Not a great start to racing this summer, the Battersea Park 5km run took me 17:48, not great at all. I tend to go off in races too hard; then struggle in the second half to hold on. This was exactly the case in this race. I went off at sub 5 minute miles, simply filling my legs with lactic acid and tiring myself out, leading to a progressive slowing and a poor overall time. This is exactly the opposite profile I have been practicing and seems to result in a slow time. I am not sure why I always get carried away at the start of a race, it has never worked; back to the drawing board to re-plan.
As the summer gets into full swing so does the racing meets around London, there are plenty of races and I hope to take part in several of them. Next Monday I am looking to run the Battersea part 2M race in a hope I will not fade too early as it is a mile shorter than the 5km and then build up pace and distance from there as I managed on the treadmill more successfully.
It’s not however, all doom and gloom in the world of racing for me; last weekend was the Greenbelt Relay, a race around the London Greenbelt starting and finishing around Kingston. My Leg on the first day was a 13.1 mile trail along the Jubilee and Thames rivers between Slough and Cookham. A fairly flat course mainly on toe paths and across fields, it was a fairly early start 5:50 as I needed to be at Stains to meet the minibus which was then my home for the 2 days. The race went well, setting off as usual way too quick in an attempt to stay up with the front of the field, in fact I ran the first 5km in the same time I did the Battersea Park 5km race only 5 days prior. Unusually I did not fade too much and managed to stay in touching distance of the lead 3. As we entered the last 4 miles I tried to take up the pace in order to close the gap, I was gunning for 3rd place and could see the guy in front. Pushing hard I soon caught him and past, I then tried to make a move and close the gap on the lead 2, I could not see them in front and they never reappeared. To my surprise, I won the stage, I never caught the 2 guys in front because they where behind me, if any of you are regulars to this blog you will understand my propensity to get lost, for once I did not get lost, and it worked in my favour, the two lead guys had made a wrong turning. To be honest, I don’t care they got lost, I still won and part of trail running is knowing the route, I have been victim of it so many times in the past, this time it was my good fortune, and had they not got lost, I still think there is a chance I would have caught them irrespective of there diversion. I finished the stage in 1:22 averaging 6:22 minute miles, I am happy with that pace for where I am in my training and being trail, I was never going to run supper quick.
Day 2 stage through Dartford was not quite so fun, I hate hills, really really hate hills and this 9.5 mile stage had plenty, Despite being 4 miles shorter and mostly road I could not run well and sadly came in in 6th place, a minute behind 2nd place and 6 minutes behind the winner. I ran 6:26 minute miles. A disappointing run but still enjoyable and lots of fun had over the weekend away. My team came 3rd overall and won the Mixed team. I have my first running ‘pot’, I would not say medal, unlike rowing, in running you get medals just for finishing. If you only got then for winning I would have a very empty sideboard.
Until next week, enjoy the sun and train hard.
