faygate

The last minute challenge

Finishing Sunday’s Cardiff almost-a-Half-Marathon* was probably one of the highlights of the year. I got up at 5:30am to make sure I had time for my usual runner’s breakfast of porridge with some sultanas and almonds, and also to ensure I got a parking space close to the start.

It was dark when I left the house (yep, autumn is well and truly here!), but heading the long way round to Cardiff the sun was just cresting over the sea and creating the most fantastic glow over the barrage of Cardiff Bay. At that moment I knew it was going to be a good day.

After a few pre-race jelly babies and a change of shoes I headed on over to the runner’s village. Set in the fantastic Roald Dahl Plass, people were already milling around and the various stalls were just setting up. Unfortunately with the sun hidden behind the Millennium Centre most people were just trying to keep warm, including me!

For me, I headed down to the dock side to find a nice quiet spot to do some stretching and just psych myself up for the 13 miles ahead of me. Perhaps because of my affinity with water, watching the sun rise over the Bay and the boats and the still water, was just wanted I needed. I also kept warm too!

With about thirty minutes to go before the start I decided it was time to (sadly) lose my nice warm jumper by heading off to the baggage area to store my bag for the race. For a while I did get a bit panicked, for I couldn’t find the baggage area, but then a nice volunteer pointed me the right way. With time running out I jogged over to drop my bag off and then off to find a suitable place to start.

Lloyd George Avenue was where it was all happening and I walked back towards the Bay trying to find a place to pop myself in to. Being my 4th half-marathon I was fairly confident in my choice, which was just behind the 1h45’ pace runner. I thought if I kept up with him for at least the first mile or two, I would be pacing myself correctly and would have a chance of beating my personal best set in Bath of 1h55’31”.

9am came and went and I got chatting to the guy next to me about the usual running things. Is this your first race? What time are you hoping for? etc. etc. Then we started to move. Then we stopped. We all walked a bit further and then with a quick ‘good luck’ to the people around me and I, WE, were off.

The start of a race is always a bit of a concentration game. Not only are you trying to ensure you get your pace just right (not too quick, not too slow), but you are trying to gauge the pace of others around you and moving around to try and find that spot, just for you to run it. Also, as it was for me, you’re also concentrating all which way you are going having not run the course before.

The first few miles were a little tricky mainly because there were a quite a few turns, a slippy shopping precinct, a variety of street furniture and the odd pedestrian to avoid! I missed the first mile marker so I had no idea of my pace until mile marker two; 16’29”, Great! I was averaging 8’15” and well under my target time of every mile under 9 minutes. And that is how the race went on. We ran through and round the park and the River Taff, and then out on through the residential streets of Cardiff.

I missed another couple of mile markers after that, which maybe was a good thing. About half way round I grabbed an energy drink, but maybe I drank a bit too much or little too quickly because I suddenly didn’t feel all that great. I kept going though and after a while the ache in my stomach subsided.

Rounding back round we hit the mile marker I was dreading. During the Bristol Half-marathon last month, the 10 mile point was where it all went wrong for me. I was suddenly sapped of energy and really struggled round those last three miles. So this time I was determined not to fall at the same hurdle. If I could just keep going at this pace until mile 11 then if I need to, I can drop the pace for miles 12 and 13. I never did.

Those last few miles out over the barrage with the sun shining and a good crowd cheering were great. I was feeling it though, but as I came through to start the last and longest mile, I could hear the tannoy and the announcer saying that the 1h45’ pace runner was just crossing the finish line, and he’s spot on time! What? You mean the guy that I lost somewhere in the distance between miles two and three was just in front of me? I didn’t dare look at my watch.

So I kept running…and running…and running. Eventually I reached the turning point and the finish line was in sight. This was when I looked at my watch; 1h47’20”. Suddenly I was on a high. I could get under 1h50’ here. I mustered up all my strength and headed for the line. I don’t remember much. I just ran to the finish with everything I had. I didn’t make it under 1h50’, but 1h50’10” was over 5 minutes better than my best ever time. I’m not complaining! ;)

I punched the air, collected my medal, my bag and a drink and went back to my (now not so quiet) spot by the water’s edge. I texted my wife and my friends and went back to the car for a change of clothes.

Cleaned up and feeling warm, I headed back into the city centre and celebrated with an ‘Amazing’ light lunch of Wild Mushroom Risotto at Jamie’s Italian. I couldn’t eat much so will have to revisit another time for a desert! But I took a leisurely walk back down the now deserted Lloyd George Avenue and a lovely drive home in the sunshine and over my favourite of the two Severn crossings.

What a beautiful day and I’ve almost raised £100 for the Fifteen Foundation. Can you still help them?

PS Mile times
1: 8’15” (*) 2: 8’14” (16’29”) 3: 8’21” 4: 8’15” 5: 8’19” 6: 8’12” (*) 7: 8’13” (16’25”)
8: 7’59” (*) 9: 7’59” (15’58”) 10: 8’31” 11: 9’02” 12: 8’59” 13: 8’51” 13.1: 56’

Official finish time: 1h50’10” (12.98 miles)
Predicted time for 13.1 miles based on official time: 1h51’20”

* F O O T N O T E

It’s shame that the route turned out to be 211 yards short and it’s a little deflating to here the news (and a little embarrassing to tell others). However, I still would have got my personal best had it been the correct length, so I can’t complain. The race was actually really good and suited me perfectly. I know that some people will be disappointed to learn about the missing 0.2 miles and some will be upset to learn that they didn’t get a personal best. Wouldn’t it have been better to have make us run a bit further up Lloyd George Avenue, even if it had made the route longer? Who knows. For me I feel I’m going to have to run another half, just to prove to myself that I could do it in either my official time or my unofficial predicted time.

My chosen charity for 2010

Fifteen Foundation