Harlow 10 - 26/07/2009 - 10 Miles
Looking around for a half marathon I could do a preparation for Dublin in October and found this 10 miler in Harlow.
Has a good reputation and Harlow Running Club where good hosts for the Mid Week Legaue so should be a good race.
The race HQ is a sports centre so has lockers, showers, etc. Found myself a big locker so I could dump all my bike gear in there. Pulled on my club vest and walked over to the start. Few other Trent Park Running Club people there.
The announcement at the start was bad. Could not hear a word so no idea what was going on, lots a people looking blankly at each other. Walked through down a gravel path to the start line and found a space near the back. Have a habit of going off too fast at the start of races which is a real problem in the later stages. So decided I need to control the early part, not get all competative and try and pass everyone, and settle in to a pace. After all this was part of my marathon training so need to run at marathon pace.
At the start we ran around the corner into a new housing estate. I knew this part of the route from the Mid Week League race . By the first mile I was running at 8:30 a mile pace, this is a bit quick so needed to find someone, or a group I could pace to slow me down. Mile 2 is run along a path next to the M11. Almost a gravel path, I went over on my ankel just before the 2 mile board. Didn't go all the way over as I managed to save myself, but it hurt. Didn't let it affect my pace decided to keep running a see if it became a problem. At this point I picked up a group of guys running along talking to each other, they where talking about being over pace, so decided to stick with them for a while and see how it went.
At 2.5 miles there was the first water station. 330Ml bottles with sports caps, result, no trying to drink from a cup. I never run with a bottle but decided to give it a go. Sipped on it for the next couple of miles as they where all up hill. Dumped it just after the 4 mile mark and realised why I never run with a bottle, my arm was dead and took a while to spring bag to life.
At the 5 mile mark I checked my watch and was still running at an 8:30 pace, felt ok and comfortable, but wanted to slow this down. At the next water station (just after the 5 mile mark) pulled over and decided to walk and drink and then dump the bottle and run again.
At the 6 mile mark was felt ok but was still concerned about the pace. Decided to walk for 2 mins while I did some mental calculation on the pace just to check that I was not under and was over the 10 min mile pace I was planning. I was under but could not walk the rest of the race just to run to a pace.
At the 7 mile mark the wind had dried my lips. Walked for a couple of mins while I but on some lip barm and squezzed down my energy gel. Didn't think I needed the gel but took it anyway. At the 7.5 mile water station grabbed a bottle and walked for a couple of mins while drinking. Dumped the bottle and off running again.
By mile 8 felt strong (perhaps I needed the gel after all) but concerned as I was over pace. Ignored the sponge station and kept running. Could I run this in less than 1 hour 30? Decided that as I felt ok to give it a go. Started passing people and could hear what I thought was a crowd. Had I missed the 9 mile marker and was coming to the finish? No just two of the brilliant marshals being very vocal! My nine miles I was going to have to really shift it to get it under 1:30. Kept going. A lady was now running off my shoulder. How dare she pace me!
Next marshal shout nearly there only 300m to go, turns out she is a liar as it was more like 500m. Turned into the school and rounded to corner onto the track 200m to go and the woman on my shoulder makes a run for it. I was over the 1:30 so let her go.
Finished in 1:31:39 on my watch with an official time of 1:31:41
