I got to the Torbay 10K start line in good shape so was raring to go at the 6pm start. I've done this course a few times before and know there can be a bit of a bottleneck so I stood in the first quarter of the field hoping that would mean I'd have a clear run out, which worked out to be the case. I also don't feel I held any quicker runners up, so I stood in about the right spot for me I think. The conditions were good - it was dry, but not too hot and there was a bit of a breeze. This "bit of a breeze" was a headwind for maybe 1 mile of the course, but it wasn't too bad.
I know the course very well and I had promised myself that I would go out steadily and leave something for a strongish finish and the first mile was done in 7:10, which was actually a bit quicker than I had anticipated but I felt okay. The second mile includes a reasonable hill but then miles 3, 4 and 5 are basically flat and I had planned to use this part of the course to settle into a rhythm and see how I felt, knowing that the 6th mile includes an uphill section, before a fast downhill section to the finish. I was gasping at the end and the last 200m were very hard, but I kept a reasonable pace so I think that means I paced the race well, which I'm pleased about.
Looking back, I think that it all came together and I managed a chip time of 45:31 so I'm pleased. This isn't a PB (my PB is on an easier course than this), but it is a strong course record as I've knocked over 4 minutes off of the time from last year, which at that point was my PB. It was after this race last year that I decided to join a running club, and I'm really glad I did. I'm sure Mo wouldn't do this, but we did have a couple of beers and some pizza to celebrate!
My wife also did great and managed a PB as well, so she was really pleased.
The last 12 months
It was immediately after 2012's Torbay 10K that I decided to join the Teignbridge Trotters and I'm so glad I did. It feels like the right time to review the last 12 months as I know my running has come on so much, plus I've met loads of people through the Club which is very friendly and welcoming. My PBs in 10K, Halfs and the marathon have tumbled in the last 12 months, and I've lost about 1.5 stone in weight and about 5% in body fat (according to my scales, which I'm not sure how accurate they are on the body fat %), which has helped as well!
Turning a bit towards my inner geek, Garmin Connect has some reports that can let you analyse lots of things and below are a few highlights .
- In the last year I've done 1564 miles, which is way more than I've ever done and is an average of 30 miles per week, every week.
- This shows I have been very consistent, which I think has been part of the the key and I'm hoping to keep that going, depending on injuries.
- According to my Garmin, I've burned nearly 250,000 calories! Again, I'm not sure how accurate this is but it's probably in about the right area. That is a lot of pizza that be consumed to make up for that shortfall....!
- For the majority of the last 12 months, I've done either 4 or 5 runs per week with 4 weeks where I planned only 3 sessions per week before an event. There are just two exceptions to this. The first week in January I picked up an injury so only did one session that week and for a holiday in April I only got two sessions in. I think that is pretty consistent and has definitely helped with my running.
I have no real targets in mind, apart from to keep up the running with the club and to see if I can continue chipping away at those times. I know I've been really lucky with injures this past 12 months and hopefully that will remain the case. This time twelve months ago, if anyone asked I wouldn't really have called myself as "a runner". This year, if anyone asked I do count my self as a runner and I have really got the bug!
One thing I think I need to do is start to become more structured in my training, which I will try and look at before a Spring marathon attempt where I'd like to go sub-4 hours. I think that is my main goal and I think is achievable on the right day.
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