More racing! Last weekend I ran over at Dale in Pembrokeshire in the Pembrokeshire Tri Club’s half marathon. I love to run this race if I can, as the club’s races are all good & well organised, and this is a race I can be competitive in and actually race rather than run for a time. It’s a hilly course with some amazing views and is a punisher. Good pacing is needed with good legs. They run a 10k too if you fancy something shorter, and you can usually get an entry on the line.
This year the weather was great with a bit of wind blowing off the sea from the east. I started at the front with a few other guys and just lost a little distance to the front group of 4 before the first hill. I had a good charge up and settled into my group at the top. The pace dipped so I set off alone to try to catch the front group before the turn back into the wind. I picked up one guy that dropped back and pushed past but that was it for the rest of the race.
The front guys kept pushing ahead and I kept focused hoping that one of them would fade later in the race. I had a shadow not far behind and did most of the work on the climbs, pushing well to create the gaps.
I was really hurting for much of the race and shredded my feet on the downhills. I was very pleased with my mental attitude that kept me pushing through all the hard miles. We had the wind behind for much of the long climb and into our faces for the descent back to the bottom road and the last couple of miles. It was hot and at each water station more went over my head than into my mouth.
I really had to push the downhills and the last mile was tough, tough, tough. Tired, sore and painful feet, with short,steep rises and short steep, descents. I didn’t look behind me until the final mile, by which point I had a comfortable gap behind me.
I kept pushing hoping to get close to my previous best time but with the wind (and maybe fatigued legs) I was a couple of minutes off. Good racing, lots of fun and lots of suffering. Great marshalling and lots of support.
I finished 4th overall (pleased) and 3rd in the open category with a small prize from the sponsors. I’ll be in the veteran category next year! I think I’m looking forward to it.
I’m off to the Devils’ Aquathlon tomorrow. No racing next weekend! Anyone for golf?
