It's four years since I've done this race in Letchworth. Last time I was pretty happy to get around 52:30. I had been thinking I'm not that quick these days, but I have been feeling pretty good with my running. I'm getting out at least twice a week and doing some cycling too.
It was fairly cool this morning. I cycled to the start (about 5km) and instantly regretted not having gloves. It took my hands a while to defrost once I arrived. I picked up my number and hung around waiting for the start. Yesterday it rained all day, but I was so happy it was dry today. They have 1600 runners for this even that is mostly on closed roads.
The start quickly filled up with runners sorted by target times. I was between the 50 and 60 minute markers. I didn't even hear anything to announce the start, but people started moving at 9:30 and a minute or so later I crossed the start line. I managed to get jogging fairly quickly as the field soon spread out.
The first part is downhill, but then there's a long uphill stretch. The course goes up and down a bit, which tends to spread out the runners. I managed to keep a reasonable pace, but I wasn't checking my watch or getting audible updates from my phone. I just tried to keep up with people around me and overtake when it felt right.
The course weaves through some lanes of houses before getting out onto a country road with one side coned off. I didn't bother with water at the half-way point and then it was onto the bypass where we had a coned bit for runners. There were lots of marshalls out and I tried to thank each one.
My legs seemed to be on automatic and so I kept pressing on. In the last 3km I started overtaking a few people who were starting to flag. Some came past me on the last downhill leading back to Standalone Farm. I let them go, but then gave it all I could for the last part to the finish. The clock was showing about 53:30, which I was pretty happy with. Later I got a text with my chip time (measured from a thing you tie to your shoe as you cross the lines) of 52:42. I'd hoped for under 55 minutes, so was very happy with this. By coincidence the time in minutes matches my age in years!
Each year they do a different coloured shirt for finishers. This year it's yellow. You also get a banana. Only the top finishers get a medal, but I don't mind that.
Here's the stats. As usual Endomondo has a wrong max speed, but the average is about right. It has me down even quicker for 10km and the 5km is really good for me too.
I was fairly consistent through the race.
The ride home was very gentle and my hands didn't suffer as much as it had warmed a little.
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