Note to self: Having a child so ill that you have to change the bedding three times in a night, with a temperature of 39.1 degrees does not make for good race preparation.
James was very ill, bless him. Still, he’s one of the reasons why I found myself getting ready to run the Through the Villages race in the first place. This run marked the first ‘official’ race in my training which will culminate in the race across Hadrian’s Wall next June.
So how did it go? Well I could sum it up like this: Steep up, little up, up, steep down, steep up, long down, long up, long up, up, steep down, steep up, down, steep down.
Or more scientifically:
Mile 1 – 9 mins 13 secs
Left the start line outside the Dresser’s Arms and straight into a very steep hill up and over into Brinscall. I knew from the start it wasn’t going to be an easy run because 95% of the people there were club runners, all with that weathered look, not a scrap of fat on them, and a 1000yd stare.
Mile 2 – 8 mins 12 secs
Quick dash down into Brinscall then up another hill and on the way to Abbey Village. It was at this point I ran past someone pushing a mountain bike up the hill. That should have told me that it was a silly idea to run up it. I was happy with my pace at this point, but needed to slow down a bit. I was aiming for a steady 8 mins 40 secs per mile all the way round the course.
Mile 3 – 8 mins 4 secs
A steady drop and a steady rise in and out of Abbey Village. It struck me that I am privileged to live in such a lovely part of the world. But while I was counting my blessings my pace increased a bit, and was going to pay for that later on in the race.
Mile 4 – 8 mins 56 secs
Down to J3 M65 and then up past the Houghton Arms. This was the first of the three hills that started to put a dampner of proceedings. It isn’t steep, just a long. There was a welcome water station at the top. At this point the psychological demons started to kick in with the self-doubt.
Mile 5 – 9 mins 57 secs
It’s no coincidence that I started to lose the psychological battle as I started to slow down. It’s also no coincidence that I started to slow down on killer hill number 2. There was a very nice chap near the top clapping each runner in turn as they passed him. I breathed a grunt of thanks as I went by! Off down into Withnell. After running uphills, it amazing how the flat feels like a downhill.
Mile 6 – 10 mins 39 secs
On mile 6 I started to wane. I was paying the price for setting off too fast. I adopted a mantra to pace myself with and motivate myself. “If James can fight to see, I can fight to run. If James can fight to speak, I can fight to run”. Over and over again I repeated it to myself as I descended back into Brinscall for the flattest part of the course through the village.
Mile 7 – 9 mins 38 secs
Through the village. Pace quickens, sun shines, end is in sight. The end is over the next hill.
Mile 8 – 10 mins 33 secs
This hurt. A lot. As the pace shows. At times I was reduced to a shuffle. But I kept going. Not once during the race had I stopped running, I wasn’t going to stop now. I kept repeating the mantra, I engaged first gear (low ratio) and pulled myself up. It felt great to top out.
Last Mile 0.45 – 3 mins 59 secs
Back down the hill to the finish line. Felt great to finish. I got a gold medal. My daughter will be pleased. Everyone got a gold medal but hey, who’s counting.
Through the Villages by 78kirky at Garmin Connect – Details
It was a hard race. It seems no matter how much training I put in, I just can’t race well. I wanted to complete the course at an average pace of 8 mins 40 secs per mile, and I came in at 9 mins 15 secs per mile. 35 secs per mile slower. Have I bitten off more than I can chew with Hadrian’s Wall? The current plan is to take the wall slowly, 10 mins per mile. 35 miles on day one, 34 on day two. I know one thing though – I’m going to do it.
Things I learnt on my race:
- If you run past a man pushing a mountain bike up a hill, you probably shouldn’t be running up it
- Uphill and downhill distances should be equal, and cancel each other out. It doesn’t feel like it
- It is more important to train the mind than the body
- You can’t run everywhere at 10k pace
- Hadrian’s Wall will be a challenge (understatement)
