Blay-Done it

Blaydon Race 9th June 2007 - 35:20 (*PB)

Finally after seven years and five attempts I managed to improve on my first-ever Blaydon Race performance. I shaved 7 seconds off my previous best and took home a tremendous slice of satisfaction. On the day of the race I tried to take things easy which isn't always easy when you've got two young kids. I postponed laying turf in the front garden and played with the kids most of the day. I met Dave an hour before the race and didn't feel all that great to be honest. My stomach felt bloated and I was sure as soon as I started to run a stitch would appear.
Once again the weather was warm and sunny and I had a feeling this was not to be a record-breaking evening. As the start time approached I tried to relax, stretch out, take some deep breaths and focus on the race. We were taken a bit by surprise in the build up and found ourselves a little further back in the pack than I would've liked.

When the bell sounded to signal the start of the event I walked in the pack towards the start line. Fortunately as we started I was able to break into a run and by skipping up on to the pavement I was able to get into my stride. The pace was a little slower than I wanted but I was right to be cautious. A collision with another runner, a traffic cone or a pedestrian wouldn't have done me any good at this early stage of the race. As we approached the Centre for Life the field started to spread out and I was right into my stride, passing runners at will.
I turned up onto the long stretch of Scotswood Road and headed straight into the evening sun, glad that I'd decided to wear my shades for the first time ever in any kind of a run. I passed the first mile marker in 6:35, slightly disappointed at the time but feeling great. I stretched my legs out and picked up the pace. Starting slightly further back than I intended meant there was a constant stream of runners for me to chase down and pass. The 2 mile marker came and went with a split of 6:06 and I tried to keep the momentum going. Still running into the sun and still feeling good I hit mile 3 with a fastest lap of 6:02. Suddenly I started to believe that a new PB was a possibility.

As I turned off the Scotswood Road I knew the next two miles were crucial. I was approaching the most difficult part of the course with a few inclines and a number of twists and turns. I tried to stay focused and not ease off on the pace. Working hard to maintain my speed I pushed on by urging myself to keep passing runners ahead of me and intent on not being passed myself. The 4 mile marker came with a slightly slower lap time of 6:12 and I grabbed a plastic cup of water from the feed station. I probably only got a thimble full of liquid down my throat but it seemed to help. Most of the fifth mile is back on the dual carriageway and predominately up a steady incline. I could see the long line of runners ahead of me and I forced myself to pass as many as possible.

When I hit the 5 mile marker in 31:11 (6:14 lap) I really had no idea if a new PB was possible or not. However, I knew I was on for a good time and wanted to make sure I made the most of the opportunity. I really pushed myself over this last 0.7 of a mile determined to do just as well as I possibly could. As I ran into the town of Blaydon I was urged on by the crowds and in particular Ron the club coach. This was just the spur I needed and I put in a Seb Coe like finishing kick bursting past a number of fellow competitors. It actually turned out to be a little premature because I couldn't maintain my speed all the way to the end, but as I slalomed the finishing turns I dug deep and passed one more runner just before the line. Immediately after crossing the line I checked my watch and was delighted to see 35:20 staring back at me. So delighted in fact, I gave a little clenched fist celebration and a shout of "Yes!". Quite embarrasing really but it was an emotional moment!

Sweaty but jubilant, I waited in the finishing area for Dave before we headed back home for a night out in Monkseaton with Alan. Rounded the day off with a very enjoyable session in the Black Horse. Biggest shock of the night was Alan finishing the night drunker than either myself or Dave. The only one of us who usually knows when he's had enough had gone a little over the top. We're not as young as we used to be you know. However, on the evening's running performance I seem to be as fit as ever.

Splits
1 - 6:35.1
2 - 6:06.5
3 - 6:02.6
4 - 6:12.8
5 - 6:14.1
5.7 - 4:09.8 (35:20.9)

