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| The past is always present in Bath |
I'm starting to write this blog post as I enjoy the beautiful late Sunday afternoon sunshine from the passenger seat of the VW on the way home to St Albans after a fantastic weekend in the west country. After two months of training interspersed with the occasional trip down memory lane, this was the weekend when Project Five O got properly underway. Sunday 6th March. The Bath Half Marathon. My first race of the year.
I'll get to the race itself shortly. The weekend wasn't just about the half marathon, however. It was a welcome weekend away in a beautiful part of the country. We made our way relatively unhindered by the usual Friday night congestion, and arrived at the picturesque village of Freshford, near to Bath at around 7:30 pm. Our destination was the lovely house of my uncle David, whose legendary hospitality was as generous as ever throughout the weekend.
After a traditional English breakfast on Saturday morning, we travelled the short distance on a crowded train from Freshford to Bath.
The main focus of this first of trip into the city to see the impressive Roman Baths. This was my second visit and felt even more enjoyable than my first due to the chance to listen to the thoughts of the always interesting Bill Bryson via the audio device provided to visitors to listen to on the way round. Other attractions take note - this was included in the entry price, not an optional extra at further cost.
There is a real sense of the distant pass at the Baths and the ingenuity and technical achievements of the Romans, way ahead of their time, never cease to fascinate me. Travelling back in time, however, is hungry work and we were ready for a very modern day lunch at Yo Sushi followed by a heavenly toffee apple from the Fudge Kitchen Shop.
As I had already consumed two helpings of summer fruit strudel with ice cream for my dessert the previous evening, I was beginning to worry that all of my training and reasonably healthy eating thus far in 2011 would be undone by this onslaught of puddings just when I needed to be at my fittest and lightest. Mind you, it didn't stop me from indulging in a second helping of apple crumble and ice cream following David's chicken curry later the very same day!
Anyway, enough of the build-up. Race day arrived distinctly chilly and overcast. David dropped me off near the start in Great Pulteney Street. After feeding what rapidly appeared to be turning into a pudding addiction with a pancake smothered with lemon and sugar from a stall in the 'Runner's Village' I joined a field of 15,000 waiting for the start.
As soon as I passed through the start line I felt comfortable, and set off at a steady pace that I was able to stick to without difficulty as I passed the half way mark. I was still feeling good, but having struggled badly in the second half of most races I have entered since 2006, I kept thinking "This can't last. Any time now I'm going to start getting a pain in my knee or hip or the strength is going to ebb from my muscles." Remarkably, though, I just kept going and barely slowed at all until the torturous half mile incline leading back up to the finishing straight in Great Pulteney Street. I crossed the finishing line in my fastest time for a half marathon since 2006, and although it was still 17 minutes short of my personal best, it was my third best time ever and over 26 minutes faster than I ran (or more accurately started running and then hobbled) last year.
I still think my 2:09 at Fleet may prove beyond my capabilities five years on, but nevertheless I was thrilled by my performance today. It's really encouraged and motivated me to push on and stretch myself in the challenges to come. But of course, first must come the post-race analysis. The secret of my promising return to form needs to be scrutinised by Hawk Eye and Hotspot for the benefit of geriatric runners of the future.
Well, here are what I think are the four key factors behind my improved performance.
1. Puddings. In all seriousness, having eaten pretty healthily since the beginning of the year, I reckon that my last minute burst of glucose-rich carbohydrates turbo-charged my leg muscles at the ideal time, leaving them bursting with 13.1 miles worth of strength and endurance.
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| One of the original houses in the village. |
After a traditional English breakfast on Saturday morning, we travelled the short distance on a crowded train from Freshford to Bath.
The main focus of this first of trip into the city to see the impressive Roman Baths. This was my second visit and felt even more enjoyable than my first due to the chance to listen to the thoughts of the always interesting Bill Bryson via the audio device provided to visitors to listen to on the way round. Other attractions take note - this was included in the entry price, not an optional extra at further cost.
