Torbay Half Marathon

I'm pleased to say I got around Torbay Half Marathon yesterday in a time I was pleased with in the circumstances.  I haven't raced since March due to an achilles issue, but had entered Torbay back in January as it is my local race and one that I try and attend if possible.

As part of my role as Teignbridge Trotters Press Officer, I got all the Trotters together before the race  and my wife took a team picture.  That is below.

I purposefully started right at the back of the 2000+ strong field to stop me going off too quickly, and I got into my stride ok after a couple of miles.  I saw Steve Way on the course, and also in the queue for the loos (how's that for a claim to fame?).

I got around in 1:57:04 (unofficial) and I'm genuinely pleased with that.  It was a bit of a confidence booster really because I've been struggling since March and this is the furthest I've ran for a while.  It's a bit sobering looking back as last year I did 1:43 on this course and in March I did a 1:38, but yesterday genuinely wasn't about PB chasing.  It was about seeing if I could run the distance with no major issues, and I really enjoyed the event.  I'll see how I feel in the next couple of days to see how the achilles are before saying for sure if this event was a success for me, but as I'm typing this I'm cautiously optimistic.

This is a picture of me and a mate who I was running with for a mile or so....

Mentioning Steve Way, in case anyone isn't aware, he is a great British runner, who was third Brit at London, recently broke a 100K record and is representing England at the marathon at the Commonwealth Games.  Reading his blog is mind-boggling....on the day of the race he did 20:22 miles, including the Torbay Half in 67:49, and then did a further 6  miles that afternoon.  This was part of a 132 mile week, with an average of 6:02min/mile.   I think it's safe to say he's a class act, and I was looking forward to being on the same course as him, albeit miles behind!

However, I was getting on my high horse, again, yesterday.  It was only with my wife though, and she's used to it!  I think this chap is a phenomenal and he was wandering around at the start and no one knew who he was.  Even the announcer at the start of the race didn't mention him as someone to look out for (she did at the end, but said he was representing Great Britain at the Commonwealths, which is wrong, as he's representing England).  I know she was only announcing what she was given to read out, but still.

From his blog of the day, him and his wife and dogs camped in a camper van the night before the race.  This is a chap who is representing his country in a few weeks time!

I know there are loads of other athletes doing great things in sports I haven't got a keen interest in, but is it a bit strange that generally they're unheard of?  Or am I on my own in thinking this?  My wife just thinks it's because I'm interested in running that I've heard of him (which is obviously true).  Also, she said the fact that he works hard isn't enough to capture interest of the public, and reluctantly I have to agree with her.  However, I still find what he's doing inspiring and I'm hoping he does well in Glasgow..

He has a range of "Don't be shit" shirts to support him through the Games, and I've ordered one...

Here he is in the final straight.

Torbay Half Marathon completed in 1:43:36

I'm really pleased to say that I completed the Torbay Half Marathon yesterday in a course record time of 1:43:36.  I'm happy with this time as it is a strong course record for me with my previous best on this course being 1:55:16 from 2007.  Also, last year I struggled around in 2:00:16 so this is nearly 17 minutes quicker (i.e., about 1min 20seconds per mile, which is quite a big improvement).

It was a great race for many reasons:

• As well as me running the event, my wife, sister-in-law and my father-in-law were all running the race and we all finished the event being really happy with our respective times.
• It was the first relatively large event that I ran where a large number of club mates were also participating.  About 40 Teignbridge Trotters did the event and there were lots of other Trotters out on the course cheering everyone on, which was great and really added to the atmosphere.
• Prior to the race I had arranged to meet up with an old school friend and his brother.  I hadn't seen the school mate for probably nearly 20 years, although I do see his brother occasionally when I'm out running.  It was great to meet up for a couple of beers after the race with them and hopefully we'll do it again soon.

I'm skirting around the subject, but as I mentioned in a previous post I wanted to do well in this event and I wanted to beat my sister-in-law.  We had a bet on which said the loser would buy a round of drinks after the race and  I'm pleased to say that I managed to beat her (it could be said that I annihilated her...) quite comfortably with my 1:43:36 against her 1:48:19.  This is the first time I've managed to beat her and it's good that her time of 1:48 would previously comfortably have been good enough, so it does show that my training is paying off.  She did really well too though, and she's already challenged me for a rematch on this course next year.

In terms of the preparation for the event, I think I learned a few things from it.  I have tracked my calorie intake in the run up to the event on MFP and although it was (obviously) way over for the days prior to the event I felt more prepared for an event than ever before.  Basically, if I was hungry I ate more or less what I wanted, with the focus on carbs.  For example, on Saturday afternoon I found myself feeling peckish and even though it was only a couple of hours until our evening meal I bought a large cheese baguette.  I think this mentality and approach really helped.

Also, the event itself went well.  The splits for the event were 8:20, 8:05, 7:53, 7:43, 7:48, 8:01, 7:37, 7:49, 7:48, 7:39, 7:43, 8:28, 7:39.  It was a slow first mile as it always tends to be at these relatively big events (1500+ finishers) but this suits me really as it forces me to start off steadily.  The 8:28 for the 12th mile is due to a hill so although it may look like I was drastically tiring there, the hill is the reason.  Looking at the Garmin I negative split by about 20 seconds so I'm pleased with that too!

