Firstly, sorry but this is going to be a 'negative' post but I've been kind of frustrated all day.
Today's race in Blarney is certainly one for me to forget! It started well enough. The sun was shining, I got up early, parked near race HQ registered and went for a 3 mile warmup. All good so far....
Then the race started. My plan was to head out at 6:20 to 6:30 pace for the first half and assuming that I'd have something left in the tank push on to the finish hopefully finishing 1:24 or better. That was the plan anyway....unfortunately things didn't quite work out as I'd planned.
I was on target for the first 8 miles or so but then it all seemed to fall apart. My splits up to mile 8 were 6:12, 6:19, 6:25, 6:29, 6:45 (big uphill), 7:18 (beast of an uphill section!!), 6:33 and 6:33. All OK so far...
I don't know if it was the heat (it was very hot 20+degC); the fact that the first 6+ miles were uphill; my lack of endurance training; a hangover from last weeks virus or the lack of sleep during the past week but suddenly if there was a shortcut to the finish I'd have taken it. The rest of my 'journey to the finish' (it could no longer be called a 'race') was decidedly ugly comprising jelly legs, lack of motivation and bouts of walking. Uncharateristically, I even got frustrated (annoyed) by the suporters encouraging calls of "it's all downhill to the finish" and "only just one mile to go" etc...
I could do nothing as runner after runner seemed to cruise past. I think I must have lost 50+ places over the last 5 miles. If it hadn't been for the fact that Pamela and the kids were at the finish I'd have been quite happy to record a DNF but the thought that they might see me struggling pushed my to run most of the last mile at sub 6:10 pace. Unfortunately, the damage was done and I eventually crossed the finish line in 1:31:30 (102nd place out of 550 runners). The official results are here.
Although the time was disappointing I was more frustrated with the manner in which I gave in to the pain. But now that I've had a few hours to compose myself, rehydrate and take on some salts I think that I was 'probably' suffering from dehydration. Although I tried to take on water at each waterstop (2 mile intervals) I think that I spilt much more from the plastic water cups than I drank until I eventually I walked through the last couple of water stations (too little too late!). I also underestimated the impact of the initial uphill section - last year I was much more conservative during the initial miles and I then had reserve energy for the later miles.
I guess I'll just have to put today's 'effort' down to experience...
One last dash to the finish....
The painful truth...
6 comments:
That's tough Brendan. I reckon you were still suffering from last weeks illness as you form of late certainly indicates you have the endurance and we all know you have the speed. From what I heard the majority of runners were unhappy with their performance yesterday. It certainly was unseasonally warm. Chalk it down to experience.
Yep, sounds like you still have the virus in your body, had similar thing happen to me in races after being ill, don't think dehydration would hit you so soon!
Anyway don't beat yourself up about the result, better days to come I'm sure!
Sorry to hear that. We all have a bad race every now and then, and yesterday's weather would not have helped.
Live and learn.
Apart from the 15 minutes separating us I had exactly the same experience. I have decided that I just don't do heat. That and a summer of muscle knots and a bit of whip lash from falling down the stairs last week (who would have thought your arms contribute so much to your pace?!) meant that from mile 9 I would have jumped in the ambulance that was loading up an Eagles AC guy with a sore knee. My conclusion is that mental fatigue is much harder to fight in the heat. I ran this race last year with less aerobic fitness and came in 11 - 12 minutes ahead of this years time. I am finally off to the physio for my quads.
Thanks for the comment.
Pity about your run yesterday but something about that course can make or break a person I think. No doubt in a few days and you will be back to normal. Cork to Cobh next and that will be the marker.
Thanks guys. Comments much appreciated. Probably the virus (I think I'll call it that anyway) - the lack of 'regular' training didn't help either!! I could get away with it up to 5 miles but the HM is a different matter!!
Today's easy-tempo progression 7mile run (7:08 - 6:35) 158bpm certainly helped put things back on track!! :)
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