I drove over early on Saturday morning and met up with Durham Dawdler and L at race HQ - the Hilton and they very kindly gave me tea as they were staying there. I then wondered into the centre in the wind, which was very strong on Saturday. Its about six years since I have been here and it wasn't as I remembered it, lots of building in a poor state of repair, lots of groups of young people looking as if they were getting ready for quite a night.
I started to feel a bit tired, I had gone to bed early on Friday and woken early but had had a good night so I went to find the hotel and have a rest. I had the smallest double attic room I have ever seen ! Rested for a while and then Flip arrived. He and I then went down to the Pleasure Beach and looked at the 'Big One', it was terrifying even watching it ! Had a not very good meal in Yates and then I went back to get an early night.
I slept from about 10 until 1 and then just dozed the rest of the night, so not good. Luckily the wind had dropped considerably overnight so that was good. Drove dowm to Hilton and met other Fetchies including Ultra Dunc and Chirunner who I hadn't met before.
Race started on time and my plan was to just see how it went and not start too fast and try and keep close to 9 min miles. Basically it was a two lap course all along the front. We went south 3 and bit miles then north 7 or so miles passing the Hilton at halfway, then 3 and bit miles back to the Hilton and repeat.
I started too fast even though it was pretty crowded as both the full and half started at the same time. So much for my plan ! The first 22m went much better than I hoped
1) - 1m - 8:46(8:46/m) - 137cal
2) - 1m - 8:35(8:35/m) - 139cal
3) - 1m - 8:38(8:38/m) - 139cal
4) - 1m - 8:35(8:35/m) - 140cal
5) - 1m - 8:48(8:48/m) - 139cal
6) - 1m - 8:49(8:49/m) - 140cal
7) - 1m - 8:50(8:50/m) - 140cal
8) - 1m - 8:42(8:42/m) - 138cal
9) - 1m - 8:42(8:42/m) - 139cal
10) - 1m - 8:56(8:56/m) - 139cal
11) - 1m - 8:45(8:45/m) - 139cal
12) - 1m - 8:53(8:53/m) - 140cal
13) - 1m - 8:38(8:38/m) - 142cal
14) - 1m - 8:31(8:31/m) - 140cal
15) - 1m - 8:29(8:29/m) - 142cal
16) - 1m - 8:33(8:33/m) - 140cal
17) - 1m - 8:47(8:47/m) - 140cal
18) - 1m - 8:38(8:38/m) - 139cal
19) - 1m - 8:33(8:33/m) - 139cal
20) - 1m - 8:45(8:45/m) - 138cal
21) - 1m - 8:35(8:35/m) - 139cal
22) - 1m - 8:55(8:55/m) - 138cal
Nothing over 9min mile pace !
8m or so of the 26 was on concrete and when I was running on some of that at 22m the wheels started to come off, but the first 22m had taken me 3hr 11m (I had got to 20m in faster time that I had at the Trimpell 20m a few weeks ago, a bit of a mistake, too quick), so I knew that to get sub 4hr, which was my hope, I could run 12 min mile pace.Those last four miles were hard. At the drinks station just before 23m I walked a little and realised my legs were very very tired. Once we had turned for home the breeze seemed to have picked up and it was undulating a bit. I had felt my calves tightening on the concrete and now as I climbed the small undulations I started to get spasms of cramp in either one leg or the other. I slowed down, but knew I had to keep running. The figures were
23) - 1m - 9:23(9:23/m) - 138cal
24) - 1m - 9:29(9:29/m) - 140cal
25) - 1m - 9:50(9:50/m) - 140cal
26) - 1m - 9:36(9:36/m) - 140cal
27) - 0.32m - 3:31(10:59/m) - 42cal
I almost made it like that, but 50 yards from the line, I had sudden unbelievably painful cramp in my hamstring, never saw that coming ! There was no way I could run any further and I was lucky it was only 50 yards from the line ! I walked towards the line with the commentator asking for the crowd's support and interviewing me, but I was in pain and not very talkative ! Great support from Fetchies who had done the half or just came to support all the way round and they were great at the finish
.Tried to run the last couple of yards, but ouch, no way !
Crossed the line in 3hr 53min 11sec so I was very very pleased
. Strangely the pain in my hamstring went quickly, but my calves are still sore. Cheered in the rest of the Fetchies, lots of whom got pbs. Loved XB's meandering finish ! I forget to mention that I saw Howfar a couple of times in the race and he was flying - he was coming back towards me in the opposite direction and looking great !
Met up with some Fetchies in the bar afterwards and then drove home slowly as I was very very tired !
Very happy (have I said that before?) !
