A bit of the old runaround

14.08.22 Newark Half Marathon 1.49.12

This was my 3 hour run as a peak before Zofingen. previously I had done this type of run at Holkham Half last year for Outlaw, and at Newtons Fraction for Barcelona. The premise is simple, do an hour easy beforehand, rock up to the half marathon at the back, start almost or dead last if you can get away with ity, and then continue your run to feel progressing slowly through the field. This worked wonders yesterday on what was day 3 of the heatwave. A nice run out to Balderton and back and then after squeezing in 8 miles in 1.08, a bit quicker for the half. I did start dead last of 590 runners, and kept a sensible pace early on. It was warm, and I knew I would need to be conservative with my efforts so no getting into racing. the alpha flys performed really well and apart from sore ankles after 15 miles or so, I managed to keep sub 8.30 pace all the way round. 5 water stations with bottles was a godsend !  At the end I still had 1.5 minutes left to do, so timed very well. Pleased to put away 21 miles in a key session.

30.07.22 Heckington 10  1.09.34

This one I really went for. A warm morning with not much breeze and an event that I had always wanted to do, but never got round to entering early enough. It takes place as the first event of the Heckington show and the first two laps are of the grass show track at the venue, from there, it's out onto quiet country road for two out and back loops. I didn't know what to expect, but did see that the first mile was sub 7 pace, so that's where I aimed to keep it. The early miles were easy feeling, but I was thankful for the draft from a LWAC runner into the breeze going back toward HQ first time round. Lap 2 was testier, and it bit from around 7.5 miles in. No cover this time into the wind, and my pace slipped and I lost a few places. I did, however, PB , and finish with sub 7 minute mile average. Perfect day out.

03.07.22 Ashbourne Half Marathon 1.54.41

In keeping with current tradition of finding hillier races, on the back of Eyam, came Ashbourne, which whilst not as severe as Eyam, was hillier than your average race, and being held in derbyshire, you should expect that ! 

I was running with Dave, who was doing his long run for Outlaw, and I myself, was doing a 15 mile run so of course,  did some beforehand, and then started right at the back. Before long, we had moved to the 2:15 pacer, and then found the 2:00 pacer. I stopped for a pee, then had to catch back up, and then eventually lost the pacer down a hill, and kept some good momentum to finish in 1hr 55 mins. 

Three excellent races all told ! 

Some Duathlons !

This weeks event was the St Neots Standard Distance Duathlon. We stayed over camoing near Huntingdon and got to the venue on a sunny day really early. Signing on was stress free, and as it was a European Qualifier, the park was busy with serious looking Duathletes quite quickly.  The runs would be 4 x 2.5km loop within the park and mostly good surface, and the bike would be an extended out and back to Ellington (27 miles in total). 

As I wasn't in the hunt for qualification, the pressure was off and I was able to concentrate on my own thing. That being said, I raced this hard and left it all out there...

Run 1 - 43.50 (6.32 miles)

Started midway back, and as first little loop was on grass just to sort us out, I was steady with it, still fast, but steady. One onto the paths, it was a nice run around the park, some tight turns but a really good course and the multiple laps suited me. 6.55 average pace, OK with that.

Bike 1.12.35  (27 miles)

Out on the Trinity, slight headwind up to Ellington, a couple of drags and a couple of short sharp climbs where the 60 really ground out. Probably 240 watts to the turn and 215-220 back, did take my foot off again ! 

Run 2 -21.35  (2.98 miles) - nice and hot now, and legs burned from the leg shockers. Couldn't match earlier pace , held something within 20 seconds though. Finished 31st @ 2.19 - good result for me in a stacked field.

Castle Howard Middle Duathlon 

This one was a camping overnight affair going solo. Good night sleep despite an airbed that lost air, and all ready to go for the early start.

Run 1 - 48.33 - (6.23 miles) - Wow, the run here was tough, plenty of grass, climb, insane downhill, off road, pretty much anything an estate could throw at a person. Alpha Dizzles performed well - decision made to take them to Switzerland. 

Bike - 2.56.57 - 56 miles - again, it's North Yorkshire what did I expect, good first lap, caught the people I knew, eased off again second lap (this is becoming a habit), as knew I would need to run ! 

Run 2 - 55.05 - (6.23 miles).

Ouch - second run not as fresh as the first, and within a mile or so, summat new - I completely cramped up a climb, and had to walk it off - lost two minutes, otherwise , a slow and agonising fall back through the field.  12th overall, really good test, and an honest Duathlon !