It was a cold day, approx 5 degrees, and I must say, a lot better than the last 2 weekends in wind and rain!
A leisurely start at 12:30, I was able to wake up at a good time, prepare a good breakfast, do some chores, and get going. My cab ordered from the iPhone app arrived on time, and I took Mr London Minicabbie on a good ride in the countryside. "Yes, thats it. see those people running? you basically go around the lake 4 times, and thats a half marathon...yes, 13.1 miles"
Along the Thames, through Windsor, Eton....Dorney, here we go. The Olympic rowing venue, the Race your Pace Half Marathon 2011.
Its a repeat of last year's exercise, 2nd half marathon in a row, except this one is no spur of the moment, a month earlier than last, and I know how it works. The sponsors must have slimmed down as there were no Lucozade tent to be seen for 'looting' of pre-race drinks, or timing bands. It was cold...COLD. Cold, I tell myself, is better than windy. I sought shelter in the boathouse where everyone was waiting, and where refreshments were sold. I saw the BIGG chocolate cakes they have here for the performers in the earlier race. But I resisted. Nil by mouth...except, maybe, a little piece of bread. I waited for my friends to come along, and made my way along the bridge for the start. The moment I got out there, the coldness seem to have gone.
Race my pace, I thought, or Pace my Race? Is finding and sticking with marathon pace my goal, or aiming for a PB? or try for a negative split - the theoretical perfect endurance running scenario? These were the thoughts going through my head as I assembled at the starting line. This time, they did not have the half minute mile pacer, only pacers for 8, 9,10 and 11 minute miling. So...remembering last year's Mr hesitant at the 10-minute mile when I asked the 2:10 question, this year, I boldly stepped behind Mr 9 minute mile.
Orange paddle pop, matching my orange Deafness Research t-shirt. I hope to take some pictures for my charity's website today and to test the vest before the next race - the One.
12:30 came quickly, and we started, in a big group, it was very warm. Not much room to manouevre, I missed seeing Mile 1 sign come by before I was able to clear some space. I kept running consistently the way I was taught (btw, Graduated from Running school on Friday!) , and started to slowly, slowly relax, The (almost) pancake flat course and the masses of open space was for me to enjoy, but I must remain focused. Distractions were here and there, and I saw a familiar back running on the grass alongside the track...ahh! It was my friend Lau, on his barefoot running shoes who started at 11:00m/mile and seem to have zoomed in ahead. And not to mention these chatty ladies who seem to appear in and out of my path...I'm not sure why they can keep talking throughout the half marathon!
The race was a good opportunity to practice those nutrition strategies as they were giving out those Lucozade 300ml body fuel bottles. However, I feel too full to take them, instead using them as a single dumbbell to level out my arms when I need it. such a waste! but I had no choice but to dispose of them when its done its job for the lap...
The end of lap 2 got harder, and the sound of a 'thousand hooves' approached...Mr orange paddle pop appeared with his gang...what can I do to shake them off? Not much...lap 3, I was hanging on....and eventually let them through at the drinks station, with them a slight distance away. I felt like my last 5kms in paris when I lost the 5-hour group...
should I? or should I not? consequences? what are the chances? No NOO, I'm not to be blown to pieces, I still have distances to run...
go on, go on...hanging on....the only way is UP, now....hold on, hang on, won't be long......
the last half lap, around 10 miles...something magical happened. after the first little bridge on the home stretch...I was able to get closer and closer to orange paddle pop...and on closer glance, the group has 'disbanded' some. Mr pacer was going around chasing everyone, not long to go!!
Unable to lift much, my feet had a burning sensation, it seems my PF were coming back, I thought of my Charity: Deafness Research, where the money will go.....and had a Zen moment. I wasnt able to hear anything coming out of my earphones, my ears were blocked (just like how it is when one is on a flight on its descent), I left Mr Orange paddle Pop behind me, I saw the bridge, 13 miles, left diversion, gliding down the bridge, onto the finishing line.....
the clock still said 1 something.....I held up my arms, yay, yay, YaY! I made it! 1:58:03! I'm a sub-2!
something that I had wanted to achieve last week and never thought would be able to make up for it. and I miraculously did!
A medal this time...I drifted, ears still blocked, to the massage stand, to meet my friends, first, for a hard-earned massage (cramps!) and a hard earned late lunch.
Its the first time I feel I have pushed hard...but to push this hard for twice the distance and probably 3 times the noise and heaps more people? At least I know theres still a long way to go, and its not yet time to throw in the towel.
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| Yes I beat these 3 men, Yes Yes I Did :p |
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| Me with a PB at Dorney Lake |
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