Race report - Merthyr 10k

Auto-correct wants to change the name to the Merry 10k. Think that's a bit far...

I've come to the conclusion I like a 10am start, I'm far more awake and I can't taste my breakfast anymore during the warm up. Getting up an hour earlier is a struggle so, best take advantage of these ones.

So it's the weekend morning and I'm at Merthyr leisure center... parkrun time... wait no. It's Sunday. It's Merthyr 10k time. I rock up, have a chat for 10 with my former club mates (out in force, a great site) and then set off on my mile warm up.

After a canter and a further chat we made our way to the start line, mere yards away from the parkrun one and we were off. Well everyone else was off, I was not paying attention and was caught off guard, and too far back... oops, schoolboy errors!

After that a brisk downhill start got me going and I got into my stride quite well, my usual doubting in my head didn't start til later than normal and for not as long as usual! I was able to keep a pretty even pace throughout and pushed for the finish with not all that much left. Think I did it quite well.

On course I picked up far more places than I lost and it felt... fine! Good almost. The course wasn't flat, but you'd not call it anything past... bumpy. Caerphilly and 1/2 of Treforest are far worse for difficulty. This was an opportunity and I feel I took it quite well.

Perked up at the finish as the wife n kids were waiting to cheer me in which is always a boost at the end.

So how did I do:

Targets were:

Baseline:  52:51

Achievable: 48:00

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time: 46:00

and I did:


Happy camper! Can never argue with a PB, but even though I still think I can go quicker. If I can sort my head in the middle of the race, I think there's more in the tank.

Things to improve of course, basic speed is still lacking, even though light years ahead of where it was, and concentration / focus in the middle where I always seem to think I'm about to collapse even though I'm perfectly fine. I'm odd.

Suppose we'll see if I get into Swansea, that's flatter and faster!

Race Day Preview - Merthyr 10k

There are many benefits to a local race, especially one that starts at 10am. Little travel, more time in bed...

There are also downsides, as in there's not a flat 3 miles in Merthyr to have the course on!

Anyway, this Sunday, tomorrow if you will, I will be participating in my 3rd ever Merthyr 10k! Never having ran particularly well in the event!

It's a stretch of trail I've run 100s of times but this time I get to pay for the privilege! I don't think there's chip timing either...

Last year I ran it in a very beatable 52:52, slower that my Caerphilly 10k of the same year. I don't know either. I'm thinking I should be under that. The course is a little up and down, but nothing I don't know every inch of and shouldn't pose as much of an issue as say, the first half of treforest, especially as it looks like being cool/wet.

So, Targets?

Baseline:  52:51 - I'll be annoyed to go slower, even with rubbish prep

Achievable: 48:00 - Caerphilly was rough, I should be faster here 

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time: 46:00, nudge a PB? Can't see it but I'll sure as hell go for it!

No number as it's a collect on the day deal. May be my last unattached race, who knows!

Merthyr parkrun #1

Early in the month you may remember my presence at the trial run of the all new Merthyr parkrun. If you don't, that's a link, so you can instantly become 'up to speed'. Oh and sorry for the old capitol P there, I wasn't as knowledgeable at the time.

Well, it's happened. Merthyr parkrun is live, it's a thing, every Saturday morning from now on (within reason), on the Taff Trail behind the leisure center you will find it. Good times!

Event number one went well, maybe better than I expected.155 brave souls, from as far as Poole and Twyn, turned up to try the... undulating... (pretty much) 5000 meters ably assisted by 20 or so yellow jacket wearing volunterrs. Nobody got lost, fell, wasn't timed (I was a timer!), exploded or anything bad at all!

High Viz Heroes and Blue Leader!

For those of you who don't know, parkrun is a weekly free timed event, aimed at getting as many as people possible active. It's a great initiative and it's running in 100s of locations all over the country now.

As someone who has run a few (17) parkrun events myself, the opportunity to become the member of a core team was really appealing and I've fallen on my feet with it being so local and having a pretty good team. The Event/Race Director is local author/celebrity Hannah Phillips with the core volunteers coming from the local running groups such as RunWithUs and MRC.

Oh and me, like my facebook page ppppppplease.

The help from parkrun has been excellent, we've been kitted out, tech'd up and supported all the way (and still ongoing). The course is a pretty one, with the bare minimum of laps going on, so it's interesting too. Where else can you get a waterfall (in the right weather conditions) and a call centre on the same 5k?

I encourage anyone to come and give it a go, it doesn't matter if you're fast, slow, a walker or anything. It's an all inclusive event and the Merthyr team will always give you a warm welcome. Don't want to run, there's always the need for more hands on deck as a volunteer!

Just please don't bring a dog or a pushchair as the course isn't suitable!

If you want more info, you can find everything you need here (website) or here (if you prefer the book of faces).

