Running race 33:45 [5] 6.2 mi (5:27 / mi) +10m 5:25 / mi
Sunday – TRAFFORD 10K – 33:45
Ideal conditions. After the first 5k, this was heading towards another car crash like Telford or Ribble Valley, so the fact I managed to stop from happening in the second half means I can take several positives from the race.
First half just didn’t happen, pace was quick from the off but I expected that, think I ran a sensible first mile in 5:15, but felt pressure to get up to the people I knew I should be with, and the pace felt harder on my legs than the first miles at Telford or Ribble Valley. Second mile tried to settle down and made some ground up but was not feeling great, legs felt like they were working hard.
3-5k was the real bad patch, 3rd mile 5:36, lost contact with the big group ahead and legs and arms feeling heavy, felt like I was at 9k not 4-5k. Told myself to dig in and try and not to let gap get too big. Passed half way and gap wasn’t getting any bigger and started to pass people at the side of the road who’d dropped out, legs started to feel better. Began to feel like there was still something in tank and was moving a lot better. Started to catch people dropping of the group ahead but couldn’t quite reach the group up the road who were now moving at the same pace. Felt strong for the rest of the race really but was stuck in the same gear. Was possibly a bit wary of pushing myself back over the edge 7-8k when I possibly should have made a big effort to speed up a touch. Finished hard but only buried myself last 200m.
So positives are I stopped this from going way of Telford/Ribble Valley, got through the bad patch, and I felt strong in the second half. Didn’t look at watch during race which definitely helped. Negatives are how hard the first half felt. If I had put the first half of Telford with this second half would nearly be there.