Perkins Great Eastern Run, Peterborough

So this Autumn rather than trying to chip away on the marathon PB I decided that I was going to have a ‘rest’ from marathons and instead turn my attentions to a hard and fast half marathon. I have not focused exclusively on a half marathon before rather I have done them as part of my marathon training, either as sub maximal efforts on tired legs or attempted marathon pace sessions in a long run. My previous PB was set earlier this year at Paddock Wood when I did 72:01. Although that was not all out, I don’t think there was much more to give either perhaps one minute at absolute best. That obviously left me tempted to aim towards breaking 70 minutes for the half this autumn.

The build-up to this race had been at best OK but nowhere near where I wanted it to be. I struggled through the summer with a few niggles that for once actually stopped me from running and then life seemed to get in the way a couple of times which meant a few missed runs. I had also struggled a little getting to race weight and was probably about 4lbs over where I would like to be when at my best racing weight. As the race approached though, I had managed to get some decent sessions in (such as this one) that gave me confidence that I could give it a good stab.

Running under 70 minutes means covering each of the 13.1 miles in about 5:20 per mile. I had run a 10k PB two weeks before the race with a 32:41 which is 5:16 per mile so I needed to maintain a slightly slower pace for over twice the distance on the day! A daunting task indeed but one that I was prepared to give a go. I was also aware that the Great Eastern run generally has a reasonably competitive field so there should  be folks to run with who had a similar target to mine.

Hania, Mia and I travelled up the night before so we didn’t have a longish drive in the morning and I was pleased we did. I even managed to have over eight hours sleep and awoke feeling ready for action. Four slices of white bread with raspberry jam and a large cup of coffee later and it was off to the start.

I bumped into a few guys from Kent AC who were gunning for the team prize (they won incidentally) and saw Chris Greenwood who I learned from Stuart Beaney was also going for a sub 70 time. Good stuff. The gun went or was it a hooter? And I am all of a sudden boxed in behind the elite ladies. Did some jinking and quickly get through and tag onto a nice little group which included Chris, Paul Marchant and James Rodgers amongst a few others. The pace was good from the off and we were quickly into our stride with a 5:17.6 opening mile. The group started to settle with both Chris and I at the front and everyone else tucking in behind. At the time, this annoyed me a little as although there wasn’t much wind to speak of nobody other than us really wanted to do any of the work of pulling the group along. I gradually gained more confidence to drop back a few strides and let others take it on occasionally, but Chris remained stoic out in front. The next few miles ticked by in 5:16.6, 5:20.6, 5:18.6. It was at this point that I started to assess how I was actually feeling. Despite being on pace, only five miles (5:18.8) in there was still a very long way to go. But it felt OK so on we go. I remember looking at my watch halfway through the sixth mile and I don’t know if there was any gradient at all but the pace had slipped so I had to work hard to pull the group along back to the tempo we had before. This slight slowing resulted in a slower mile of 5:26.9 but it was OK. Next target was to get to halfway - we went through the halfway point in 34:57 – 3 seconds in the bank! Everything still felt bearable. Just. The seventh mile was back on track with a 5:19.8. As we hit the seven mile marker and started our turn for home Chris suddenly put in an injection of pace and I tried to stick with it for a bit but I was conscious that I was really starting to work very hard to keep hold of him. So he Paul and one other gradually started to pull away. It’s at these critical points in a race where you can look back after the event either with regret or pride at the decision you took. Hand on heart I can say I am happy I didn’t try to hold on as it probably wouldn’t have turned out the way it did in the end had I tried to stick with the pace. Mile 8 was a 5:17.5 so despite the fact that It was the second quickest of the race the others had still put on about another 10-15 metres on me.

The plan now is to really hold the concentration together and just keep focusing. Positive mental attitude. You can do it, you can break 70. So what if it hurts, it won’t for too much longer. This is what those 5am training sessions were for! Get to nine miles, get to ten, just 5k left, etc, etc. I was really starting to hurt but the ninth mile slipped by with a 5:18.7. Good. That’s another mile closer to the target. Through to 10 with a 5:16.1 and I pass one of the chaps who has dropped off Chris’ breakaway group. Went through 10 miles in 53:11. There’s less than 17 minutes of pain left now. Just keep those guys in your sights and keep working. Do it. Ignore your legs. Relax your breathing, try to keep good form. It’s slipping. Through 11 with a 5:23.6. Still fine, there is a bit of time in the bank. Although I’m really struggling with the calculations at this point, the Garmin tells me it’s all OK! How can 2.1 miles seem so far? It does. Keep driving. Focus, focus. I can see another guy in front who is wilting. Pull him in. Hit twelve miles with a 5:20.4 and fly past the guy who went off too quick. It gives me confidence to push on. I finally complete the thirteenth mile with a 5:18.5 and now it’s all about a sprint finish. Why can one always muster a little more when they see those magical letters FINISH emblazoned loud and proud on an inflatable arch? I did and completed the last 0.1mile in 33 seconds (4:52 pace) with fist pumps and “get-in theres” galore. Cross the line in 8^th place and now a proud owner of a PB of 69:46 covering the second half in 34:49 so a marginal negative split. One very happy runner here. Full details below. Check out the heart rate over those last few miles to see how hard I was working.

It was then off to meet Hania and Mia who had proudly cheered me over the finish line. Mia couldn’t wait to take my medal off me though.