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AuldManKing wrote: »......
Might take a rest day on Thursday and not race the HM on Sat - do it at MP instead .
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tomwaits48 wrote: »I certainly think you should heed your own recent advice to others and run it at MP. Better for you in the long run if the marathon is the main goal, which it is!
Especially if MP is close to my HM pace and I could have my own pacer!!!
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Jaysus - I was just tired! 1 day off and I feel unfit, heavy legged and fat
I'll either go with the 1:30 pacer or the 1:25 pacer - make a call tomorrow - no biggie - not a goal race - original intentions was to use it as a session/MP run.0 -
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AuldManKing wrote: »Jaysus - I was just tired! 1 day off and I feel unfit, heavy legged and fat
I'll either go with the 1:30 pacer or the 1:25 pacer - make a call tomorrow - no biggie - not a goal race - original intentions was to use it as a session/MP run.
Just cause you are going to San Seb with The Lemon doesn't mean you have to start sounding like him. Next you be swapping your San Topez for a farmer's tan :P
Best of luck tomorrow. ENJOY!!!0 -
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Athlone Half Marathon:
I had done this race 3 years ago and had a disaster of a run. From 4 miles out the fatigue was present and I struggled to a 1.27. The time is acceptable, but the feeling of pain and anguish for 9 miles lives with me.
I say this, because I haven't done may HM's. The last one was 3 years ago in Athlone - and I've avoided them since as I think they are difficult to gauge in terms of pace.
This is why I was a bit flaky about racing/not racing this one - driven by the fear of a blow up I guess.
I made the decision to go with the 1.25 pacer - mainly as I didn't think I'd go too much faster than this if we hadn't a pacer - and I knew there'd be a few people to work off. Decision made.
I got a 2m warm up in and met the ever bubbly MarthStew who was doing a long run today and also met a guy I've ran with a few times in the PP, Stephen. He had done a 1.26 2 weeks back in Tullamore and was also going with the 1.25 pacer.
Race Start:
A couple of toilet stops, a quick hello to 'Back in Black' and we were off.
For the 1st couple of miles I actually felt like I was jogging - I was tempted to move up to another group, but remembered the old saying - "if the 1st few miles of a Mara or HM feel too slow, you're going too fast". So I held my thunder and stayed with the group.
The 2 pacers seemed to be running at different paces and had 2 different groups - I stayed with the front one.
Mile 1: 6:24
Mile 2: 6:26
Mile 3: 6:23
We went through 5k in 19:55.
At this stage the temp started to heat up and you could certainly feel the heat. I had poured water over me at the 3 mile mark and taken a big gulp.
The 2 pace groups were getting further apart and it seemed we only had about 6-8 people in our group.
Two quick'ish miles followed which put put more distance between us but also caused a couple to fall off our group.
Mile 4: 6:24
Mile 5: 6:18
At this stage I was feeling comfortable and had thoughts about pushing on. I came to the head of the pace group and led for a bit - pondering if I should try to catch the lone 1-2 people up ahead. I decided not too as it had become very hot and there was still a lot of running left - I wouldn't want to be running on my own for too long.
Mile 6: 6:29
we went through 10k in 39:50 (another 19:55 5k)
More water at half way and threw most of a bottle over me.
Mile 7&8 are quite possibly the most boring miles of racing that I have ever done - the scenery is fields and the road is country road - nothing to distract you. Happily they flew in.
I took a gel at the 7 mile mark and swallowed the whole thing in 1 go - which I wont do again as its quite 'icky'
Mile 7: 6:28
Mile 8: 6:31
We turned the corner after 8m and moved onto the main road - some sparse crowds to cheer us on - we turned left again and came onto more water close to the 10 mile mark - I took more water and poured a good lot over me.
Mile 9: 6:31
Mile 10: 6:18
Through 10m in 64:08
The quick mile 10 seemed to catch me a bit. I noticed my breath become faster and my legs seemed to be slapping the ground more. What was going on.
I moved to the back of our small group and the pacer noticed it and beckoned me fwd - a shout from my PP buddy didn't help either.
This was the stage in the race that I was dreading, but I knew would come.
The voice said 'Stop' - 'you know you want to' - 'blame the knee' - 'fall back to the other pace group just behind'. I so nearly gave in as I noticed the gap getting bigger between me and the pacer with his 2-3 pacees.
At this stage I gave myself a good talking to. "70m a week and you cant hold 6:30 pace" - "come on Alan, get a grip, its only discomfort, not pain" - I also thought about that lad who passed away at the 10m race last year - I pass his memorial every time I run in the PP along the Furze Road - this gave me a real lift.
Before 12th mile marker I was back with the group and feeling like a new man.
Mile 11: 6:30
Mile 12: 6:32
1.1m to go I was saying. Throughout the whole race I was thinking about how fast the miles had come and gone - it seemed much quicker than any 5k/10k that I had done - maybe its the lower level of discomfort that you have in the early stages of a HM??
So - 1 mile to go and I push on a bit from the pacer - only 1 guy with him now as 1 other pushed on and 1 behind.
I feel good at this stage and feel like I'm moving quite sharpishly only to check the watch and see that I'm still at 6:30 pace
The 800m sign comes into view and I can hear the commentator - a few people start to appear, shouting us on. I hit the 400m mark and turn the corner. 1 more corner to go.
I dont think theres anyone behind me as I tun the last corner and see the clock ticking, but out of no where, a guy who was in our pace group suddenly passes me with a sprint. I repond with about 150m to go.
I can hear a shout from the crowd ' go on Alan' - no idea who that was, but thank you.
I keep going and pass him with a few meters to go - cross the line, grip the barrier, dry retch, and smile contentedly.
1.24.21 Official time and a 3 min PB
Following the race, It was great to meet up with YoungAnne, Snailsong and Jake1970 - its a great little community we have here.
1m warm down.
My thoughts on the race:
On the drive home I was thinking about the 'race' - its difficult to call it that as there wasn't much 'racing' in it.
It was like a well executed time trial to a pre-determined outcome. Which I guess it was as I had made the decision to go with the pacer. The only real racing was in the home straight.
I do wonder if I had of made the move at 5m would I of blown up or would I of got dragged back to the group at the latter stages anyway??
What I do know is, that this race has given me lots of confidence and the fact that I didn't give up at mile 10-11 and got myself back into it is a good sign for me.
Today - the knee is a bit tender - I might go to the doc this week and see what he says - its been at me since late June (insert embarrassing emoji here).
46m for this week.0 -
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AuldManKing wrote: »On the drive home I was thinking about the 'race' - its difficult to call it that as there wasn't much 'racing' in it.
It was like a well executed time trial to a pre-determined outcome. Which I guess it was as I had made the decision to go with the pacer. The only real racing was in the home straight.
Isn't that most of the racing that's done around here? Most of us probably haven't really raced in the competitive sense of the word.
Nice run anyway!0 -
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