Days before London, really low on confidence. Felt
sluggish and honestly rubbish. Tapering I hoped. Achilles still a bit sore and
had been off and on since Feb but had managed to arrive fit after a long 7-8
months training for VLM with aim of going sub 3:20, maybe even sub 3:15 GFA.
On start, met the 3:15 pacer hoped to follow him, bumped into club pal Nick
who had run Blackpool 2 weeks before and was going for sub 3:10. From our RW
group, managed to find Barry and chatted. Thirty seconds silence was perfect.
Race started, I got going straight away, bar a bit of weaving only 20 secs off
pace. RW pacer surged off, never to be seen again, no idea what pace.
At miles 2&3 went past club pals, Jess and then
Sallie who I train with, both good sub 3:30 runners, yet I felt really strong,
nicely below sub 3:15 pace and masses to spare. Amazing crowds. Around 3-4
miles caught sight of Oompa's top and sidled up to say hello & chat. Both
doing well, same target, we knuckled down stuck to sub 7:25 pace and just kept
it there for next 13 miles, Cutty Sark inside time even after only 6 miles.
Miles going well, manual split and pace bands being checked. Clockwork. The
lucozade pace band Oompa had was rubbish, black on black highlight for the big
miles. Neither of us could read them, I had a homemade 3:14 one. Was fairly
warm, pouring water over head regularly to keep cool.
Tower Bridge was as expected a fairly amazing sight. Half
way mark, Oompa and I perfectly set, touch under 1:37. Both in good shape and
not forcing the pace to get there either and a buffer below 3:15 time. Mile 14
we caught up to Nick club pal seen on start line going for 3:10, surely well
off pace? No, he was holding back and about to accelerate. Chatted and let him
go. We both had dips around 16 miles, Oompa's knee starting to hurt so I
offered him a painkiller but he didn't want one yet. Could see my pal Nick
ahead.. No kick. 17 miles he stopped and pulled over with cramp. Gutted for him
and also a bit shocked. We had already seen KFC, and spotted Minni & AA
ahead and said hello. 19-20 miles, head down, sunglasses on.. Focussed, in the zone. Seconds
later, saw my Missus and another friend. Went from poker face to nutter in 2
seconds flat, big cheesy grin. All concentration lost :)
20 miles all on track 2:28 dead, 47 minutes to do 10k.
3:15 very much on. Next 6 miles. Had been taking 2 clif blok cubes every 4
miles from mile 4. No sports drink, fair bit of water to keep cool. Definite
dip from mile 21-22 legs starting to hurt & tire, was getting harder,
needed to grind miles out. Splits okay but going a few seconds slowing, still a
30 second buffer I thought. Had lost track of Oompa, but Freemers appeared and
chatted for a few minutes. Could see Minni up ahead, really accelerating the
last 2-3 miles. Can remember thinking, tired, just close eyes, but no if I do,
I'm going to fall over. Kept it going somehow. Manual splits on watch waiting
for mile no26. 800m to go, 600 - where is the mile marker? 385 yards to go,
turn corner watch reading 3:14:30ish - SPRINT, going to be close.
Finished on the line just ahead of Minni :) and stopped
watch, 3:15:07 (later :04). Gutted? Thought I would be but no. Getting anywhere near to
3:15 was beyond my wildest dreams. Tough race, conditions not easy and came
within 15-20ft? Job most definitely done. Few things learnt, minor little race practice to get 100% right. 99.999% cant be too far wrong though.
Splits from VLM
Splits from VLM
