All ready for race day
So the plan this week is a few short runs with a combat thrown in and a foam roller/stretching day as well. Have been weather watching all week as never know what to wear at these events as all depends on the weather, I get so hot but I also hate the cold and am sure Silverstone is going to be windy even if the sun is out.
So legs did hurt a little on Monday, I was forgetting I'd run 17 miles the day before:-) Managed combat Tuesday but have been resting for few days. Only ended up doing about 2 miles round block on Friday night to stretch off legs, just didn't feel in the mood for some reason:-( Anyway doubt will make any difference now.
So legs did hurt a little on Monday, I was forgetting I'd run 17 miles the day before:-) Managed combat Tuesday but have been resting for few days. Only ended up doing about 2 miles round block on Friday night to stretch off legs, just didn't feel in the mood for some reason:-( Anyway doubt will make any difference now.
Carb loading day today (Sat) and just relaxing, well by my standards anyway as I never sit still - its boring!! Weather not looking great for Sunday's run, don't mind the cold just hope not chucking it down too much!!
Well race day and the weather was grey, dull and very very cold but at least wasn't raining (well it was in Essex but not at Silverstone. We left ultra early around 7am as I'd heard the car parks and traffic could be bad - well with even an unscheduled services stop we were still an hour early and parking was fine - BUT wait till you try to leave!!
Anyway it was freezing, I had about 5 layers on a crop top, a compression tshirt, my fleece long sleeved running top, my macmillan vest and my running coat and I was still shivering!! BUT it wasn't raining:-)
Loads of people, a good half hour walk to the Pits where you drop off your bags, change, toilets and where the start is - bit like the London but with spectators mixing with the runners, so there was buggies, bikes, kids on scooters - not the best but thats just my opinion. Anyway I eventually dropped off my bag, decided not to run in my jacket and used the bin liner I'd bought with me to keep warm at the start line - those bin liners def. work!!
Started chatting to a couple of ladies who were also on their own, couple had done the London before and had got in this year too so were using the Silverstone as training. Had seen the pacemarker for 2 hours 14 which is about 10 mins 13 mile runs and thought maybe if I ran infront of him so towards the back of the 1 hour 58 pacer I should be fine and would see how I go.
To be honest I can't really remember much of the track, it was cold, I had my music on, I just focused on running, not really to any pace as such although it was nice at times to have the mile clocks (much better than just the 5K splits at London). I did set myself some people to try to keep focused on, some I passed and some passed me - including the minion runner, but there you go thats all part of the day - even those in fancy dress are normally pretty good runners (you have to be to run and wear fancy dress!). Anyway after about 6 miles so roughly the 10K mark I looked at the clocks and trying to take off my start time which was about 4-5 mins I reckoned I was about 1hr 1 min, so little outside of my PB of just under an hour but thought that wasn't too bad really if I could keep it up, although knew I would get slower as the miles progressed. My worry and I was right to be worried was the water stops, they weren't when I needed them to be. I had to have my first gel (which was discusting as the shop didn't have the flavour I wanted) at 5 miles so needed some water afterwards but all had was lucozade on next stop which I had to have. Never again!! I can use lucozade but think I really needed the water. Was ok up until about 9 miles (infact you can see by my GPS watch report) Was running roughly 9-10 min miles and then all of a sudden I started to feel really sick - never happened before but at one point I was thinking where do I throw up - how embarrasiing on the Silverstone Race Track:-( Anyway I thought if I walked a bit (which I didn't want to do) but maybe taking some deep breaths etc. would work and the feeling did pass although I couldn't wait for the next water stop as I think I just really needed some water to wash away the feeling of feeling so sick. Anyway at the last water stop I actually drank the whole bottle of water whilst walking and then I ran again. Unfortuantely I then saw the 2.14 pacer pass me and I was a little deflated but I thought perhaps if I hadn't felt sick I may have been ok (will never know now). Anyway I carried on, the wind was getting colder and people were flagging - but at least there was people not like at the Great Bentley the other year. Anyway I finished it, had tears in my eyes, as I found it really tough going at times, was annoyed at myself as had really hoped to get around 2 hours 10 mins if I was lucky but I think I do have it in me, if I concentate more on the fuelling and water. So think my official time was 2 hours 22 minutes and 55 seconds. Now I should really be pleased with that as its my fastest half marathon so a PB and I suppose I am quite chuffed, not least coz I did it, but the PB too. I'm never going to be a Linford Christie or Mo Farah but at least I can say I have now ran 3 half marathons. Won't necessary say I'll be doing another one, think I should stick to the 10K's and see if I can improve on my times for that but never say never.
