06/12/15

Percy Pud 10k adventures - another week, another chance to test the motor!

I must admit prior to the last few weeks of racing I had somewhat lost my spark for racing, with three races down the impetus to put myself through my paces and push myself to the limit is definitely back. I strongly recommend if you ever feel your inspiration slipping try a little cross-racing, the adventure race and chasing 10k PB’s has definitely put me back in the mind-set of a racer.

The race

For me the race started Wednesday, this was the beginning of the taper, and I’ve only just started to get my head round the fact that a good race comes from good planning and prep. Too often I had come bounding into a race from some strong training weeks, worried that as soon as I stopped training Id become slow and doughy!

Wednesday had me doing an easy hour on the bike, concentrating on fast legs with little resistance. The other bonus to a taper was the lie ins! I had been under strict orders from Coach Frary to drop the 5am wake ups to train and just train once in the evening instead (which to be honest had me feeling a little groggy to begin with). Thursday was a complete rest day, Friday had me doing a 30min run with 1min race pace efforts, with the same on the Saturday. However courtesy of Desmond my 1 min efforts were a little off, one way saw me going 30 sec per mile quicker (winner!!) whilst the return leg had me near to tears and adding an additional 30-40 secs to my min/mile pace.

Saturday morning gave me some time to relax and have a trip over to see the new Blizard shop, trying the new On’s out (the funky Yellow ones are mega, and I did also find myself picking up a dashing pair of purple trainers which I was fond of, then being told I was perusing the female section, oops!). Jess got some new Lornah race kit, which post Percy she exclaimed “this is the comfiest kit ever” after meticulously scanning for any marks left by safety pins she also mentioned she’s not washing the kit “it smells like PB’s!” (which I hope meant personal bests).

On top of all this I once again morphed into an amateur meteorologist. I was checking the distance of isobars, monitoring pressure systems and storm fronts. I was happy in the knowledge that by the time I rolled up for the race start Desmond would be well on his merry way and we would be blighted by some less aggressive remnants of his trailing wake. Yeah, good one!! I arrived to gale force winds (they must have been some tight isobars) and “stingy” rain. I guess it’s the same for everyone though. After seeking shelter in the marquee, squirrelling away clothes in a corner somewhere it was off to warm up, line up, put up and shut up! I found Mr.Tune at the start line, wished everyone luck and off we went.

This was the first 10k I had been part of where I had to race tactically, trying to find refuge behind other runners, I found myself being the link man between the first and second group for a while. Luckily I was relieved of this duty and try as we might the inevitable split happened about 2km in. Then we nestled into a chase group, this was an interesting experience, running in such close quarters at full race pace with the wind buffeting you. Mr Tune put a really strong shift up at the front of the group and was running well. After 5km the group began to splinter again, leaving me, Dave and A.N. Other. This was now time for Dave’s famous “surges” to come into play, that man has a talent for getting you at your lowest point and then putting a kick in. I tried to play him at his own game up the hills, this was the part of the race I really enjoyed. It was now more than a ‘get your head down and try to get to the line as quick as you can’, there were tactics, on the move planning, looking for opportunities, trying to read body language. This was a bit of a novel experience for me and one that I really did relish; I guess it’s the unseen aspect of racing.

I crossed the line in a really pleasing 10th position, considering the very testing conditions. It’s not often I say this but I’d even slightly impressed myself. This race wasn’t about time; this was about race tactics, perseverance and pushing yourself against the elements as well as your own physiological limits.

Now it’s back to getting my head down for some solid winter training!