A much less stressful week for me. I give myself a few days off after Wrexham Marathon, legs are ok but I have red raw chafing. I get my little car fixed after the attempted hot-wire last week. Drive down to London on weekend to stay with parents before Reading Half Marathon. Quite a big target for me, this race. I know if I am to achieve a sub 2.20 London Marathon I need to significantly improve my half marathon personal best of 68.51.
Although it is very blustery, I am feeling good on race day. I have made myself a deal where, if I get my weight down to under 10 stone, as a reward I can wear my fastest , lightest trainers at Reading… I weigh in at 9st 13 so trainers are on and a New Year resolution is done!
Clipping along at 5min miling at the start, I am feeling good and pretty sure I am going to run a big pb. I am concerned with how many people are infront of me, including a Vegan Cyclist (well that’s what his vest says), but I get into a good group and we are gobbling people up the whole way.
The wind makes the runners etiquette very complex. We are all trying to shelter behind other runners in the face of strong gusts. But if everyone does that then the pace drops and we are all here for a fast time. A group of 5 of us are sharing taking the lead, I do a very honest stint in the worst of it.
There are 15,000 people running and the support is incredible. My favourite part is the steel band playing under the fly-over, the sound is deafening, but brilliant!
I feel good the whole way, looking back, I could probably have put abit more in. It is just such a relief to finally nail a race with zero drama; no stitch, no tired legs, no illness. As we come in to the stadium for the finish I can see I have smashed my pb so I enjoy waving at the crowd. They might think it strange that someone in 12th place should be so happy about it, but they all cheer anyway!
Credit to the race organisers for really looking after the runners and pulling together a very strong field. Definitely one I will be doing again.
Nandos with my folks to celebrate, then my dad buys me a new car radio (last one was nicked) so I don’t have to do the long drive back to Wales in silence. When I finally get home, the missus makes me ginger cake and custard, with M&Ms on the side. Well you can’t over celebrate a pb!
| 13/3/2017 | AM | PM |
| Monday | REST | REST |
| Tuesday | REST | REST |
| Wednesday | 6 tm | (1km, 600m, 400m) x 3. 2min/5min rest. 72 sec lap. 7 miles total |
| with Dan Kashi. Calves tight but loosen off and I really enjoy session | ||
| Thursday | 5 tm | 7 tm |
| Friday | 10 | REST |
| Saturday | 10 | REST |
| 2 hour walk and lovely time with sisters and folks | ||
| Sunday | Reading Half – 12th. 67.34. 15 total | REST |
| TOTAL: | 60 miles. tm = treadmill | |