35th & Scorching

Well, its been a while since I updated the blog. This is largely owing to the setup of a new business venture - V10 Media which officially sponsors Running Fource. So anyway, so much running and such great weather has contributed to perhaps what was the best run of my life last Sunday.

Running Fource's Niall McIntyre and Kenny Murray turned up for this great event. All sporting the new V10 Media shirts, we scattered amongst the some 5000 people at this event (half of which were partaking in the half marathon race). So according to my watch, three minutes before 10am, we were off and I was right at the front. Unlike most races I have done, this time I decided to be right at the front and aim to hold my position for as long as possible. Having only run twice the week before, and done nothing between midday Friday and race day, I was also in better stead for this day. So down towards Batchwood and I am still only a dozen people or so behind the lead runner. Up into Batchwood, before descending towards Bedmond and the race got a bit more serious. The poor guy on my shoulder for the first half was struggling with some sort of virus. I only pray it was not swine flu (sniff sniff). Maintaning my position I reluctantly let anyone past me. Approaching mile seven, the marshall stated that I was in position 34. Pleased at hearing this, I became even more reluctant to let anyone pass, and even wanted to get further in front. Mile 11, the same marshall counted me as being in position 31. This was it! The following mile was quite tough, as we left the country roads and enter the more populated area, and at this point I dropped back a few positions. However, down back into the park, I kicked to the end on the finishing streterch, achieving a time of 86:36 and being in 35th place. Dehydrated I was, but too overjoyed to care.

So now Im almost certain that my focus will be on anything less than a half marathon for the next 24 months. I have the ING New York Marathon in November, and a few halves along the way, as well as the Mazda London Triathlon. Today, Ive just completed a 13.5 mile run from Hertford to Hatfield, but the time of 1:42 - a time which wouldn't have been too bad for an easy training run last year, is now far too slow than what I fell I should be running at.

Till the next time...

Two Ten's and a Marathon

So training has been going well apart from some discomfort from my Achilles tendon (known to many as itous of the tendon). Much to my thinking that this was caused by running, it turns out it could actually be from spinning at the gym in running shoes as opposed to cleats. Lesson learned! So an agonising hour spent with James Lenaghan and his healing hands, I feel a lot less stress in my legs.

So yesterday was the St. Albans 10K. A fantastically sunny day ideal for running through the back roads of St. Albans towards Bedmond. I definitely should not have run 12 miles or spun the day before if I was to get a decent time. However, school boy errors aside, I finished 21st in a time of 39:46 (Check results here)

So next Sunday is the Wheathampstead 10K, where Running Fource will be making a debut appearance (myself, Niall, Kenny and Paul so far - feel free to join us...) and again I will be aiming for a sub-40 time (although a hilly course that could be made even harder if it rains the night before).

Following that is the ING Luxembourg Marathon on 22 May. An unusual start time of 18:00, but like Rotterdam a relatively flat course.

Till the next time.....