And the second time in rain this time with a bit of wind in the last few miles.
The first day of the Chinese Year of the Snake , and we opted for a 13.1 miles to start off the year.
With the weather since the beginning of 2013 being either rain or snow, I have been so used to getting my shoes muddy (getting used to doesn't mean liking it!) - the level of training I have done is rather half -hearted, with the house move taking up heaps of my time outside of work. So there really wasn't much expectation, rather an obligation to turn up as we'd signed up. With severe weather forecast, one was hoping for a cancellation! But this was usually rare, and Wokingham is one for serious Berkshire based running clubs.
To me, third time round, it was almost like a Parkrun, you know where things are, what to pack, arrive, execute, collect medal :)
The rain didn't stop, and the muddiest bit of the whole run was into the luggage tents - male and female. It was so warm waiting in the tent and in the bin bag, but to getting over with quickly means a quicker return to warmth!
Love Wokingham for the familiarity of the crossing of major roads , it's downhill course for most parts, the rural scenery and proximity to lovely homes one can only dream of. Got a little confused now with the ending bits of this vs Farnham Pilgrim, with the steep uphill...or rather, the notion that what came down must go up again, on a loop course.
Nutrition? It was only a half. So one vanilla powerbar gel at 4 miles, a bit too soon. But no choice, as was rather tired. (Last long run training being of around 6 miles)
Purist drink stations had only water, so to keep myself awake, I had to lift my wind proof glasses ( with water droplets) rub my eyes, or let the wind chill them. The rain didn't stop...so my cap was my only respite. And because of the weather I had less time to drift and size up virtual competitors or analyse their undesirable pronation, gear, running pose etc.
There wasn't a halfway timing mat on the course, so i had to check my watch at every mile and gauge how fast I was going. Having started out too fast averaging sub-9 min miling in the first 2 (and being, as usual, overtaken by my hubby), I had to just soldier on. 1:41 at the 11th mile....the Brussels moment set in.(mind playlist: "How will I know?") Can I do the next 2.1 in safely under 20 minutes? I can only try , and not stop, and push for it. As and I reached the landmarks I remember so well, where I walked last time etc, I was determined not to stop, as I didn't in the last 5 kms of Brussels.
The headwind came,I can only turn this positively. This was going to be a narrow finish, if that. There wasn't the rush of sub-2 ers rushing ahead of me ...there wasn't any surge of energy left in the tank.
Relief as 13 mile marker came up...another 0.1 to go. yes! Another Wokingham done. My watch says 2:02.41. If not a sub-2 glory, it was definitely a course Personal Best (2011 time was 2:03.36), and hopefully that will move me up the runbritain handicap.. :)
The weather just has to get dryer...now it's time to clean my muddy shoes and gear, and take another break from running outdoors until the trainers dry up again...
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