British League 5k - Gateshead

A Churn!

'A churn' is the phrase I would use for this race! I knew after another tough week on the back of my biggest week ever was going to be tough to race 5k especially after a long hard run on Thursday, not exactly great preparation but the goals were simple - Get a tough session in and get some points for the team. I think I did both and helped the team to another victory to claim promotion back to the top flight next year.

I was partnered in the race with James Kelly and was good to catch up with him and hopefully work a bit as a team. I have a lot of time for James who is a supremely intelligent guy but would never come across that he is any better (clearly is!) and usually the first on the dance floor after the relays.

Anyway back to the race, myself and James were both after a 'session' as part of a training week so decided to keep the pace high and get a good effort even if people did sit and come past in the latter stages. So as the race went off I just felt I was in my comfort zone after 200m so went to the front straight away to push myself and with winds up to 4meters per second is wasn't easy on the home straight but kept a good rhythm. James was in the pack of a little group that had started to pull away (5 of us), as the laps past by I knew that I wasn't going to be able to pick it up as the legs were suffering from the long slog on Thursday.

As we approached 6 laps to go the 4 guys decided to pick it up and go past, it was a bit frustrating as they only got about 5 meters ahead but with no zip in the legs I just couldn't close the gap before we hit the wind on the home straight, I lost maybe another 5 meters and then stayed in that position till 400m to go...if I could have just got on the back there I could of grabbed a little breather but as it was I was left to fight the wind alone. They kicked a little on the last lap but felt I held strong and finished in 14.43. I was aiming for 14.40-14.45 so was quite happy with the race.

The big problem was half way through the race I realised I hadn't done my spikes up tight enough and they were slipping which was causing me to develop a blister under foot...I can tell you now that every bend was like someone sticking a pin in my foot! For such a small problem it didn't half hurt me but as it was I couldn't go any faster if I wanted too. James stayed ahead and we both got some good points for the team and gave ourselves the effort we wanted.

It was then the real race started as I had half hour to get from the finish to the train station to catch the last train to Cardiff or I would be sleeping on the platform. We had a car standing by and I ran straight off the track to the car and got dropped to the metro station which was quicker to the main station due to tribute in the city centre for the great Sir Bobby Robson....I made it with 8minutes to spare, so had time to grab a roll as well!!

Results

http://www.belgraveharriers.com/2009/BALNatOne_2009-08-01.pdf

Simx