So had my photo taken at end (just waiting to see them uploaded), went back to the car and the nightmare which was getting out the car park began, infact we sat there for an hour before even bothering to go anywhere and then it wasnt too bad. Think we were home at 7pm so a long day and today I feel fine but having a nice leg massage shortly.
Roll on the next few weeks of training I say!!
Well race day and the weather was grey, dull and very very cold but at least wasn't raining (well it was in Essex but not at Silverstone. We left ultra early around 7am as I'd heard the car parks and traffic could be bad - well with even an unscheduled services stop we were still an hour early and parking was fine - BUT wait till you try to leave!!
Anyway it was freezing, I had about 5 layers on a crop top, a compression tshirt, my fleece long sleeved running top, my macmillan vest and my running coat and I was still shivering!! BUT it wasn't raining:-)
Loads of people, a good half hour walk to the Pits where you drop off your bags, change, toilets and where the start is - bit like the London but with spectators mixing with the runners, so there was buggies, bikes, kids on scooters - not the best but thats just my opinion. Anyway I eventually dropped off my bag, decided not to run in my jacket and used the bin liner I'd bought with me to keep warm at the start line - those bin liners def. work!!
Started chatting to a couple of ladies who were also on their own, couple had done the London before and had got in this year too so were using the Silverstone as training. Had seen the pacemarker for 2 hours 14 which is about 10 mins 13 mile runs and thought maybe if I ran infront of him so towards the back of the 1 hour 58 pacer I should be fine and would see how I go.
To be honest I can't really remember much of the track, it was cold, I had my music on, I just focused on running, not really to any pace as such although it was nice at times to have the mile clocks (much better than just the 5K splits at London). I did set myself some people to try to keep focused on, some I passed and some passed me - including the minion runner, but there you go thats all part of the day - even those in fancy dress are normally pretty good runners (you have to be to run and wear fancy dress!). Anyway after about 6 miles so roughly the 10K mark I looked at the clocks and trying to take off my start time which was about 4-5 mins I reckoned I was about 1hr 1 min, so little outside of my PB of just under an hour but thought that wasn't too bad really if I could keep it up, although knew I would get slower as the miles progressed. My worry and I was right to be worried was the water stops, they weren't when I needed them to be. I had to have my first gel (which was discusting as the shop didn't have the flavour I wanted) at 5 miles so needed some water afterwards but all had was lucozade on next stop which I had to have. Never again!! I can use lucozade but think I really needed the water. Was ok up until about 9 miles (infact you can see by my GPS watch report) Was running roughly 9-10 min miles and then all of a sudden I started to feel really sick - never happened before but at one point I was thinking where do I throw up - how embarrasiing on the Silverstone Race Track:-( Anyway I thought if I walked a bit (which I didn't want to do) but maybe taking some deep breaths etc. would work and the feeling did pass although I couldn't wait for the next water stop as I think I just really needed some water to wash away the feeling of feeling so sick. Anyway at the last water stop I actually drank the whole bottle of water whilst walking and then I ran again. Unfortuantely I then saw the 2.14 pacer pass me and I was a little deflated but I thought perhaps if I hadn't felt sick I may have been ok (will never know now). Anyway I carried on, the wind was getting colder and people were flagging - but at least there was people not like at the Great Bentley the other year. Anyway I finished it, had tears in my eyes, as I found it really tough going at times, was annoyed at myself as had really hoped to get around 2 hours 10 mins if I was lucky but I think I do have it in me, if I concentate more on the fuelling and water. So think my official time was 2 hours 22 minutes and 55 seconds. Now I should really be pleased with that as its my fastest half marathon so a PB and I suppose I am quite chuffed, not least coz I did it, but the PB too. I'm never going to be a Linford Christie or Mo Farah but at least I can say I have now ran 3 half marathons. Won't necessary say I'll be doing another one, think I should stick to the 10K's and see if I can improve on my times for that but never say never.
So had my photo taken at end (just waiting to see them uploaded), went back to the car and the nightmare which was getting out the car park began, infact we sat there for an hour before even bothering to go anywhere and then it wasnt too bad. Think we were home at 7pm so a long day and today I feel fine but having a nice leg massage shortly.
Roll on the next few weeks of training I say!!
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