Weather conditions were more or less perfect I'd say as it was cool with a bit of drizzle in the air for some of it.  For about 2 miles (2 lots of 1 mile from Torquay back towards Paignton) there was a bit of a headwind but it was manageable.

It's unfortunate that it's not a PB (1:42:02 at Bideford from March is my PB) but I'm still really pleased as I think Torbay is a tougher course.  Yesterday was the end of the the first week of my Autumn marathon training plan, so I'm starting in good shape for that I hope.

So, all in all, a great event...made even better by me getting a couple of cheeky beers in at my SiL's expense!

Autumn marathon?

I did a 13 mile LSR last night; it was supposed to be 14 miles, but I somehow miscalculated the route and only noticed when I got home!  Anyway, it ended up being 11 miles at 10min/mile pace and then for the last two I purposefully stepped it up and did them in 7:40 and 7:31, which I was really pleased with.  I was tired at the end, but felt good.


Part of my LSR yesterday included a loop of the Torbay route.  Before I joined Teignbridge Trotters the vast majority of my training was on that route.  I used to park at a leisure centre as I was a gym member (I've since ditched the membership) and run from there.  I think a relatively large number of Teignbridge Trotters are invading Torbay again for the Half.  Last time I checked I think there were 30-odd Trotters entered so it should be a good event.

I'm planning a slow 6-8 tonight after work, and then hoping to get to a parkrun tomorrow for the second time in two weeks (my first ever parkrun was last week).

I've found myself looking at other marathons.  I was very tempted with Florence marathon in November as I know a couple of people who are doing it.  It looks a great place, but I can't really justify the time off work for it and flying out Friday and back Monday would mean two days off work, and being a teacher my wife couldn't come either.  So looking at UK ones I looked at Bournemouth but at 50 quid, that's a rip off so I'm definitely not doing that!  Isle of Wight looks interesting, but I hear they sometimes get traffic issues getting over and back.  Therefore, top contenders at the moment are New Forest in September or Dartmoor Vale in October.  I fancy the New Forest one as it gets good reviews, but timing/training wise it may be a few weeks too early.  Dartmoor Vale is local to me so logistically is much easier, but there's a massive hill on the course.  I have done the Dartmoor Vale Half a couple of times which means for the marathon course I'd have to do the hill twice, so not sure on that.  On the halfs I've done I remember thinking "Hmmm, I couldn't face doing this course twice!".

I've got plenty of time to book something, but it's strange I find myself looking at another one now.  After my marathon in May I had told myself I wouldn't look to do another one until next year but I find myself researching ones for this year anyway...

A quick catchup

I haven't blogged since the marathon a couple of weeks ago but I'm pleased to say that I've been keeping the running going.

Since the marathon I've done a total of 7 sessions with nothing too severe and totalling about 36 miles.  I've generally felt pretty good with no major niggles.  In fact this morning, I did a cracking run near the town I was brought up in and took this photo along the way.  Although I hd my Garmin with me, it was nice not worrying about pace and I just went out and ran for the enjoyment, which was great.

I'm turning towards getting a plan sorted out for the next event, which is the Torbay Half Marathon in June.  There's not long to train now, but I've got a plan sorted and I'll give it my best shot.  If it's hot though, any chance of a PB will be scuppered and it's also a fairly hilly course so we'll see how that goes.  Torbay traditionally has been my "A-Race" and I want to do well in it, especially as my Sister-In-Law (who is younger, fitter and faster than me) is running it this year.  A (not so!) secret aim for me is to beat her at this event!

Not that I consider myself "advanced" in anyway, but I've purchased a copy of the renowned Advanced Marathoning by Pfitzinger and Douglas (commonly known as P&D).  I feel I'm a long way off of going for their training plans which start with a plan that peaks at 55 miles per week and go up to 85+ miles per week).  Never-the-less, some of the concepts in their book are really useful for a relatively low mileage runner like me.  Also, it is interesting to see what is required to get the best out of yourself for the marathon, so it's a good/motivating book to have from that perspective too.

I do feel in a position where I'm really motivated to build on the fitness I've built up over the last few weeks and months and other than the Half in June and a 10K in August, I'm trying to work out what my next steps are.  I still think the Half marathon is my favourite distance and I'd like to chip away at that time and I think that is my main aim.  I am already thinking about another marathon and I haven't got a short list or anything, but a secondary aim is to do another marathon and get under 4 hours.

I'll see how the training pans out over the summer months and see where I am with the fitness.  Although I'm now building up again for the June Half, I must admit that I still don't feel that I've got the marathon out of my legs.

Another decision to make is around my weight and food.  I've stabilised at 13st (which traditionally is a very good weight for me) but deep down I know that this isn't the perfect running weight.  The easy thing to do would be to keep doing what I'm doing and I think in reality this may be the option I choose.  I've lost the last stone in weight relatively easily, but I think if I try and lose another (say) half a stone it will be tough to do and some changes will have to be made to my diet.  I don't know if I'm ready to do that just yet!