Great Capital Run
This was my first "Great" run, and I wasn't sure what to expect from it. I didn't know how my legs would feel, and I didn't know how crowded it would be. Last year this race wasn't "Great", and it was a free for all at the start. This year there were different waves, but the success of that sort of start really does depend on people entering an honest time when they apply.
Since Edinburgh I've not felt like I'm running at my best. Some people seem to come off a marathon and whip round shorter races. I've been struggling, and I'm certainly not back at the speed I was before the marathon. But I was hoping that a couple of extra weeks since my last 10k (the Jane Tomlinson race) might have put some speed back in my legs.
On the other hand, my preparation on the Saturday was a bit altered from normal. Because I travelled down to London and spent the day with Jen, I ended up getting up earlier, drinking more, and eating more than I normally would the day before a race. And while I slept fairly well (for me), there's something about waking up in a strange bed and having a slightly different breakfast that just throws me a bit.
When we got to the race I had a bit of a jog round before the warmup, and realised that I didn't quite feel on top form. On Wednesday I fell on a club run and on Thursday my knee had ached a bit during a short run. I hadn't run since then and my knee did feel a lot better, but I just didn't feel like I was going to run particularly close to my PB. My fall back plan was to at least beat my Jane Tomlinson time ot 49:55.
The waved start worked pretty well for me. I can't remember what time I put down, but as it was in 5 minute increments I may have put 45 down rather than 50 (based on a PB of 47). That got me into the second proper wave to set off, and although I certainly wasn't one of the fastest in the wave, I certainly wasn't the slowest and I wasn't overtaken by too many from the wave behind who set off 3 minutes later.
Last year I was dodging walkers very early on in the race, this year it was pretty much clear and uncongested from fairly close to the start. There were plenty of people running of course, but there was always room to go round them without having to weave too tightly. Also far better than Jane Tomlinson. Last year it was also VERY hot, and despite the rubbishness of the summer so far, the sun came out again. Fantastic timing. The first time it's been seen for weeks and it beats down on my head during a race. It wasn't as hot as last year, but I still think it slowed me down a little, partly because I'm so unused to running in it!
I started off a bit fast, and then decided to take it easier. Unlike last year I kept running all the way round, and because the route doubles back in itself for a lot of the way, it was nice seeing the runners from later waves coming round. And the elite women and men who were way ahead of us. I saw Jen and gave her a wave, and saw some impressive looking fancy dress costumes (how anyone could think of running as a tap I'll never know...).
By half way I knew that a PB wasn't on, so just focussed on getting under 50 minutes. At 9k I was a little bit behind target so tried to pull off a fast finish, typically on the main uphill stretch of the course. Still, I managed to pass a fair few people going up (although not, sadly, the beer bottle which overtook me just before 9k), and snuck under my JT time at 49:50. I was 974th out of ???? (plus I did better than the thousands who registered and didn't turn up) which isn't too bad.
I'm kind of disappointed with that, because I know I can run faster than just sneaking under 50 minutes each time, but equally I'm quite happy that I now think of 50 minutes as a "disappointing" 10k time. Last year I just snuck under the hour, whereas now I'm consistently sub-50. And even though I've slowed down compared to my times immediately before Edinburgh, I'm still faster than I was when I started training for Edinburgh so there's no reason why I can't get back up to that standard again before Amsterdam.
I guess it doesn't hurt to have a reminder every now and then that you have to work to maintain form, it's not just a case of training up and then miraculously staying at that level. And if I peak for the right events, what's the harm in having some slower "fun" races in between. I don't need to get a PB every time I run.
In terms of the "Great" run experience, the bands didn't really increase my enjoyment of the race that much, the banded start was good, and the baggage reclaim was a shambles. There was lots of water and lucozade, so bonus points for that, and the t-shirt and medal were decent quality. It's sometimes nice to take part in an "event" rather than a "race", particularly when I'm not in racing form. But is it worth paying the substantial premium for it? I'm not sure to be honest. For that, possibly because the race entry was only part of the cost of the weekend - by the time I'd paid for train fares and meals out etc. But if it was closer to home, I'm not sure that there's much added value over a £6 club run 10k.
