Its great when everyone in a group achieves what they are aiming for in a running race. Since my very measured and careful marathon training (where speed was far from my mind), I have now set myself a number of steps to build up my performance to what it was before I found trouble with my heart. The fist of these steps was to do 10K in under 55 minutes and the setting was the wonderful Leeds 10K around St Adans RSPB nature reserve. My marathon legs managed to achieve this with some margin to spare and I was very pleased with my 53:18 (not too far behind last years time of 51:11).
Not only this but I had two lovely ladies with me, my wife Helen and her sister Jill. This was Jill’s first ever running race! Both of them wanted to do the 10K in under an hour and they both came in at around 58 minutes, smashing their goals and causing smiles all-round. Boy those girls are competitive, the one that came in first was only decided in the last 200 metres. Helen has always been fiercely competitive so I have persuaded her to sign up to the Awesome 100 mile challenge in May; all being well we should end up with his and hers medals at the end of the month!
Next weekend I have the Leeds Half Marathon to do; a task of a different order of magnitude! One of my recovery steps is to do a half in under 2 hours and who knows, maybe I’ll be fit enough next weekend to do that; I love the Leeds Half and it’s been a vehicle for PBs in the past.
Finally, today’s the day that the Virgin London Marathon ballot opens and I couldn’t resist applying again. The chances are very slim but it would be great to do that again.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIVUK
Marathon Mann 