Shakepeare Marathon ....... OR

The Last Long Run Before the 10-in-10...!!!!

OK - in reality I had about 4 plans for the race, and it depended variously on how the legs felt, how I was running, what the weather was like etc.
But in the context of Lorna and I having recovered from hard run races quickly of late, it was an ideal opportunity to run this as a pretty serious race effort!

I started too far back at the start which meant there was rather a lot of jinking about at the start - (stoopid boy), but once it thinned out a bit, running was reasonably elbow-free.

Plan A was simple - Aim for 6:50ish min/mile See how you are going in the first five miles, and reassess.
And keep reassessing until you get to the end!
I was running smoothly and easily, and really enjoying the ride. I was reeling in plenty of people and only occasionally being passed by folk who'd clearly started further back than they should have.
After about this distance, I could see a runner I know from Fetch some distance ahead. It took 'til after 9 miles to catch up to him. By this time we were on the Greenway, which I LOVED running along. Flat - nice surface - and perfect for just concentrating on minimising effort for the pace.

Then we split from the Half course for the second lap.
Half Marathon came up just before a Water Station

1:29:51

And on viewing the video on YouTube I was in 54th place!


Oooh! That's OK.
I knew that I was running at about that pace.
And I was feeling pretty good.

The updulations on the second lap slowed me slightly more than on the first lap, but generally I was making that time back on the downs.
The extra section that takes you further down the Greenway seemed to be all downhill - it was fabulous, and an opportunity to let the legs run that little bit quicker, for no extra effort.

And I was looking forward to the flat easy section along the Greenway for the second time. Somewhere along here 21/22 miles (I think) I saw a vest and pair of calves that I recognised ahead of me. Ian was running really nicely. I drew alongside with some inane comment like "Is this a Mr M I see before me?" Why couldn't I think of something better than that..??
We swapped a couple of comments, and then got back to our own runs, clearly both on course for quite significant Personal Bests!!

I tired a little in the last 2 miles, but was REALLY pleased with the way I held form. Waved madly for the second time at Alex who was taking pictures (and as I was in my Club vest, was not sure that he'd spot me)
The run into the finish along the river bank was a delight.

Second Half

1:29:52
Giving me a chip time of 2:59:43.
SUB 3!
And 22nd place overall!!

WOW!

The best thing was that I was waking about quite freely, chatting to folk, and getting some food and drink. I went to get my clothes from the clothes store and then to get a coffee for Lorna, who I estimated would be finishing around about that time.
Any event that gives free coffee and tea to the runners at the end of a marathon is a pretty damn fine one IMO.

She had finished! Already!!!!
In an outstanding 3:36. THAT brought about the biggest smile of the day for me

So this race marked the end of the 'hard' training for the 10-in-10, the plan now is to keep the legs turning over, and make sure they are in optimal condition for the 8th May!

I can't wait.