The Road To Chester: Week 3

This is a week by week log of my training towards my first marathon at Chester on 6th October 2013. Three weeks in to my sixteen week training plan and things are starting to feel a bit real and scary.

Week 3 Highlights

• 42.5 miles ran this week. 
• Not one, but two 10k races completed.
• First Royton Road Runners 2013 Road Race Championship appearance. 

Miles are down this week as in place of my Sunday long run and Tuesday speed session I've completed two 10k races in very different conditions. 

Tuesday night saw my compete in the Rochdale 10k race. I did a 10k race in Rochdale back in September last year, but this was a different race completely; organised by Rochdale Harriers this is mainly a club race. The start line was filled with people in their club vests. Including me. 

This was my first appearance as an "official" club runner, as at Oldham I ran in RRR colours I was still officialy an unattached runner when I entered the event. The Rochdale 10k is part of the RRR club championship; each runner is placed in a league from Premiership, Championship, 1, 2 & 3. Before the race I wasn't sure which league I'd be in but from looking at other peoples times I was sure I'd be placed in the Championship. 

The race was due to start at 19:15 but due to the number of runners registering on the day it was put back 15 minutes. Just in time for the race to start in the rain. I don't know the area at all but had been told by several people to watch out for Roach Valley. I kept an eye out for it but must have missed it as before I knew it I was re-entering the park and heading towards the finish.

The race wasn't chip timed (it only cost £5 to enter!) so I had to wait for my official time to be published, but 41:26 was pleasing. The hills weren't as bad as I thought they would be, but they were there.

I finished 65th out of 340 runners, and 16th out of 52 RRR runners. As I thought I have been placed into the Championship and was the 7th in my league back. Know what I need to do now for my next race! Unfortunately due to other commitments that will be my last RRR championship race till mid August.

In typical Manchester fashion by Saturday morning the Sun was out in force and not a cloud in the sky. After being "on tour" last week it was back home to Oldham parkrun this week.

parkrun in the sun. 

I finished 4th in a time of 19:55. Pleasing to finish in under 20 mins in the sun - it was hot, but not as hot as it was going to be.

Sunday morning saw Mark and I return to Pennington Flash for the Leigh Legacy 10k. It was billed as a multi-terrain race but having ran there last week at the parkrun I knew that it was more of a trail race. The start was set for 11am, in July and in Manchester that might not be a problem, but oh it was. 25 degrees'ish at that time.

The entrance fee was £15 so naturally I expected certain things for that price, chip timing for a start. But no, we were on gun time only. That's fine I don't have a problem with that when paying £5-6 to race. Also we were running round a park where there was no indication to other park users there was even a race on or that a number of runners would be passing. Wasn't too bad where I was with just a few of us but when people started coming through in numbers it looked like it could be fun, and potentially dangerous.

Enough ranting, on to the race...

Due to a cricket injury there was only Mark and I from team rascals racing today. We made our way right to the front at the start working on the basis it was gun time we might as well be as close as we can, if we get passed by a few people we get passed.

We set off hard, as the rascals do and Mark got the usual "we've set off too fast" shout from me; I always have Simon's voice in the back of my head at this point telling me to take the first mile easy. As you can see from the time this is my slowest 10k of the season, but the conditions had a big part to play in that. By 3k the heat was starting to really make itself known. There was a water station at 4k, but handing a runner a plastic cup is always going to end in tears. Onto the canal bank which should have been one of the fastest parts of the course but with the sun beating down and no shade to be had it was becoming hard going. We kept at it but I knew there wasn't anymore in the tank to push on; it was just too hot.

The second water station at 7k also ended badly, I didn't manage to get a cup but managed to get a gulp of Mark's. We came back into the park at about 8k and it was looking very busy, I had to dance round a small child playing on a bike, as I said no warning we were going to be there.

The last kilometer felt like it went on forever but finally came round the corner and over the line. At the time of writing I don't have either an official time or position but Mark thinks it's about 19th or 20th.

So that's my third week done, and most of it done on speed work. I've got yet another 10k race next Sunday, but that's it till after the marathon. From now on my Sundays are for long runs and half marathon races. The marathon is peeking its head over the horizon....