The Boggers Log

Today: plan called for HM race, the Galway Bay Half.

Was falling asleep on the couch when I got home last night and the missus was saying I should give it a miss but that was never gonna happen!

Got up this morning to be greeted by perfect running weather but my head was all over the place as I'd no idea what pace I'd be able to hold. PB was out of the equation as this race was a few weeks too early in this cycle. Started a conversation with myself over a bowl of Alpen, "start at 7.10 pace and see how you go, no, start at 6.50 and hold it for as long as you can, mmm, maybe see if I can hold 7 min pace for the duration."

Got a text from Ecoli telling me to just focus on a good hard effort, ah the benefits of sage coaching counsel! Decided I'd go with that but I was still telling myself I needed a 7 min pace if I was to even have a slightest chance of a good run in SS.

Parked up at the back of the Claddagh and jogged very slowly down to the start to collect my number. Things seemed to be very well organised and I stopped to watch the marathon lads do their stuff. Stayed a bit too long and forgot the Garmin that was still in the car so I'd to jog back up and made it to the start with a couple of minutes to spare.

Got a shoutout from behind (he must have noticed my sweetcheeks ) from Martyboy and we had a chat. Took the piss out of a Tri lad, asking him where he'd left his bike and what part was he planning to swim, good bit of banter at the start. Noticed that Marty and I were in the elite starting area ( there's a first for everything), although elite time was classed as sub 1.40!

Marty was hoping for a sub 1.30 so I said I'd hitch my wagon to his and see how it went.

We were off without much ceremony and I set off a couple of paces behind Marty. There was a fair few lads/ladies doing the marathon that I knew from my multi marathon days and it was kinda cool getting a shoutout every now and then. (They were pulling the piss outta me when they saw I was running the "mini" marathon . Hit mile one alongside Marty in a pace that I felt was too quick and I eased up slightly, Marty opened a bit of a gap and I said fcuk this and went with him.

Settled into a good rhythm and the miles ticked by, couple of twists and turns on the course that I don't remember been there before but I was feeling reasonably ok. At about mile 11, I noticed that the pace was dropping a bit and the effort was starting to pinch. Put the head down and just ground it out to the finish. Crossed the line in 1.27:4?.

Good confidence booster given recent form and a decent play for to build on.

Splits:

1. 6.45
2. 6.46
3. 6.46
4. 6.45
5. 6.33
6. 6.43
7. 6.35
8. 6.32
9. 6.29
10. 6.30
11. 6.28
12. 6.39
13. 6.24
The bit (.3 garmin) 6.09 pace

TbL

Tnx everybody, official chip time 1.27:45 for 37th/1090

Skittles time.

TbL

neilc wrote: »

That's a great time tbl, well done!!
Did you enter Boston this year after last years disappointment?

Tnx Neil,

I've Martyboy to thank for dragging me out of my comfort zone!

No I'm giving Boston a miss, family holiday in Disney for a couple of weeks in March, maybe 2017.

I'm probably going to race Seville in February next year and I might hold Tangs hand around Rotterdam as well.

TbL

Tom Joad wrote: »

Nicely done Sandbagging of epic proportions

Jazus J, that's rich from the Master Sandbagger No form over the last few months suggested a time like that for me. What's the reverse of sandbagging? I'd called out a sub 3 for SS but that's unlikely to happen on this cycle!

Firedance wrote: »

well that'll certainly help you get a better time... good idea

I think it's about high time we had the Tangy-Lemon smack down Part 2, need to put that young lad back in his box

TbL