I have a feeling this will be the start of something good for the community!

Run Report - Merthyr Parkrun Trial

Before I start, note the cahne from 'race' report to run report. This seems better for parkrun!

The day finally came, the trial run of Merthyr parkrun (fitting with correct branding) took place on a warm and sunny morning on the Taff Trail near the Leisure Center. The trail was dry and semi deserted, the runners were here... great stuff.

Look how official I look! (Right)

The course is a tricky little one, the term is undulating, but as this is Merthyr you'd have to do laps of a car park to get a flat one. Nobody wants to do laps of a car park... I assume.

It's all tarmac apart from a wooden bridge, so easily accessible. Yeah it's a challenging one but a good one. The trail is quite nice to look at, it has a big bridge, a sculpture, a call centre... In the right conditions it'll even have a waterfall!

Was the trial without issues? Of course not, otherwise there'd be no point in doing it! The course was a little short, which I verified by running it myself afterward, but this is sorted! I was sad it was short as I clocked it under 20 mins, I've never been under 21 1/2!




It was 2.79, that's very harsh Strava!

The core team are a good bunch this has potential!

Tonight I will re run the course to get an extra verification of the length and then it's a few weeks until:

Merthyr Parkrun #1

 



I'm not putting the date up, or the website etc as I don't think I'm supposed too yet.

Race Report - Merthyr Half Marathon

Twas a warm morning for this mornings Merthyr half marathon. Hardly a cloud in the sky, which both equaled lovely day and phew, bit warm in equal amounts.

Merthyr college was buzzing as I lined up... for the 4-6 500m race...

With my boy...

Then the daughter went in the slightly chaotic 1km for her age (7-9, or 7-11?). She had the opportunity to cut a lap, but being the good girl she is pushed round and did the extra (or correct amount even), when not everyone felt the urge!

Then it was the main event. Coughing had mostly stopped, felt ok and decided to attack a little from the outset. Was going well, the course was tough with a wicked climb as the all new for 2017 turning point. The predicted congestion wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected... yes all went well!

Me, running like I was being chased for the majority of the race, genuinely better than I expected, or had any business thinking about beforehand. About mile 8... twinge in leg, didn't think much of it, probably just a misstep. Mile 11, feel a pulling in my leg, just below the knee. Press on... almost there. Then distaer, sharp pain and I pull up, trying to keep moving. But I knew this was an issue. Got going until 12 or so same again, then again in the last mile.

All those precious seconds each time, probably costing me a couple of minutes on my time. Plus all the pain and discomfort.

So how did I do, target wise I said:

Baseline:
1:58:00 (9:00 min/ml)

Achievable:
1:55:00 (8:46 min/ml)

Would be nice, but maybe beyond me this time:
1:50:00 (8:23 min/ml)

and I did:



A new PB by 5:10 and my first time under 1:50, but frustrating as I think about what could have been...

I'm also going to stop setting targets as I clearly have no idea what I'm doing.

Massive thank you to the sports masseuse in the college after the race who largely fixed my leg. Still hurts now and probably will for a few days, but she made a big positive difference, even if she described the area as... crunchy! Right leg has always been an issue!

Proud Dad

Ahhh kids, can't kill 'em, can't leave them in the garage to form a new civilisation and leave you alone. However, when they start showing interest in a hobby you can (sort of) help them with it makes that interest massively more rewarding.

My oldest sproglet does have an occasional passable interest in running as I've said before as she likes medals and participation medals are still medals. However, she is also starting to want to do better, which has opened up the opportunity of late for me to push her a little further.

A couple of weeks ago she ran the furthest she's ever been, over 2 miles and she was fine. Probably could have gone a little faster even. So I thought it was time to see if she'd be up for one of her own milestones.. her first 5k (distance, not a race, I'm not going to torture her in public).

So on a cold Saturday afternoon, Brynbach parkrun already behind me, Gracie and I were stood behind Merthyr leisure center, her clad in a brand new (almost bribery) bright pink running jacket, geared up with my old Garmin Forerunner 15 watch, unprepared for the distance ahead (as I hadn't told her)!

My hat... my head was cold...

We set off using roughly the proposed Merthyr Parkrun route, we started off well, no complaints for... 300 yards. But all manageable, correct a bit of posture, balance her pace a bit, fine.  Then we complete the first section and I drop the 5k bombshell... minor tantrum, but after some reassurances she could do it... we're away. After that, a couple of brief walks, a bit more reassurance, she was golden!

The increase in determination when she could see the finish (bench) was borderline heartwarming (any warming was welcome at the time) and the despair when I stopped a further 20 yards passed (rounding distance) as she thought we were going on further was... I felt bad.

Proud of my girl today. I'm very confident she can now do herself proud in the junior races coming up!