It's October again and time for my annual autumn
highlight: Bupa Great Birmingham Run,
also known as Birmingham half marathon. This year it clashed with the British
Fell Relays and Compass Sport Cup final, which was really
a shame, because I would have loved to do them all. But this half marathon has
become very special to me and I just couldn't pass it. I'm sorry if I let
anybody down. So here we go.
I got to start by a gunshot in the faster group just behind a
handful of elite runners. I knew that most of them were faster than me, so I
placed myself safely far back in the group in order not to go out too fast in
the beginning. What I unfortunately did not know was that my time would be
based on the gunshot. I passed the start line 5-6 seconds after the shot, which
isn't much, but still if I had known that it was the gun time that counted, I
would have taken a sprint at the end.
0-5km: First kilometers went pretty fast but effortlessly. I
hit the 5km mark in 18:49, which is over a minute faster than my goal pace. So
far so good.
5-10km: After the first 5k I have found a comfortable rhythm
and good company to run with. There's a drink station where I collide with one
of the marshals but no one gets hurt. My 10km split is 39:29. Still half a
minute ahead.
10-15km: First signs of tiredness and my calves are getting tighter. I've been running together with a girl from Solihull but she's
increasing her pace now and I have to let her go. Soon there's another girl from
Birmingham University who accompanies me for the rest of the race. 15km in 59:49.
Still ahead. I can't believe I've just done 15km within an hour. Wow.
15-20km: I'm feeling alright until the big climb from about
18km to 20km. It seems to take all out of my legs and I find it difficult to
accelerate after that. "Come on, get angry" someone shouts at the
climb. I try to do that but find it quite funny. Of all feelings angriness is
certainly not highest up on the list. I'm more somewhere between amusement and
agony. But I survive the hill. I lose some time but not too much.
20-21.1km: "Okay come on now, it's just the sprint
left, you can do it!" I tell myself. I try to speed up but my legs are
empty. The climb was too much to my already aching legs and I find them
useless. The last mile takes ages. Finally comes the '800m left' mark and two
800m runners pass me. It looks so smooth and easy as they surf away. I hear
Sami's shouting that I should stick to them. Easier said than done. Anyway I
reach the finish line in 1:25:50 and something. Definitively under 1:26. That's
all that matters. I could have finished stronger but I'm still quite pleased
with my run. Until the moment I go and check the official
results. There's only my gun time 1:26:01. What?? I know it was clearly under that - by several
seconds. Rather frustrating.
Thanks once again for a terrific event with superb atmosphere and great support all the way through! Special thanks to all K&D runners who gave their support after the Cadbury loop. Seeing a friendly face and hearing your name is always a big help. I'm proud to be part of the 3rd best club at the event!
Thanks once again for a terrific event with superb atmosphere and great support all the way through! Special thanks to all K&D runners who gave their support after the Cadbury loop. Seeing a friendly face and hearing your name is always a big help. I'm proud to be part of the 3rd best club at the event!
