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career_move wrote: »Wrong log???
Nah, it's Blocky's alright, he just forgot he had sweetcorn earlier
:eek: 0 -
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Saturday 14th September
Athlone Half Marathon
Chip Time: 1:19:31 - New PB!
Average Pace: 6.01/mile
Result: 35/939
Mission accomplished!! Happy man here this evening with my revised Half Marathon target for 2013 in the bag!
Headed down this morning to the race with career_move and purceninho who kindly provided me with transport! Thanks a million P.
We arrived in plenty time but the first car park was already full, eager beavers! Registration was very fast, over in less than 2 minutes and then I somehow managed to get caught for an interview on camera with the Athlone flatline team about the boards team event! Luckily for me after a few minutes I managed to off load the crew to claralara :cool: and I duly escaped to get ready...
Time was flying and soon it was time for a warm up so done a couple of easy miles and stretches. After a quick acknowledgement between other boardsies we headed to the start line where I met RunForestRun (RFR) as we had agreed to set off together.
Start line appeared very well arranged this year so well done to the organisers for that!
Miles 1-4 (6:08, 6:03, 6:06, 6:02)
Soon we were off and I was chomping at the bit, so after a couple of corners I brought it back a tad for a planned comfortable first mile. The first 4 miles continued handy enough with myself and RFR chatting away, but it wouldn’t be long before we went quiet!
Miles 5 -10 (5:58, 6:00, 6:05, 6:13, 6:05, 5:55)
We were picking people off from very early on but I knew that the pace we were going was my very limit in terms of avoiding a blow up. If it was a few seconds faster I knew it would end horribly so I was playing with a fine line but thankfully held it together. RFR was going strong from what it looked like at around mile 6 and at this stage I felt my sub 80 was touch and go. I told him to kick on if he wished, however he came back with something along the lines of “no chance!” but I can’t remember exactly what it was now. The northern and cork accent were having communication issues at times! 
At mile 7 we hit a fairly fresh head wind that seemed to follow us no matter what direction we went so we took turns as the leading runner to give the other some shelter. This was then accompanied by mile 8 which was a slight drag and resulted in my slowest mile in the race.
We met VaderMLK at this stage who I encouraged to join us but in his own words he “blew the head gasket” (:D great description) so we powered on. RFR was now starting to suffer a bit and said I should power ahead if I wished, we turned onto the main Ballinasloe road and I started powering on ahead without me realising.
It felt good so I kept with it picking off runners here and there, the main road went on for a bit longer than I expected but soon we made the turn for home.
Miles 11 -13.1 (5:58, 6:02, 5:50)
I tend to break up HM into 3 sections:
1) The first couple of miles are for easing into it, usually slightly slower than HMP.
2) From miles 3 – 10 I go comfortably hard, usually HMP.
3) Then for miles 11-13.1 I go uncomfortably hard, usually faster than HMP
So now it was discomfort time! I attempted to throw on the thrusters and see what I had left, the answer was not much, but enough to increase the pace slightly and continue to pass runners. Mile 11 went fairly fast but then I was crying for the turn back onto the road where we initially came out of Athlone to appear. FINALLY it arrived and the end was in sight.
I checked the watch at mile 12 and knew if I kept the last mile under 6 min/mile the sub 80 was in the bag. Up ahead I saw four Mullingar Harriers in a single file so I began to pick them off one by one, legs screaming and me suffering now, I continued to push, places were up for grabs managed to dispose of 3 of them and as we rounded the second last corner I passed the 4th, Gerry Duffy who had pipped me by 2 places in the RocknRoll (revenge is sweet!
) I had adrenaline now as I rounded the final straight...just where I wanted to be. With a few yards to go for the first time this year I showed a bit of emotion at the finish and laid out an almighty fist pump in recognition of business taken care of. Get in! Sweet personal victory, the nicest kind.
Great to meet the usual boardsies after and sorry for not getting to know some new faces, left my boards t-shirt in the car so I have no doubt we were likely difficult to find. If you go to McGrattans on Oct 28th, I promise you will definitely find us!
Thanks Marthastew for the rice krispie buns, they went down a treat! Thanks to RFR for setting me up for a great finish with his company for the first 2/3 of the race which really helped.
And well done to all boardies who ran today, some great results achieved and nice to see some prizes won amongst you all too!
Post Race Analysis
A conversation was had on the trip home today about where I was this time last year and it was then that my progression only struck me and hit home. On 14th September last year I had a Half Marathon PB of 1:38 before I set off to run Athlone the following day. I ran 1:32 on the day and I was absolutely chuffed with the 6 min PB. I looked at the lads running sub 1:30 back then thinking maybe I could break that mark in 12 months time (I was only new to running then with not much clue) and as for people running sub 1:20, well I thought it was dream land.
Here today I sit with that very time thinking how the hell did I get here! It’s amazing what some commitment, consistency and a bit of luck can do for your performances.
I could not have imagined what success the last 12 months has brought me in running circles from both race results and a whole new set of running friends mostly originating from boards. So thank you all for the support and good will.
Finally, very happy with today’s run and all is going to plan for Chicago which is nice. Just need to keep it together now for the next 4 weeks and hopefully gain some revenge and finally knock out at decent time in the marathon. The journey has officially begun from today’s windy Athlone town to the windy city!
For tonight though, it’s time for beer and pizza!0 -
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lovely jubbly. Well done that's a great run and as you say amazing progression. Was only thinking about you earlier (don't get worried, mostly in a non-sexual way) and was wondering what times could you be running for the marathon in 3-5 years. 0
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lovely jubbly. Well done that's a great run and as you say amazing progression. Was only thinking about you earlier (don't get worried, mostly in a non-sexual way) and was wondering what times could you be running for the marathon in 3-5 years.
Cheers for that. You should also wonder what times digger will be running!
I guess it all depends on when my progression is going to plateau. Hopefully not soon!0 -
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I know that wasn't mean as a threat, but boy does it read that wayoverpronator wrote: »....you deserve every bit of it and what's coming in the future too. 0 -
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