Sleaford Half Marathon

Last Saturday, I had to abort parkrun #23 at Sheffield Hallam due to an injury that had been threatening to develop over the past couple of weeks. I had physio on Monday evening and run rested all week meaning I had no idea how I would get on in todays race. 

What I did know that there was a 25mph wind, and that some of the course was muddy, so it was going to be a difficult day ! 

I lined up with 500+ others at the Sports Pavilion at RAF Cranwell, just wondering if there would be a delay, when the front of the field started moving off and we were away. Now, the first mile was on grass and with a back wind I was absolutely flying along to record a 7.07. Then its was onto gravel track and eventually muddy farmtracks but with a strong wind still behind me and a clubmate to pace me through the puddles I felt OK. Got a shout out from a tri club mate and then another handed me a gel - top work lads !  

I was averaging something like 7.37 minute miles as I headed for the mile 6 marker but as I turned left at Wellingore into that headwind, I knew that I would have to work very hard not to let the race slip from me ! the wind was bad and halted me almost instantly, however, I luckily got onto the back of a small group that overtook me and I got some shelter for a mile or so. Those three miles were some of the longest of my life ! 

They did come to an end but not before the damage of an 8.29 & an 8.35 pair of miles - but as we turned left at mile 9 the worst of it was over and I could enjoy a respite from the wind and a nice downhill section to bring the mileing back to a more respectable 7.35! 

This was a stronger section of the race and I felt OK at the pace we were going at TBH.  This all changed towards the last couple of miles though as I began to run out of gas. We were back into a headwind and heading towards the Cranwell base again and there was a final rise toward the end of the 11th mile which damn near finished me off :-( 

Back on the base, and my legs had gone like a footballer who plays on too long at the end of his career ! I could see the finish and it was agonisingly slow getting there. I crossed the line done in, but ecstatic with a 6min PB at 1.42.04 and 161st of 567 - a much better performance than I could have imagined at the start of the day !

February Parkruns

08.02.14 Lincoln 21.42 PB !

I had some beer last night, not a lot, but at a pint and a half of lager, and that was enough for me to write off todays Parkrun as a turn up and jog effort.

By the time I'd gotten to the start line though, I think I'd decided to see how the first lap went and start from there.

I lined up not on the concrete, but stealthily on the grass believing that I would get a faster start, however it was soon apparent that there was just the same traffic on the grass with some barging going on and of course people dodging !

First lap then, felt OK, hard but not fast, however 6.58 showing on the Garmin for the first mile. 2nd lap, clung on to the back of two runners and was blowing a bit for a 6.50 second mile. Third lap, got detached from said two runners, but found a spurt around the finishing 'rectangle' to round off the 7.00 third mile for a 21.42 PB !

Surprised to get a new PB ;-)

The Rauceby Ripper 2014

Back for more !

That was the idea when I rocked up at yesterdays 2014 version of the Rauceby Ripper - a popular early season XC run put on by the Sleaford Town Runners. It would be the second year in a row that I would run this event and this year took note of last years conditions and decided to get hold of a pair of trail shoes !

the other special element to the day was that my first claim running club was officially switched to Lincoln & District Runners and I was able to wear the clubs green vest for the first time. ( I retain second claim membership to UK Netrunner of course ! ) This years course was the shorter 7.88m course used in 2011 & 2012 not last years much longer version.

Having trained so well this week and with a target in mind, I felt raring to go when we were set on our way at 10.30.   The first mile was slightly uphill and on Estate roads and the trail shoes felt hard going on such a flat surface. Once we had negotiated this though and had turned right onto our first farm track, the decision to wear trail shoes started to pay dividends as I had confidence to put my feet down as I jumped up and down the bank, ran on boggy ground and dodged puddles. I was pushing the pace and overtook my target runner for the day and stealthily pulled my hat down so that I didn't get recognised to spark a chase ! ( I'm a crafty bugger, me )!!!!

The first couple of miles showed something like 7.36 & 7.37 so I was steadily knocking off some good mileing - aware that I might be being chased down which kept me on it and unable to slack off ! Indeed, I worked very hard in the middle sections of the race into bad headwinds on on the muddy edges of fields. the slowest split would have been something like mile 4 at 8.09 minutes.  There were a couple of feed stations on the way and I chose to have a drink at the second one of these, which I managed to spill when I lost my footing looking over my shoulder !

There was the boggy wood at mile 6 which was even worse than last year, but the trail shoes ate it up and before I knew it I was out onto the road again chasing down what was the last mile. Down a farm lane and over a stile , one last look behind confirmed that I was home and clear from my target runner, and it was a case of running hard over a boggy field to finish what I think was 42nd place overall and a time of 1.01.25 for a good days running.