Without a long run on the program I had time to cycle with Dawn, water the garden and take the dogs for a walk and all this in the morning before Church. My 30min run would have to wait for midday, it should have been easy and the I should have been floating around the suburbs without breaking a sweat. Why then did my hamstrings feel tight, my calves sore and my quads like some-one had take a baseball bat to them?
So why were my legs sore, I couldn't have been the cycle ride in the morning, as that was slow and only 20km, so maybe, just maybe it was the half I ran of Saturday. But I had also run a half last week, and that was the day after 2h20 in the mountain and I still did an extra 9km after the race and my legs still felt great come Monday. So what was different about this Half. No it wasn't hilly, in fact it was quite flat, so what was it? Money, yes Monday can do that to your legs!!!
In the week I had seen that the prize money in the weekend race was good, and over the 21.1km distance I have a chance of climbing on the podium in the vets (40+). Standing on the start-line I looked around and saw that this was going to be NO LITTLE JOG...all the old men were there!!!
WEST COAST HALF |
I took the lead at the gun and lead the race out of the car park before settling into my running. First the youngsters streamed past then Shaun and Rasta, Graham was next, and I told him to make then run hard so I could pick up the pieces. When Johnny past me I decided enough was enough and if I wanted to have half a chance I would have to hurt. 1st km was a little over 3:30 as Roger (open) Eric (50+) and Alan joined the bus. Johnny and I set the pace and past 5km in 17:39. We were now on the long West Coast Road and the running was easy (I am really lying to you, running at 3:30 is never easy) we caught and past a couple of other guys and our group fell off the back one at a time. Johnny and I past the 10km board in 35:11 (17:32 for that 5km split).
Ahead I could see Shaun and Rasta take the turn into the golf estate, I took the split, 55sec. With the twists and turns as we ran through the golf estate I didn't get to see them again till we hit on road again and the 15km mark, we had been slow 17:50, but the gap had closed to 45sec and Rasta had opened a couple of meters on Shaun. Johnny was breathing hard and I had been hurting since the gun, so I did what any guy (or girl) would do...
I decided that it was now or never, and I put the hammer down and started to knock out 3:30's again. The gap to Shaun closed fast and as I caught him he said he needed some-one to run with... Now I'm a nice guy and run many of my races with my athletes helping them to better times, but not today!!! I surged as I past him and went in hunt for the Rasta... I tried the same again, but he came with and I couldn't hold it so I eased back to 3:30. That pace didn't last long, Rasta surged and I went with. It was turning into a game of cat and mouse, but I think I had the upper hand, although Rasta was surging faster than me, he was slowing down more. My surges we more just picking the pace back up to 3:30...
Then with 1.5km to go I went with one of Rasta's surges and held it... he wasn't ready for this and needed to slow. Yes I also needed to slow, but that would have to wait I had a hunger in me that I hadn't had for a long time and I was in race mode. I was now running alone and waiting for the finish line. Up the ramp and over the finish line in the parking lot where I had left 74:36 earlier!!! That had place me 6th and 2nd old man.
Looking back over my records I haven't been under 75 in the last 6 years, So I think I've done something right this year!
Next week Marathon
Well done! Now--REST! You'll be all set to smash your marathon.
ReplyDeleteREST, that is a swear word in my world... but I am taking it easy...
DeleteWow coach. Very inspiring. Awesome time. Can't wait to hear about your marathon.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a great race!! Now see if you can handle tapering for just a little bit so you are ready to roll again next weekend. I think you are going to have an awesome marathon!
ReplyDeleteNot going to race the marathon, just going to have fun, hoping to run 2h50 6:25 miles should be easy!!!
DeleteAnd that's why your legs are sore. Fair enough too. Nice report. I could feel my heart rate go up as you got close to the end.
ReplyDeleteNice one coach, nicely run and nicely written. You never fail to impress me - and long may it be so!
ReplyDeleteYou are the one impressing us...
DeleteVeeeeeery Nice!! Good luck in your marathon!
ReplyDeleteSo fast, although I struggle with the km splits. Could we have mile splits for the Brits and yanks please ;) Good luck for the marathon!
ReplyDeleteMile splits are around 5:42 ave, sounds fast if I say it like that...
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