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.
Steven you always seems to run too fast. This is not the first occasion that I have notice this on your blog. You even tried this on at MDS! However you are one very strong minded person, but perhaps sometimes it pays off running fast at the beginning. I would love to hear races that you have optimised your running strategy.
ReplyDeleteY.