No London Baby!

Wait, what's this? I have an email... off no-reply@London.... oh balls.

I have now received confirmation, for the 6th(ish?) successive yea I have been unsuccessful in my ballot application to the London Marathon.

The ballot receives too many applications to be a realistic shout anyway, the system needs reviewing badly, as unless I come 14th on Big Brother or something so get given a place, manage to raise more money than I've ever managed in my entire life or take over an hour off my PB, I'm never running that race.

However, this will not get me down! I'm now planning a return trip to Manchester to redo my first ever marathon, which is also still my PB.

I'll get on that tonight!

There's also apparently a Newport one next year. I've never been a fan of the half (only done it once, no training, didn't enjoy) so I think Manc is the future.

Manchester baby!

Cardiff Half and Swansea 10k race reports

Well, I've had a productive couple of running weeks, if not a blogging!

Last Sunday saw me hit Swansea for the 10k, hopefully chasing 45 minutes and another PB (been regular this year).

I started badly, I was late, it was raining and I needed a pee. But all was sorted as much as can be at the expense of a decent warm up.

Off I went, chasing the 45 min pacer, who went off a bit swiftly may I say, until he seemed to slow down a little (he did). I then found myself a couple of seconds in front of him, not really sure what I was doing. This wasn't the plan!

In a change to my normal head state, from somewhere I got weirdly positive and thought, I can hold this. Before I knew it I was turning into the easier return 4.7km. A couple of efforts and digging and and I was over in 44:15. Well ahead of expectations.

Damp but pleased!

Good grief! But had I killed myself ahead of the following week... of course not it doesn't take a week to get over a 10k.

7 short days later and I was in Cardiff, it was damp and drizzly again, after queuing for everything for hours... I was running late but got everything done at the expense... wait, there's a pattern here...

Targeting 1:42, to beat my Swansea time, I felt quite confident.

Anyway, 3 mins to the start, I crowded into the white pen (never been in the front pen before) and was shortly off. Being at the back, I took places fairly steadily, passing a few mates. As time went on I realised I was feeling ok, not doing anything stupid and I passed through 10k in 47 minutes or so.

I decided to keep it steady and while I did lose some pace through the race (and I hadn't noticed all the little inclines so much in the other 4567 times I've ran this race), and I did have to dig in goiing round Roath Park in particular, but everthing held together and I even had a bit to push on the last half mile.

I ran over the line and the frustrating 1:40:05 was on my watch. Gutted wasn't the word, of course a great result but so close...

I pick my bag up and get my phone... text... picture, screen shot from the tracking app... 1:40:01. That's worse... good god!! Still happy, just frustrated...

Finally, 30 mins later, the app gets updated. 1:39:59.

<insert Hallelujah chorus link here>

I'm definatley stronger and faster than I have been. I think there's more in me, hopefully I can finish the year ok, then next year push on into the 1:36/7's and 42/3 for 10k.

Hoping so!

No sign of me on the TV coverage...