Conwy Half

I raced at the Conwy Half Marathon last Sunday.  After my 10k race the week before I'm actually feeling pleased with my performance at Conwy.

I have done nothing but steady running for the last few weeks with no fast effort sessions and my longest run has probably been a little over 10 miles.  I went into this race with a much better attitude than last week.  I had decided that my lack of speed work and just steady running will suit me better for the half than the 10k and to use it as a race to see where I am now when not on form and know that by March all being well and injury free I can see a big difference.

I started off with a girl I've raced against before at half marathon but decided the first couple of kms were a bit quick so I backed off.  I was now in 5th place but feeling ok about it!  The race starts out flattish then goes around the Great Orme which is uphill all the way up for over 2 miles then of course down hill back then flattish back to the finish.  3rd and 4th place were about 150m ahead of me by the time we got to the Orme.  I took it fairly steady going up and ran within myself.  2 men caught me and were breathing hard.  Every time we hit a flat bit I would overtake them then they would come past me going up the steep bits - all the time breathing hard!  As soon as we hit the down hill I just let myself go and dropped them!  Half way down I caught 4th place and flew past her which was a really good feeling.  I didn't put the brakes on once going down and my feet were slapping the ground.  I could see I was catching 3rd place so just focused on her.  Onto the flat and at the 9 mile mark I caught her.  I ran with her for a bit as I wondered if I had just had a better down hill part and if she was still feeling good.  I listened to her breathing for a bit and decided that she was in pain and it was time to pick it up!  

I had a good last couple of miles and picked off a couple more men.  So I finshed in 3rd and was just 60s behind 2nd (who beat me by just over 60s at last weeks 10k)!  I was really pleased and feel there was more there but I ran the race right for me with a strong second half.  It made such a nice change for me to do a fairly hilly race as so often I pick races that are flat to try and get a fast time. 

Racing Unfit

I hate racing when I'm not fit!!  In the past I would only race if I was 100% fit or there abouts.  This year though I've tried to do a few races knowing I'm not in the best shape (far from it) and hope that I will be stronger mentally from doing this. 

My first unfit race was the National Cross Country Relays on 1st November  I wasn't too bothered about not being fully fit as it was so short (just 3k) so I reasoned that it was 39k shorter than my favoured distance of marathon running and it was a fun event and a chance to race with and meet some new team members of my new club Stockport Harriers.  I was quite pleased with how I ran.  I haven't run a cross country race for over 8 years and the course was very undulating, twisty and very uneven under foot.  I was a bit of a wimp in places and very stuttery with my stride length!  I need to do a lot more off road, technical training runs!  I was on the 2nd leg and managed to hold the 5th place that the first leg runner had come in at.  Overall we came 6th which was a good result.

I then raced at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k on 16th November.  Originally when I'd entered this I was hoping to be in pb shape but after the injury and break I had to accept that this wasn't going to be.  I also got asked to represent the North of England which I didn't want to turn down as I've been asked a few times and its always clashed with a marathon in the past.  I was gutted to be in such a high caliber race knowing that I wouldn't be at full fitness as I would really  have liked to go against the other girls knowing that it could bring out my best.  During the race I started off too fast!  The 1st km was a touch quicker than my 5k pb time and normally this wouldn't feel too quick I would just know I needed to slow down, this time it really hurt!  I had 3km of pain before settling down.  To be honest I lost my  head a bit because so many girls had gone past me and I felt like crap!  I settled into a pace that by 7km I felt I could probably run a half marathon at the same pace!  My finish time was as expected with current form but I was gutted to finish 29th.

Enforced Break

I haven't written for a while!  I went on holiday with my mum and sis to Lanzarote for a week with a hope to get some end of season warm weather training in.  I went running on my second to last day and pulled my calf muscle.  

I didn't think it was too bad and with a couple of days off it would be ok but that wasn't to be.  After a few attempts a running I ended up having 10 days off from running and then took the decision to take my end of season break now rather than at the end of November as originally planned.  This then meant missing the 10 mile race I had planned in Twickenham on 19th October.  

I'm seeing the positive side to this - it now means that I will get a full cross country season in and be fitter for the earlier cross country races in December and January than I would have been if I'd had the later break. 

Warrington English Half Marathon

I ran in the Warrington English Half marathon last Sunday just 1 week after finishing 2nd at the Lake Vyrnwy Half.  Originally Lake Vrynwy was to be my target race with an aim to win and hopefully a pb and then do Warrington Half a week later with an aim to hopefully win but not worry about the time and enjoy it.  With having a cold leading up Lake Vrynwy I was happy with my position of 2nd and my time which was slower than originally planned.  So I then decided that perhaps I could try and target a fast time at Warrington instead.

