Well, in a true shocker, I knocked out a 1.48 out of nowhere on an admittedly fast course, but still running just outside my PB from 2011 by 10 seconds has put a real smile on my face.
I was accompanied by my brother Dave (from the trademarked 'Team Newham' ) - and we got to Glanford Park very early in readiness for the early 9 am start. Once I had sorted my number we headed out for a mile walk to the start line with the rest of the 833 competitors and at 9.00 on the dot there was a massive bang and the race was underway.
The course is flat, seems to be slightly downhill a lot of the way and follows a rough rectangular shape - oh, and did I mention flat ! So flat in fact that the early climb over the motorway seemed like an epic climb ! I ran the first mile in 8.15 or so and thought I was going too fast, but as each mile ticked by and the pace got as fast as 8.05 at one point, I managed to pass the 10km mark in just shy of 50 minutes. The middle part of the race was a case of trying to keep the pace going, and once we hit 10 miles and my legs started to stiffen it was a case of trying to keep the average pace at an even keel without it dropping off a cliff !
One final climb over the motorway, and I was running into the football ground, lapping the pitch and finishing under a bright orange arch in the centre circle.
1.48.28 in the end then and a scraped top half finish - a good confidence booster ahead of Lanza.
Next up for me then is Ironman Lanzarote in less than 3 weeks time now and next up for Team Newham is the Birmingham Super Sprint Tri in mid - July !
Busy 'int it !
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