Decisions, decisions...

Now I'm not exactly the perfect example of physical fitness. In fact I'm far more of a:

than:

and despite my best efforts that doesn't appear to be a'changin'.

As a result of this (and the contents of my wallet) I have to pick and choose some of my battles (races). An example of which is coming up in March. Consecutive weekends present me with the San Dominico 20 and the Merthyr Half Marathon.

Both in my home town, both attractive possibilities, both currently listed on my year to date page. However, my robust backside may not be in the shape to do both... so decision time.

If it came to it and it may come to it, I think I'll do the half marathon. It's the bigger event and I did it last year so have a time to aim for (1:58 last year, was my first race and 2nd run back from a nasty knee injury) and it's got it's own junior race for my oldest sprog to run in.

However, San Dom would be the biggest challenge.... 

Oh why organise them so close! Which will I do, stay tuned to find out!

Race report - Lliswerry 8

It was a damp old morning when I pulled it in Newport stadium, It was raining and the attached building was rammed full of the runners not wanted to get pre race wet!

What was it like?

Well the race was all pretty flat (as promised) and generally took you through a fairly rural setting, lots of fields (and associated smells). Roads were marshaled well, but for the most part open. Surface was nice and even even if today puddles were plentiful! Sorry to the other runner I splashed at one point.

Crowding wasn't bad, usually plenty of room to get round people (or them get round me anyway!)

Anyone who has ever complained about headphone bans in road races, need to do this and witness the justification first hand.

Overall, a nice race! Well worth doing.

How did I do?

Well my ambitions were:

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me today:
1:10:00 (8:45 min/ml)

Achievable:
1:15:00 (9:22 min/ml)

Baseline:
1:20:00 (10 min/ml)

and I did...



Yeah, comfortable on all targets... and I was comfortable with my home 4 miles faster than my out 4. Good stuff

Thoughts:

I'm not sure how I misjudged this one, I'm happy with my time (official time was 1 second on top!) but wasn't really expecting to be that fast or that comfortable. Thios bodes well! This is a positive!

Until next time!

Race Day - Lliswerry 8

I do love a race day, and today is my first (non-parkrun) race of 2017!

It's time for the Lliswerry 8 in good old Newport South Wales. 8 miles of road running claiming to be the flattest race in the universe or something (been told it is pretty flat). Surprisingly tough race to get into, sold out in a few hours this year after a midnight opening and a minor runners world disaster. Not a huge race, field in the hundreds rather than thousands, but there's plenty of time for the larger races as the year goes on a bit (Cardiff Half Marathon I'm looking at you).

I can't really say I'm 100% in the mood, but I'll feel more up for it at the time.

Goals for the day:

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me today:
1:10:00 (8:45 min/ml)

Achievable:
1:15:00 (9:22 min/ml)

Baseline:
1:20:00 (10 min/ml)

Start time is a very late 11:30, no number or anything yet as it's a pick-up-on-the-day kind of deal.

Forecast... is pretty rough to be honest, it's raining now