Newark Half

Yesterday I made the trip from Cheshire over to Newark for their annual half marathon my 10th. This is a race I would rather forget going out well for the first 5 miles and then the heat really started getting to me luckily there where plenty of water stations but the wheels really fell off and I need a lot of walk breaks in the last few miles. This was my slowest half to date finishing in 01:53:32 should have carried a bottle of water and worn a sun hat. The route however was lovely and really well marshaled.

Splits: 7:55 7:35 7:39 7:49 7:53 8:10 8:28 8:31 8:56 9:16 9:31 11:01 9:49

Vale Royal AC Runners

Vale Royal AC Runners

Pie and Pea 5

I am currently down in Cheshire and decided to sign up for this one. I didnt think I would manage this after sundays half but treated it as a training run. I wore my new trainers and socks which felt fine and went out at a steady pace. The route was lovely across fields and along the river weaver there was a slight breeze and a couple of hills along the way. Starting at the back I made my way through the field and ended feeling strong. The pie and pea supper was delicious and it was lovely to chat and mingle with fellow runners afterwards.

Helensburgh Half

I had really stepped up my training over the past couple of months and had heard that this would be a good course for a PB (fast and flat) flat?

Didnt manage to get out running this week and as the week drew on I started to put alot of pressure on myself this also made me doubt my chances. I drove to the race and arrived in good time feeling very nervous a feeling I have never had before running as I have now done many halfs. Its a feeling I only get when playing with the band in a contest. I was greated by Jammylu who happened to pull into the car park at the same time and it was nice to have someone to chat to, it helped pass the time and take my mind off the job in hand, I also bumped into happy times and we wished eachother luck and after a short jog I made my way down to the start. I never know where to put myself in the pack so chose to start about halfway through. I had set the garmin virtual training partner so knew what pace to stick to, a strategy that worked well with my last PB.

I went off too quick but soon got comfortable and found I was running faster than my 7.42 plan and just stuck at this pace, following a couple of guys who where running together and some bella runners.I think I was looking for someone who ran a similae pace. I came across the incline at mile 3 which was steeper than I thought and was looking forward to a water station. The next think I saw was the runners coming on the back part of the course and was HT and shouted a word of encouragment he was very much in the zone. There was another small hill that I did not expect and that was me then on the way back. I looked out for Lu but didnt see her. I found this part of the run to be the fastest maybe because I was feeling strong or because the miles where slowly ticking down and I was soon picking off other runners. At mile 5 my feet felt like they were burining up and I knew that this was the start of the rubbing and some problems. I took a drink from a water station (plastic bottles) it must have gone down the wrong way or too much or something as it was soon spat out followed by a coughing fit something I have not experienced before. The marshalls where great cheering us on and one shouted well done or something too which I thanked her, I heard her say the further up the field you get the politer the runners get to which I turned back and I know all of us are greatful of marshalls and I know myself you block all out at times due to the zone or pain or whatever. My pace slowed during the last 4 miles each step of hurting but I new I was infront of target but there was also the thought I could now get behind target. Alot of the runners I had overtaken very early in the race were now picking me off and i found myself looking at ym garmin all the time which made time seem to pause and the miles got longer. I looked at the garmin tho just before the clock tower 01:39 but didnt know how many secs somethign in my head kicked in and I just put on a mad sprint that got me past the line. It got madder when I saw the clock 01:39:55 and new it would be sub 01 40. I needed to keep walking after for ages and couldnt stomach the mars bar I felt sick and my quads where tightening up to the point of screaming. All in all a great race, glad the rain held up and a nice medal with the clock tower and the waverley on it. Need to sort these trainer problems tho, I will try my new size 9 as am in 8.5 at the min and get a second pair in the week maybe a different brand. I now have some gels so can experiment before Sept.

Splits :7:35 7:39 7:51 7:33 7:32 7:31 7:26 7:31 7:20 7:38 7:48 7:51 7:51 38

Musselburgh 10K

Today saw me run this race starting from Loretto School playing fields heading along the Promenade to the harbour around the lagoons, through the racecourse and back to the playing fields. I was pacing a fellow runner to a sub 1hr 10K. Unfortunately this was missed my 1 sec and you can blame me the coach but a new PB had been gained. The course wasn't great for speed. There were lots of turns and the terrain was mixed. It was mainly pavement, with some road, but lots of grass and paths with large stones, which really took it out of the legs. The race was followed by tea and cake which was great. A flat course taking in some lovely sites and the rain held off.

Splits 9:14 9:08 9:39 9:51 10:18 10:13 1:38

Girvan Half Marathon

Sunday saw my second running of this half marathon, an undulating course in the Ayrshire town of Girvan. At least this year I knew what to expect and didn't start the race thinking it would be an easy task. I had no previous thoughts about the time I would achieve and went into this race treating it as a training run for the Helensburgh half in August (I am hoping for a PB on this course) 

I gave a lift to a fellow runner Sophster, who was a great laugh throughout the day. We ran side by side for the first few miles but I was always conscious that we were there to run our own races. I felt strong around mile 4 and getting into a good rhythm I beginning  to make my move through the field, slowing up for both the down hill sections, something I didn’t do last year. This enabled me to fill the lungs and attack the hills. Today was a tough race and a real struggle from about mile 8 onwards, in parts I felt like I was on my own, due to the field being so spread out and I was really battling with myself, it was a case of just putting one leg in front of the other and plodding on. Sunbed Athlete gave me some great inspiration near one of the water stations and along the final part of the route the marshals were also great with this. A fellow runner who I had overtaken on a couple of occasions came back at me near the finish and gave me words of encouragement even after we had crossed the line shaking my hands and offering me words of congratulations a lovely touch.

I perhaps should have done more long runs leading up to this race or maybe even more hills, but I suppose it is all a learning curve and I have enjoyed doing shorter faster stuff since my two half’s in May. Dumbarton 10k and Parkruns 5k. I maybe need to start thinking about using gels etc.

My race No for this event was 30, I thought this was great considering my challenge of 30 half marathons for Meningitis UK and I thought about this in my time of struggle, the money I have raised and hope to raise.

As I finished this race Sophster wasn't far behind me with a lovely PB for her, and banter followed throughout the rest of the day.

Time 01:45:40

Splits 7:48 7:53 8:05 8:07 7:22 7:36 8:01 7:54 8:14 8:34 7:54 8:25 8:25 1:20

Thomas Conibere is fundraising for Meningitis UK

Thomas Conibere is fundraising for Meningitis UK