The Road to Chester: Week 10

Blogging my way to my first marathon in Chester.

Week 9 highlights:

• 50 miles this week. 
• parkrun pacing
• Fleetwood Half Marathon 

Another week, another 50 mile week. That's over 460 miles done since I started training for Chester back in June with still another six weeks to go...

I wasn't at Oldham parkrun again this week as I'd arranged to meet up with an old friend who has just started parkrunning. So we arranged to meet up at his local event, Wythenshawe parkrun and I'd do a spot of pacing for him. He was looking for sub 22 mins so agreed we'd run at 21:30 pace and see how it went. 

Didn't quite go to plan. Was on target till about 1k to go when I ended up going up a couple of gears as the finish appeared. On the plus side Dan got a pb of 21:46 so it worked out ok. Talking of pacers Wythenshawe parkrun had pacer flags. They looked home made but might be an idea for Oldham if we start having a regular pacer(s).

On to the main event of the week: the Fleetwood Half Marathon.

Now as many people who know me, or read this (mostly the same people!) will know I've been targeting this race for my sub 90 minute attempt to show me how I'm doing for the marathon.

Well it didn't quite work to plan did it? Mr Sunshine came out to play...

It wasn't the time I wanted but given the conditions (ignore the 17 degrees Garmin says, it was more 22) I'm happy with the time. Started off feeling strong and confident that I'd hit that target. By 6 miles I could feel the heat starting to get to me and by 8 I was ready for a nice cold drink and a sit down. Doesn't work that way - medals aren't earned by stopping are they. Dug in and kept going but heading back towards the town into the wind I felt like I was running in treacle. 

First corner.

I managed to get some of the pace back in the last mile or so but once I finished I couldn't do much more than cling to a railing while my timing chip was taken off. 

As Jan will tell you I'm not good in the sun at the best of times, even if it's just sitting reading a book, so racing 13.1 miles in it took everything I had. 

All things considered I'm happy with the time. If the conditions were cooler I'm sure I could have got the sub 90 I wanted but it looks like that barrier will have to wait until 2014 to be broken as I don't have any more half's booked in for this year. 

Towards the end now sporting a 70's headband. 

That was my last race before Chester, apart from maybe a 5k I have my eye on, every weekend between now and 6th October is long runs and race day preparation. Every run will be staring at 9am. Now I know what gels and drinks are available on the Chester course I will be picking some up and using them too. As you might have noticed I leave nothing to chance!

A blog wouldn't be a blog without a mention for Mark who took Jan and I to the race today and got a great time of 1:29:33 for his first half - thanks for the lift and well done on the time matey!