This may have been the first race of the year for me, but it felt an important one after unexpected doing it last year and doing really well, I wanted to top my performance this year.
My coach has been running me ragged lately, I've been battling constant fatigue and general aches in the legs. This morning I woke to stomach problems and achy legs.
Fortunately once I started running both issues (mostly) disappeared; achy legs must have been do to inactivity and within a mile I was moving fluidly and moreover feeling quite at ease with the pace. I'd entered this with a mindset of keeping the pace slow(ish) at the start and keeping the heart rate low to end strong.
Not going to lie, I was disappointed. I'd managed a sprint finish which I NEVER do, I'd done a steady 7 miles at ~175bmp heart rate and ended the final miles approaching 180bmp, so I probably should have pushed a little harder which might have meant at the least a PB.
All things considered though my coach was positive about the race and made a valid point - we've done little to no speedwork yet this year (in comparison to my speedwork starting in December last year causing me to peak early). He's confident that come April/June/September, my 3 big races, we'll be in a good place to really do well.
Anyway, enough from me - there are always more races and frankly I'm just looking forward to a few days of well earned rest!
What went wrong:
- Went off to hard at the start.
- Don't try and keep up with 'certain' other runners - I should have learned by now tactics do account for a lot of race day performance.
- Too easy towards the end - could have ran the middle/end miles a bit harder.
- Should have pushed a bit harder and broken through the mental barrier in the middle miles rather than trying to reserve myself. Ending on a sprint finish is unlike me and makes me feel should have pushed harder from my 6 onwards.
- Actually slower despite being much more favourable conditions over last year.
- Not much to say to this, lets just hope it's because, as my coach says, we're just getting out of the base work where as last year I'd been doing a lot of speedwork sessions and peaked early.
- Stomach issues, not too bad before and during the run, a little uncomfortable towards the end, but after the race... well lets not go there.
What went well:
- That sprint finish - fastest I've ever ran I think. The last mile I sped up and the final straight I just took off like a rocket, must have gained me a few places towards the end.
- Mentally I had a lot of energy left, and timed my sprint perfectly, if I can do that in future races and just empty the tank at the end perfectly timed again that'll be awesome for gaining places.
- Jelly Babies really helped pick me up on the final miles, will definitely be doing that again.
- Heart rate figures from this race will help in future events:
- 175 was 'easy'
- 176 was 'maintainable discomfort'
- 177 was 'I'm going to blow up in a few miles'
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