Tynedale 10k - 39.06

Spent the afternoon getting caught in a torrential downpour picking the kids up from school, navigating flooded roads and a major lightning storm. Fortunately by race time things had cleared a little. Still cloudy and some drizzle but quite sticky and hot. The course is undulating with more downhills than up, but as we all know the uphills hurt more than any downhill helps. Wasn't sure of my race plan but thought I'd go out optimistically at PB pace (38:01) and see what happens. Mile 1 is all downhill. Tried not to get carried away and go to fast. Purposely hung back behind runners I usually beat and yet still hit the mile 1 marker in 5.45. At least I hadn't got as carried away as many others and I managed to pick a few off in mile 2, recording an undulating 6.11 split. A leading contender in the ladies race passed me and I tucked in behind her. Legs we're beginning to hurt but we closed on the group ahead even though the pace had slowed. It was a 6.18 for mile 3. The next mile took in the birthplace of George Stephenson but I couldn't take off like a rocket, in fact I was beginning to realise the PB was well out of reach tonight. More ups than downs now and me and my unofficial pacemaker clocked a 6.24 for mile 4. Now every little incline seemed like a mountain and mentally I eased off. My watch bleeped as we went through mile 5 but I didn't even check the split time knowing it would be a demotivating factor (it was a 6.38). Into the last mile and I seemed to have nothing left. The woman I'd been following eased away from me and one or two blokes overtook me. Finally I found some motivation and I managed to dig in for the last half mile or so. I picked up the pace and almost felt guilty as I caught and overtook my 'pacemaker'. As I did another of the fast ladies came whizzing by me. I tried to go with her but to no avail. Mile 6 was a 6.24. Managed a decent sprint in the last 200 metres and clocked a time of 39.04. Seems most people ran slower than usual, so my time was not bad. A bit disappointed I gave in to the 'Why do I do this mentality?' in the latter stages of the race. Feeling a bit lethargic probably not going to race again this month then target a 10k PB in August before I go on holiday. Morpeth 10k is a possibility.

Blaydon Race - 36.08

Can't beat an event that puts a bottle of Brown Ale in the goody bag.

Race report - (mile splits are from garmin and a little short)

Pre-race a bit sketchy on my targets. They changed the route last year so by default it was a PB of 37:17. Hoped to beat that and also go 36.xx. Start was well controlled this year and I managed to get a decent spot without too much argy-bargy. First mile twists through the streets of Newcastle, its easy to get carried away and go off too fast so I hang back behind a couple of club-mates who I know I'm faster than. Congestion is manageable as we head past Central Station, Centre for Life and then the Boyzone fans at the Arena. First mile 6.01 - a tad fast but feels good.

Then out 'alang the Scotswood Road'. Another club-mate comes past me, I tag in just behind him and he kindly takes me through mile 2 in a steady 6.08. I decide to do a bit of the pace-making but he can't hang on. Next thing I know I'm passing one of the elite women from Africa (she's having a bad day - but looks great). A slight downhill section helps me to a 6.03 for mile 3.

Across the Scotswood Bridge and down the out and back loop along the river. There's a water station but its plastic cups so I decide its not worth the effort - I'll only spill it down my front anyway. There's a tight 180 degree turn and we head for home. I realise I didn't hear the mile split on my garmin (it was a 6.14) but decide not too mess around with it and run the rest on feel - and I'm feeling pretty good.

I tuck in behind another runner who seems to be cruising along despite making some weird breathing noises. I take a second glance and notice he's in his late 60s. At the next incline I leave him behind ... or so I think, 20 seconds later he's in front of me again. We hit the 5 mile marker (6.08) and up another incline I finally leave him behind.

The last section of the race can be cruel with a couple of hills and some twists and turns but I've run this race so many times I know exactly what's coming. I'm still feeling strong so start to wind up the pace and am passing quite a few. As we turn into Blaydon I'm giving it everything and trying to overtake as many as possible. One last sprint for the line and stop the watch at 36.08. Very pleased, better than I'd anticipated and according to WAVA rating (72.52) my best race performance ever.

Druridge Bay 10k - 41.31

I ran the Druridge Bay 10k on Sunday, a nice course but in hindsight not good for a PB attempt. Hoped for a 37.xx ... got a 41.30! First 3k was fine with 3.44, 3.50, 3.51splits but then the course headed out onto the beach for a mile and a half stretch. I knew this in advance but the organisers said it would be wet sand, which it was, but they didn't mention the sand would consist of thick, ankle-spraining, ridges. Then coming off the beach there was an energy sapping stretch over dry sand. By this time my race was pretty much over. It was a sparse field and I ran the second half of the race almost entirely alone. I started thinking of my next event (Blaydon Race) long before the finish line. Finished in 10th place.

To sum up, I started brightly before fading and went down meekly when the going got tough. Sounds just like my football team on Sunday afternoon!!

London Marathon 2009 - 3:15:18

I'm pleased with my own effort despite being 19 seconds above the sub-3:15 target. Historically I don't do well in warm weather but managed to keep things reasonably steady and enjoyed every minute of it. Kept the hand brake on through the early stages, maintained the pace through the Docklands and got to 20 ready to give it everything. During those last 6 miles two things were going through my head

* "When the time comes, be a CAN"
* "Better to be the overtaker than the overtaken"

By the time I hit 24 miles I was overtaking quite a few. I knew I had to push on to go sub 3:15. It felt like I was cruising along at sub 7 min mile pace but unfortunately it was actually just over 7:30s and when I hit the 385 yards to go sign I knew it was all over. Nevertheless I gave it everything down The Mall just to squeeze every last drop out.

This was my 5th FLM and without doubt the most enjoyable. I took in every minute of it and for the first time really appreciated the noise level of the crowds. I knew the warm weather had the potential to spoil my day so I made sure to keep the early pace steady, wore a hat to protect my head and used pretty much every feed station. Full bottle of Lucozade at 5, 10, 15, 19, 23. Gels at 7, 12, 17, 21. Took a couple of mouthfuls of water at most of the stations, pouring some on my head.

After 5 marathon attempts I finally feel like I've got one sort of right.

3:05 - 3:10 next year.