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| Steam rising from the hot spring water of Aquae Sulis |
There is a real sense of the distant pass at the Baths and the ingenuity and technical achievements of the Romans, way ahead of their time, never cease to fascinate me. Travelling back in time, however, is hungry work and we were ready for a very modern day lunch at Yo Sushi followed by a heavenly toffee apple from the Fudge Kitchen Shop.
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| Mine's the second from the right at the front on the top shelf! |
As I had already consumed two helpings of summer fruit strudel with ice cream for my dessert the previous evening, I was beginning to worry that all of my training and reasonably healthy eating thus far in 2011 would be undone by this onslaught of puddings just when I needed to be at my fittest and lightest. Mind you, it didn't stop me from indulging in a second helping of apple crumble and ice cream following David's chicken curry later the very same day!
Anyway, enough of the build-up. Race day arrived distinctly chilly and overcast. David dropped me off near the start in Great Pulteney Street. After feeding what rapidly appeared to be turning into a pudding addiction with a pancake smothered with lemon and sugar from a stall in the 'Runner's Village' I joined a field of 15,000 waiting for the start.
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| In Henrietta Street - about 300 metres back from the start in Great Pulteney Street |
As soon as I passed through the start line I felt comfortable, and set off at a steady pace that I was able to stick to without difficulty as I passed the half way mark. I was still feeling good, but having struggled badly in the second half of most races I have entered since 2006, I kept thinking "This can't last. Any time now I'm going to start getting a pain in my knee or hip or the strength is going to ebb from my muscles." Remarkably, though, I just kept going and barely slowed at all until the torturous half mile incline leading back up to the finishing straight in Great Pulteney Street. I crossed the finishing line in my fastest time for a half marathon since 2006, and although it was still 17 minutes short of my personal best, it was my third best time ever and over 26 minutes faster than I ran (or more accurately started running and then hobbled) last year.
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| Passing through Queens Square after about 7 miles |
I still think my 2:09 at Fleet may prove beyond my capabilities five years on, but nevertheless I was thrilled by my performance today. It's really encouraged and motivated me to push on and stretch myself in the challenges to come. But of course, first must come the post-race analysis. The secret of my promising return to form needs to be scrutinised by Hawk Eye and Hotspot for the benefit of geriatric runners of the future.
Well, here are what I think are the four key factors behind my improved performance.
2. A nice little link with Roman times here - grapes. My usual practice is to boost my energy on the way round by eating a Jelly Baby every time I pass a mile marker. I'd forgotten to buy any this time and so popped a bunch of grapes into my bum bag on Sunday morning. Not only did a couple of the seedless wonders once a mile seem to inject just as much energy as a JB, they left my mouth feeling fresh and unsticky.
3. Boobs. Let me explain. 144 runners, including television presenter Fearne Cotton, were running with an inflatable breast attached either to their front or back in support of the Breast Cancer charity coppafeel. It was quite a sight to behold and the large mammaries were the subject of many a ribald comment out on the course (not from me I might add, although the experience did rather change my mental image of the phrase "tweaking a muscle")
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| "Jogging for Jugs": http://www.coppafeel.org/ |
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| Fearne and friend |
Between the 7 and 10 mile markers I found myself running behind two girls each with a boob attached to their back. They were running at just the right speed to act as perfect pace makers and the rhythmic swaying of their (imitation) breasts was almost hypnotic. The part of a half marathon that I have really struggled with recently just flew by!
4. Having a realistic training plan and sticking to it. All of the above would have had no effect whatsoever if I'd not trained properly. I have built up slowly but have resisted all temptation so far to skip a training run. With the help of a sports massage from Stan I have avoided injury, and the extra hamstring stretching he recommended has definitely helped too.
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| Another medal for my collection |
So, a fantastic race as part of a great weekend. Newham 10K on 27th March is next - bring it on!
Project Fiveo seems an exciting way to celebrate being Five0...
ReplyDeleteMon Dieu you must be healthy! Bon continuation for the rest of the year and I'll be tuning in as you trickle news through.
Love from cousin Jane (Phipps)