Cardiff Grand Prix - BMC

Last track race of the year and was nice that I didn't have to travel to far for it with it being in Cardiff.

I worked from 9.30am - 3.30pm as the boss was on holiday so wasn't the best preparation but you just have to roll with it. I got home around 4pm and jumped into bed for a quick hour sleep before grabbing a bite to eat and getting my stuff together, my dad was driving as he wanted to come and watch so that helped me a bit and we arrived at the track just before 7pm.

I did the usual thing of getting the number, going for a run where I was joined by Ryan and John (Thewlis) on the nearby fields. It was a bit windy on the track but not the worst day ever but then compared to Swansea track on the seafront most tracks are better shielded from the wind!

I was a bit disappointed to see on the start list a lack of Welsh runners with such a good race on the doorstep, it was just me and Dewi and surprised more didn't give it a go even if they wernt on form on training hard at the time.

As it was there were some decent guys with the two I warmed up with and a few others and the gun was soon fired, I got a bit trapped on the inside on the first lap and then jumped out going into the second lap as we went through in 70seconds which was a touch slow really. 800m was timed at 2.18 and then there was a lot of movement with a couple running off and a few others forming a group behind. I was then in the 3^rd group and went through 2k in 5.43. I was feeling ok but any sort of quick change of pace was difficult to react to which is just a lack of any proper track sessions I suppose.

We caught a couple of runners and with 5 laps to go I went to the front of my little group with a couple of guys also working well about 10meters ahead which I couldn't quite get on to. I saw the 3k time was 8.39 so knew I had to keep working and felt good at the front, I ran strongly all the way to the finish catching another couple of guys and finished in 14.23 which was a decent enough time.

In perspective I am happy to get within 12seconds of my personal best after missing most of the year and think with a good winter (not picking up another serious injury) I can have a crack at getting the 14.11 down next summer.

simx