Official time 36:01, 140th/3338, 71st/933 u40m

Full Blaydon Race 2007 Results

Gannin' alang the Scotswood Road

So here it is race day. Wanted to get a good night's sleep before the race but things didn't exactly go as planned. Fell asleep on the couch watching Seinfeld at 8:30 and went up to bed just after 9 o'clock. A good start. Got a few hours sleep and then was awoken at midnight by a funny little tune emanating from downstairs. It stopped after a while and I dozed off. Five minutes later and there it was again. I ran downstairs to investigate. Checked my mobile phone and there was a text message from Scott about Billy Ocean (yes, really). Switched off the phone without actually realising my phone doesn't play a long tune when I get a text. Off I went back to bed and dropped off to sleep. Five minutes later, there it was again. This time the wife came down to investigate with me. She checked her phone and it was switched off, so I unplugged just about everything electrical in the house. Then just as I was about to get back into bed it started again. Turns out it was some kind of rogue alarm on the wife's phone that plays even when the phone is switched off. Problem solved, settled back into a deep sleep again before being woken by my daughter climbing into bed with us at 5:00am and by 6:30 both kids were bouncing up and down on top of me.

Anyway, having established my excuses beforehand I can now relax and concentrate on getting the job done tonight. Planning on running an even paced race at around 6:10 min/miles. Its always a bit crazy at the start as we go 'Away alang Collingwood Street'. Winding through the streets around Newcastle's Central Station, past the Centre for Life and along the Scotswood Road. Although its a very flat course and the atmosphere is great, the route is so dull and boring it can be a bit tough to stay focused in the middle part of the race. Last year's race was run in quite difficult heat (for Geordies like me anyway) and the forecast for around race time, 6pm, is 18C - so a little warm for my liking.


My PB is a good one (35:27) but I feel in good shape and have practised running at the desired pace so I'm hopeful of breaking it. Failing that I'd like to go under 36 minutes for only the second time in 6 attempts.

History of the Blaydon Races

Blaydon Races lyrics
I went to Blaydon races
Twas on the 9th of June
Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Two
On a summer's afternoon
I took the bus from Balmbras
And she was heavy laden
Away we went along Collingwood Street
To see the race at Blaydon

Chorus:
Oh me lads, you should've seen us gannin
Passing the folks along the road
And all of them were starin'
All the lads and lasses there
They all had smilin' faces
Gannin along the Scotswood Road
To see the Blaydon races

We flew past Armstrong's factory
And up by the Robin Adair
But gannin ower the Railway Bridge
The bus wheel flew off there
The lasses lost their crinolenes
And veils that hide their faces
I got two black eyes and a broken nose
In gannin to Blaydon races

Chorus

Now when we got the wheel back on
Away we went again
But them that had their noses broke
They went back ower hyem
Some went to the dispensary
And some to Doctor Gibbs
And some to the infirmary
To mend their broken ribs

Chorus

We flew across the Chain Bridge
Reet into Blaydon Toon
The barman he was calling then
They called him Jackie Broon
I saw him talking to some chaps
And them he was persuadin'
To gan and see Geordie Ridley's show
At the Mechanics' Hall in Blaydon

Chorus

Now when we got to Paradise
There were bonny games begun
There were four and twenty on the bus
And how we danced and sung
They called on me to sing a song
So I sang 'em 'Paddy Fagan'
I danced a jig and I swung me twig
The day I went to Blaydon

Chorus

The rain it poured down all the day
And made the ground quite muddy
Coffee Johnny had a white hat on
The old wife stole a cuddy
There were spice stalls and monkey shows
And old wives selling ciders
And the chap on the ha'penny roundabout
Saying 'Any more lads for riders?

Chorus

Bouncing back

Another week of training and I feel energised. After the months of long, hard marathon training I'm really getting in to my shorter training sessions. With a week until the Blaydon Race I'm feeling confident of at least threatening my personal best for the event. My current record is 35:27 set way back in June 2000. Last year, on a hot summer's evening I produced my next best performance with a 36:08. These times are my primary and secondary targets for this year's race. Challenging but not impossible, my speed and confidence seem to be returning at just the right time.

Training has gone well recently with a mixture of short interval sessions and steady paced 6-8 mile runs. This morning I ran one of my long-standing routes along to Tynemouth Priory (6.7 miles). Despite a couple of bottles of ale and half a bottle of red wine last night, I clocked a pretty reasonable time of 45:34. It was a great morning for a run along the coast, although perhaps just a little too warm for my body's liking. I often plod along during solo training sessions but I managed to keep the pace going and maintained an average of 6:46 per mile with a fastest mile of 6:34. Of course I'll have to pick up the pace significantly to hit my targets next Saturday (around 6:10 per mile) but I'm feeling good and ready for the challenge.