Off the Fence....and looking to go sub 3 hrs

Chip Time : 01:29:17 (PB remains @ 01:28:56)
Overall Position : 398
Category (M45) : 39

Prerace:

It had been May 2013 since I last raced a half and as a result I have a fairly soft PB based on my subsequent performances at other distances. The original plan was to target something below 1:25 in this. However, the hip/glute/back injury I have been deal with since the Frank Duffy meant that I had run less than 50 miles since that event so the original target was never going to be on. I hadn't even decided if I was running until Thursday and then I was undecided of my plan until Ferris gave me a talking to on Friday.....so plan was to start in front of the 1:30 pacers and to also finish in front of them. How much I would finish in front of them by would be determined by how the body held up.

Headed in early as usual with Mrs Mc and made sure I had the watch this time. Bumped into Kennyg and a few other St Anne’s parkrunners as we parked and headed up to the start. Great buzz around. Said Hello to the pacing crew and few more parkrunners before dropping the gear and getting in a couple of warm miles down the North Road. Then headed back to take my place in Wave 1 just in front of 1:30 guys. I was very relaxed as I had no expectation or real target other than get a good workout and come out the other end in one piece.

Race

Miles 1-6

Uneventful and all went according to plan. Got a shout out from the St Anne’s parkrun support crew lead by Mrs Kennyg. I kept pace with the 1:30 group as planned until half way. All good even splits.

06:47/06:51/06:50/06:50/06:48/06:43

Miles 7-11

Took advantage of the hill outside the park to build a bit of momentum and used this to push on a little as we re-entered the park leaving the pacing group behind. I was joined here by a St Anne's parkrunner and we pushed on together with another lad for the next few miles. We chatted as we went and it was all very relaxed. Splits picked up a bit to take advantage of the downhill again as planned and as to be expected. When we left the park onto Conyngham Road I told the guys with me to push on that I was just going to try to hold it steady. They did and by the time we re-entered the park the parkrun guy had 100m on me. I had no inkling or desire to give chase.

06:33/06:45/06:36/06:30/06:36

Miles 12-13.1

When we hit the hill I just plodded up it. I was surprised at how much my quads were burning (I am blaming the deepwater running on this one) and my legs felt the lack of recent miles. I just let them do whatever they wanted which turned out not to be very much. A lot of people passed me here and as I had never felt at any stage since the start that I was racing I just let them off. Many of them I recognised from the 1:30 pacing group that I had run with earlier. The splits tell it all here. I got an unexpected shout out on the finishing strait from Annapr....whom later advised me that unfortunately she had pulled up after 5m. Get well soon, Anna. Also got another welcome shout out from the St Anne's parkrun crew, one of whom highlighted the female runner on my right shoulder who was about to pass me. I am afraid we were too close to the line to let that happen as the potential for slagging would have been too much if she passed me on the line and there was photographic evidence so I did enough to hold her off.

07:05/07:13/01:11(06:13 pace)

Postrace: Headed back down to the finish strait to cheer people home. As usual I missed loads of people passing, shud’ve gone to specsavers, but witnessed strong PB finishes from Murph, BG and Mrs Mc among others. Well done to all.

Unfortunately I also witnessed the medics heading down to try to help the guy who collapsed about 800m from home. I know from their faces on the way back that the news was not good. My heart goes out to his family and friends and to all those who witnessed the events on Saturday. I still have a clear image in my head of passing the person on Military Hill a couple of years ago as he was being worked on. So sad.

Met up with plenty of boardies and parkrunners afterwards. All in good form with loads of PB in the bag. Enjoyed the chat and a couple of flapjacks . Thanks to TFGR.

Verdict: Putting everything in perspective I can’t be too disappointed given the run in I had to this event but it was a real reality check on where I am.

Injury update: Leg/back was significantly better on Sunday than the day after the Frank Duffy but it is still far from 100%.

What’s next: After much deliberation I have decided not to run DCM 2015. Having lost over 200 miles from the training cycle over the last month including the two biggest mileage weeks I do not believe that I have time to do justice to a sub 3 attempt. If I am not going for sub 3 I think I would be far better off taking the time to recover fully and getting the pompoms out than lining up to run for the sake of running. Mrs Mc has been front and centre supporting me at 5 of the 6 marathons that I have done to date and it is now my turn get on my bike and do my bit to shout her and everyone else I can, home on the 26th.

I am going to start building back up this week and if all goes OK I will target the Waterford Half in early December to round off the year and get me set for the next cycle……….Boston 2016:)

HelenAnne wrote: »

Well done, FBOT, that was a great run when you're injured, and a really good report. I'd say it's a good decision about DCM too. Onwards & upwards!

Thanks HelenAnne. Missed you afterwards but you were looking very focused on the run in. Congrats on the PB.

tang1 wrote: »

Well done M, smart decision on DCM I think to. I'm sure you'll look good on the sidelines with the pom-poms!!

Cheers B.

Killerz wrote: »

Fair play on the race on Saturday, M. Big decision you made in not doing DCM, but if in any doubt and not in the frame of mind or body to give it 100%, a wise one.

Full steam ahead for Boston, hopefully you will be fresh and ready to go for that one... make sure to get in plenty of downhill training!

Thanks J. Unfortunately for you I will be bending your ear for advice on Boston over the next while so be prepared!!

annapr wrote: »

He's obviously very intuitive and empathetic... A true modern man

Got it in one, Anna!