55/m

Got my bag and walked to meet Bex, the girls and some friends at the Diana playground. Lay down. Couldn’t get up again. I’ve possibly done something to my right leg/hip but we’ll see. Got a “non sporting” physio tonight.I was talking about VLM 2011 with David and Bex and repeating the same spiel “Not worrying about time but would like to get between 5 and 6 hours”. To which Becky replied “6 hours – hardly worth doing if you’re going to take 6 hours”

I won’t tell you what she said about walking through the water stations!Anyhow – that was a FLAT half and I’ve got a HILLY one on the 31st. Eeeeek. RunningBeer is doing it with me and we’ll see who comes last.It’s all hours on your feet and in preparation for a bigger event next year. Oh yes.