Race Day Preview - Roman Run (Brecon - Merthyr)

This is an odd one. I know what to expect as I'm not crazy so looked up the course a bit first, I've also ran parts of it before... but it's an odd distance, over mixed terrain and hilly. It's also point to point which is also something I've not done before.

The Roman Run is a 16 mile the-things-I-said-above race between Scenic Brecon and The Sky-News-Famous Merthyr (Cyfartha Park to be exact). There appear to be several nasty hills, but in the main I think it'll be ok, but I'm not expecting much of a performance.

This is due to:

• The distance, 16 miles is odd, do I go half pace and hang on, or marathon pace (lol) and kick on? 
• Lack of longer training runs of late, will I blow up regardless
• The underfoot, I'm the worst trail runner you've ever met, I believe I've mentioned this before, I will end up in a ditch bleeding at some point.

But I'm told the shirt is awesome.

So targets, pretty much licking my finger and putting it in the air here:

Baseline:  2:50? - Yeah, that feels like numbers, in a sequence

Achievable: 2:35 - Pushing on the targets a bit as I'm too easy on myself sometimes

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time: 2:20, no chance, but it's there to aim for!

I just accidentally put them in at 15 minute intervals!

Race day pick up for the number, so if you like that kind of thing watch instagram / facebook for a picture and what not.

It'll be an experience, then next year I'll know arse from elbow and will go for time.

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