Since Edinburgh I've not felt like I'm running at my best. Some people seem to come off a marathon and whip round shorter races. I've been struggling, and I'm certainly not back at the speed I was before the marathon. But I was hoping that a couple of extra weeks since my last 10k (the Jane Tomlinson race) might have put some speed back in my legs.
On the other hand, my preparation on the Saturday was a bit altered from normal. Because I travelled down to London and spent the day with Jen, I ended up getting up earlier, drinking more, and eating more than I normally would the day before a race. And while I slept fairly well (for me), there's something about waking up in a strange bed and having a slightly different breakfast that just throws me a bit.
When we got to the race I had a bit of a jog round before the warmup, and realised that I didn't quite feel on top form. On Wednesday I fell on a club run and on Thursday my knee had ached a bit during a short run. I hadn't run since then and my knee did feel a lot better, but I just didn't feel like I was going to run particularly close to my PB. My fall back plan was to at least beat my Jane Tomlinson time ot 49:55.
The waved start worked pretty well for me. I can't remember what time I put down, but as it was in 5 minute increments I may have put 45 down rather than 50 (based on a PB of 47). That got me into the second proper wave to set off, and although I certainly wasn't one of the fastest in the wave, I certainly wasn't the slowest and I wasn't overtaken by too many from the wave behind who set off 3 minutes later.
Last year I was dodging walkers very early on in the race, this year it was pretty much clear and uncongested from fairly close to the start. There were plenty of people running of course, but there was always room to go round them without having to weave too tightly. Also far better than Jane Tomlinson. Last year it was also VERY hot, and despite the rubbishness of the summer so far, the sun came out again. Fantastic timing. The first time it's been seen for weeks and it beats down on my head during a race. It wasn't as hot as last year, but I still think it slowed me down a little, partly because I'm so unused to running in it!
I started off a bit fast, and then decided to take it easier. Unlike last year I kept running all the way round, and because the route doubles back in itself for a lot of the way, it was nice seeing the runners from later waves coming round. And the elite women and men who were way ahead of us. I saw Jen and gave her a wave, and saw some impressive looking fancy dress costumes (how anyone could think of running as a tap I'll never know...).
By half way I knew that a PB wasn't on, so just focussed on getting under 50 minutes. At 9k I was a little bit behind target so tried to pull off a fast finish, typically on the main uphill stretch of the course. Still, I managed to pass a fair few people going up (although not, sadly, the beer bottle which overtook me just before 9k), and snuck under my JT time at 49:50. I was 974th out of ???? (plus I did better than the thousands who registered and didn't turn up) which isn't too bad.
I'm kind of disappointed with that, because I know I can run faster than just sneaking under 50 minutes each time, but equally I'm quite happy that I now think of 50 minutes as a "disappointing" 10k time. Last year I just snuck under the hour, whereas now I'm consistently sub-50. And even though I've slowed down compared to my times immediately before Edinburgh, I'm still faster than I was when I started training for Edinburgh so there's no reason why I can't get back up to that standard again before Amsterdam.
I guess it doesn't hurt to have a reminder every now and then that you have to work to maintain form, it's not just a case of training up and then miraculously staying at that level. And if I peak for the right events, what's the harm in having some slower "fun" races in between. I don't need to get a PB every time I run.
In terms of the "Great" run experience, the bands didn't really increase my enjoyment of the race that much, the banded start was good, and the baggage reclaim was a shambles. There was lots of water and lucozade, so bonus points for that, and the t-shirt and medal were decent quality. It's sometimes nice to take part in an "event" rather than a "race", particularly when I'm not in racing form. But is it worth paying the substantial premium for it? I'm not sure to be honest. For that, possibly because the race entry was only part of the cost of the weekend - by the time I'd paid for train fares and meals out etc. But if it was closer to home, I'm not sure that there's much added value over a £6 club run 10k.
posted by YP at 8:26 PM
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