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Sunday 3rd March
Meath Spring Half Marathon (Bohermeen)
Chip Time: 1:21:39 - New PB!
Average Pace: 6.14/mile
Result: 33/640
OK, where to start....The last couple of days I’ve had loads of nervous energy, I knew training had been going well, but was not sure exactly how well!! Today was the measure; I was chomping at the bit and once the hooter went off, that energy was taken out on the road!! What happened about an hour and twenty minutes later even I was surprised at!!
I left for Bohermeen about half 8 this morning after I horsed down a big bowl of porridge (porridge contained no horses!:pac:) Drive wasn’t too bad, all motorway and arrived about 10:45 in plenty time. Bumped into all the usual boards crew before the start, including some new faces to me in RayCun, belcarra and Mr Stew!:)
Done a quick stretch and warm up and then jogged to the start with Marthastew and career_move. Bit of a delay at the start while 700 people waited for the 1:30 pacer :P but eventually we were off and running about 10 mins late. I was a few rows back from the start in the hope that the congestion would allow me to ease into the first mile but I still set off too fast! I passed meno at about half a mile and he warned me that he did not want to see me again until the finish! I kindly obliged!:D
I was in a smooth comfortable rhythm for the first couple of miles as I went looking to settle into a good group, I found a couple of lads going 6:20s for the first 2 miles and settled in with them but soon realised they were slowing so I moved on.
At the end of the third mile my garmin decided to pack it in.:rolleyes: The time was still on it but distance was stalled so my average pace was going up and up, no option but to turn it off and on again. It was back working after this but the time and distance was all screwed up so all i had for the rest of the race was average lap pace..which I could manage with to be honest, the laps were just lapping at every .83 of a mile though!
Anyway, things were going smooth for miles 4 and 5. Towards the end of the first lap I spotted a lad in a Raheny top going the same pace as myself and I said we’d be better together than battling alone, he agreed and he became my buddy until the last half a mile of the race!;)
Between the 2 of us we were now going well checking the pace now and again ensuring we were under the 6:20 pace, but not by too much to ensure we were not burned out by mile 10. At this point the 5k runners merged onto the route so there was a bit of congestion for a while but once we went onto the second lap it was all clear again. Still feeling comfortable with the pace I started to think of what point I would push on..mile 8? mile 9? mile 10?..I would see how it went.
Our group had about 6 people now with me and the Raheny guy leading it. I was glad I was at the front when at mile 8 a dog tore out of a house and went for the lad at the back!! Big fecker too! He was put back in his place fairly lively by the house owner...but still you’d think they would lock it up for the race!!
At mile 9 I saw RayCun up ahead and this was my sign to kick on!! Picked up the pace a bit and the group followed, we were bringing it home together!! Passed Ray at mile 10 and our group was now down to 4 as we pushed for the finish. The last couple of miles were tough but I knew I had to stick it as I was on course for a good PB. The hill at the last turn deadened the legs a bit but I wasn’t giving in now. Soon one of the 4 in the group a Mullingar Harrier made a break , I decided to follow leaving the other 2 behind. Digging in hard now I could see the turn to the finish straight in the distance. I got on to the side of the MH lad just before the turn but he had another kick left in him so just beat me over the line, I didn’t care....1:21!! Boom! Delighted!
7 minute PB since my last half 3 months ago!
Also ran 1:01 for 10 miles today which was a 2 min PB and 38mins for the last 10km, another unofficial PB.
Mile Splits
(6:08, 6:19, 6:17, 6:14, 6:12, 6:16, 6:08, 6:15, 6:06, 6:07, 6:05, 6:07, 5:58)
Too be fair without the 3 lads all working as a group I would not have managed that time running by myself and we all agreed after that this was the case with big PBs for the whole lot of them! After getting water and a banana into me I crawled back up the finishing straight to support some of the boardies home. Great runs by all with a PB also for meno and also a great time from Officer Digger claiming back the house title
...for the moment!
Great runs by the Stews also with them all coming in under 1:30!! Career_move and YoungAnne soon followed with PBs also. To be fair it’s a great course and perfect for the PB seeker and the weather was perfect so it was like the perfect storm running wise today really!!!
Chatted for a good while with the boards gang after and great to meet beedube and TRR for the first time while meno was in the ear also calling me a ‘wuss’ if I don’t go for sub 3 in Rotterdam now! He has a point in fairness!
Bit of a trek back home after but worth it!! Legs as digger says are fooked now! Should be grand tomorrow!
Afterthought
Said I’d give it a bit to sink in before writing this and to re-assess where I am at the moment. So my first 2013 target achieved!! And looking at the below It’s pretty obvious now I need new goals, I’ll be setting these over the next couple of days.
Distance|Start of log PB| 2013 Target| Current PB
5km|19:31|18:29| 18:44
10km|42:30|38:59| 42:30
Half Marathon|1:32:29|1:26:59|1:21:39
Marathon|3:29:20|3:09:59| 3:29:20
So onto the R word, Rotterdam! So as meno says, I would be a wuss if I don’t at least attempted the sub 3 in next month now. I was always putting it off and I know I have loads of time to get there but when I’m currently on form It would be a waste not to at least go for it!
I still have a fear on the endurance aspect and about crashing at mile 20, but look, If I don’t try I’ll never know, so sub 3 attempt in Rotterdam it is!! If I do hit the wall I should still hopefully manage 3:05/3:10 at worse so that will do me as a B target if it does happen!
It’s hard to imagine that 12 months ago my half PB was 1:38 :eek:, some difference a year makes when you put in time and effort.
I could not have got to my current level without the guidance in this forum, from Younganne and all the mentors in the Novice thread last year and also to meno in the current 2012 class thread! Also to all the advice from other runners regardless of what level on here, I have got as much golden tips from all of you too, a big thanks for all your support on my log, this is what keeps me determined and focused on the next task at hand! Ye know who ye are!!
So onto Rotterdam, suppose I better go find that sub 3 support thread....:eek:
Week Mileage Summary:
Monday|Tuesday|Wednesday|Thursday|Friday|Saturday|Sunday
7m|8.5m|12m|Rest|5m|Rest|13.1m
Week Total|Month to Date|Year to Date
45.6m|18.1m|389.2m0 -
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Wow, thanks everyone!!Great stuff lad. You should definitely find yourself a club, they would be crying out for someone with your ability so you can ask for a sign-on fee. Also it would be difficult to get picked for Rio if you were 'unattatched'Marthastew wrote: »As meno says you should definitely join a club, they'd be lucky to get you:)
Yeah, Ray was even saying it to me afterwards today too. As I'm in the middle of the plan at the moment I'll wait until after Rotterdam. But will definitely join somewhere then.0 -
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