Although I have done this race for the last 2 years I had forgotten how its not really a course for a fast time.  Lots of long drags that aren't too steep but enough to slow you down!  Its also got some twisty parts too.  After a couple of kilometres I decided that although I was feeling good (and in the lead) that a fast time wasn't going to happen.  

I really enjoyed this race.  For most of it I ran with 3 other men and they helped me stay focused to not let them get away from me.  

I finished in 1st place for the 3rd year running and was 8th over all including the men.  My time although wasn't fast it wasn't too slow either (78.58) and is the fastest I've done at this race. 

A really good atmosphere and well organised race.

It was also quite a boost to see my picture in Athletics Weekly!

Lake Vyrnwy Half

I've been looking forward to racing at the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon as its a race I've wanted to do before but didn't fit in with what I was doing.  So when I woke up on Wednesday morning with a really sore throat which then developed into a full blown cold as the day went on I was gutted.

I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday resting in between work and dosing up on vit C, echinacea and lemsip.  By Saturday I was starting to feel a bit better but not great.  Sunday morning I woke feeling really wiped out.  I was in two minds whether to race.  In the end I decided I'd only sit at home regretting it if I didn't do the race and if I had a bad one it would be better than not bothering so off I went!

Its an afternoon start so at least I didn't have to rush around!  When I got there and went for a jog warm up my legs actually felt quite good.  The race started and I ran just behind the lead girl.  I stayed with her for about 5/6k but although my legs felt good my breathing was all over the place and my throat felt really dry.  I had to back off a bit but felt happy just to be doing the race.  

Apart from not feeling at my best I really enjoyed the race.  I had a strong last couple of miles and picked off a few men and finished in 2nd place.  I was surprised to finish in 77.45 as I didn't expect to get much under 80 mins!

I'm so glad I did it.  It the past if I've been ill leading into a race I've normally decided against racing but this shows that as long as you take it easy you are likely to end up with a reasonable result.  I really did enjoy this race and hope to come back next year.  Less than a week to recover now before I do the Warrington Half.  I just hope its enough time to properly get rid of this cold and for my legs to recover.  

2 Races in 3 Days!

3 days after the Birchwood 10k and I have the Capenhurst 5k.  I've been looking forward to this race.  Firstly, to see how well I can run a few days after a 10k and secondly because I really want to try and get the course record.  The current course record is the same as my pb which I got a few weeks ago at a Sale 5k race.  Obviously to get the course record means I have to win the race!

As usual, on the start line I look around me to see who's around.  No other girls starting ahead of me so I hope this is good.  The race starts and I try not to get carried away.  After about 400m a girl comes past me but she is breathing really heavily.  I think to myself there is no way she can carry that on breathing like that so I just keep her in my sights.  I run with a group of guys then overtake the other girl at about 2k in.  She's still breathing heavy!  I keep a check on my garmin 1k splits and I'm happy with how I'm running.

I probably eased off a bit for kilometres 3 and 4 but then start to push hard for home with 1k to go.  As I turn the final bend I see the finish clock which is saying 16.43.  I sprint as hard as I can and try to get past another guy who just edges me on the line!  I finished first in 16.49 which was a course record and pb by 7 seconds!  I'm so happy.  

A really good and enjoyable race.  I'm pleased with how I felt after racing 10k on Sunday and think there is definitely more there at 5k.  That's probably my last 5k now for the rest of the year as I start to focus on 10ks and half marathon distances.

Birchwood 10k

Sunday morning was the Birchwood 10k.  I've done this race twice before - the last time being 2 years ago when I finished 4th.  I had looked down the entry list the night before and no names jumped out at me but that wasn't to mean I hadn't overlooked any fast girls!

The weather wasn't great - quite windy and occasional showers.  Oh well - its the same for everyone!  

On the start line I started about 2 rows back and had a look around to see what other girls were around.  There were a couple but no one starting right near the front.  The race started and I tried not to start too fast.  The first 5k is now very twisty with some dead turns (they changed the course this year).  Although this makes for a slower course it gave me an opportunity to see who was around!  It was clear early on that no other girls were running very close to me.  I felt really good and ran with a couple of guys picking off a few as the race went on.  

I felt really comfortable running today and well within myself.  Once I knew I was likely to win I didn't push myself as I had plans to race on Wednesday.  It was a shame not to have some competition to really push me but I was also quite glad as its nice to win and I did want to save my legs!

Back home and an ice bath!  I've not done this for a long time!  My 4 month old kitten was most intrigued as its the first time he's seen any water in the bath!  He decided to walk around the edges dipping his paws in until eventually he fell in!  He didn't return!!