Thought I would share some stats with you lot...

So having looked back at the 3 races,

Cardiff 5k

It took 400m before I went over 180 and in to the tempo range. To get over 190 which is what I should be running for 5k (ran 193 average for 5k pb) it took me around 2 and half kilometre and then stayed around 191 dropping occasionally below 190 until the end where it peaked at 193 last 200m. So clear it wasn't flat out and can run 2.53 per K at around 188-190 bpm. This was fine though for the race having trained quite hard in the week and why 14.26 was not a bad result knowing there was more in the tank.

Birmingham 10k

It took me 1k before I went over 180 (tempo zone) 2k to get over 184 (bpm) and then average for the race was 183, maxing out at 190 last 100m. My pb was an average of 190 for the whole 10k maxing out at 198 for the last 400m. So its clear it wasn't flat out...also 183 for 10k was 2.59 pace.

Again following on from the 5k I was happy with the performance with the training in the week and heart rate showed there was more to come and probably could of done first kilometre a fair bit faster without putting the body in danger of blowing up.

Bristol Half Marathon

Then this was the big one! First mile I was over 188 and then all the way to 4miles I was hitting 191, so I was working harder than in the previous two races at such an early stage and slower pace, only running 3.04 per K rather than the 2.53 in the 5k or 2.59 in the 10k, so quite a difference!

I cant hold this effort for 13miles so of course the body was going to die but its not a case of 'well you just blew up' but more a case of 2 why was my heart rate so high for a slow pace?!"

If you're nervous for a race it should offset after a few minutes not last for well over 4-5miles. Some people may say "why didn't you look at your watch", I never do when I am racing, it will spin your head, I use it for info like this after the event. Bottom line was I shouldn't have to run at over 190 to run 4.55 per mile which is proved on the previous two files.... This is the big question! Was I already coming down with something? Did I ease up to much and the body was too recovered going to the start line causing it to fly up and any slightly decent pace (talked about this in previous blogs). My self and Nick have some ideas but at least the files show that I shouldn't have been running that hard for that pace...especially in a big group!

Simx