Run > Race

That was good. Time is in the window I expected (thanks Bowman and Corrah!) I thought 1:35 - 1:37 in initially, then looked at WAVA and 1:35 was needed for 70% WAVA, so that was the stretch goal! Even though I got 78% for 5K and 74% for 10K, I knew that a. that was before the Covid interruption and b. this is hilly and so 3-5 mins slower than a flat one. I did 1:27 here when I was in 1:23 shape at Alloa. So poss the equivalent of low 1:30s which would be 74%. Sounds about right. So that was 7:20 pace to start and try and get it down to 7:1x. Obviously it's hilly, so individual miles are hard to gauge but think I kept that going as Corrah says. First 2 or 3 miles felt good, but it's more uphill to half way than down so slowing by mile 6. Looked at watch a couple of times and saw average about 7:15, sometimes down to 7:12, sometimes up to 7:20, and some individual miles up at 7:45, so I knew I had to keep pushing. After half way I tried to push on a bit, but didn't have any more speed, was more just trying not to slow. But I still overtook a few people in those miles. I saw Nils from Carnegie ahead and wondered if I might catch him, but he was actually pulling ahead. But those in between got reeled in. Again, knowing the course is so helpful, because I knew after the sharp wee hill at 10.5 that was mostly it, just undulating after that. I was really struggling on the ups but going well on the downs and trying to keep pushing on the flats. I guess the cheat shoes help more there, and less on the climbs. Felt tired in glutes and ham strings and hips a bit but calves and achilles fine. Quads a bit on downhills, but not too bad, just tiredness from not doing speed on downs. So, I'm pleased I kept pushing even though it was quite uncomfortable.

Very stiff afterwards and took advantage of the massage which Gillian and Leigh pointed out. Unfortunately the lady took so long over it that I missed prize giving. I wonder if Robbo got his prize for first (only!) V70. 1:59? on that course is brilliant at V70.

Gillian and Leigh both v pleased I think - 1:59 and 2:06. Great to see Richard 1:32? and Tessa getting 2nd V50 prize 1:42. Nice to chat to her at start, good friend of Caroline Jones in KRR. Actually, ran beside her in first couple of miles, so I suppose I do still start more slowly.

Was great to travel up with Gillian and Leigh - last minute message responding to Facebook offer I put in club group page. Did make the drive 2 hrs 15 rather than 1:45. No matter, nice to have company. Set off before 9 and didn't get back until after 6.30 (but that included a quick stop in Sainsbury's to pick up ready meals etc.) Very stiff afterwards, went to gym on Sunday to try and roller off. Glad I've got massage booked on Tue.

Great day out anyway. Lovely up there. Bizarrely mild 13C setting off, but more like 9C in the mist up there. Was ideal for running. Organisation brilliant, soup great (both of them, because I went back for seconds!), and using the mug means no disposable cups.

Only tiny cloud was a weird run in with a driver behind us as we arrived. About 1 mile from destination, winding single track road, I'm going slowly anyway and 3 female pheasants were on road. I slowed and then stopped, squeezed them and they ran off and we resumed. But car behind tooted. We all said how bizarre, as he's going to see us in 2 mins when we arrive. And he ends up right beside us in car park. I decided to just explain why I stopped and said "hi, there were a couple of pheasants on road, so just need to shoo them off" and he replied, "Should have just run them over. They're only pheasants. They'll be shot in a couple of weeks any way." And I thought, "how unpleasant". I spoke to Gillian and Leigh and they though same. I managed to keep my cool and just replied, "We'll have to agree to differ on than. Very different viewpoint, obviously," and walked off. They said I did well not to react! I think his position was stranger than mine. I have rationalised to myself that he wasn't the runner, his wife in the back was, and she was giving him hard time for getting to registration late! Who knows?

Anyhoo, apart from that, brilliant racing day all round! G

Split Summary
===
1) 1m - 7:25(7:25/m) 168/178bpm [1245b/mi] 118cal
2) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 171/177bpm [1225b/mi] 116cal
3) 1m - 7:20(7:20/m) 172/181bpm [1262b/mi] 121cal
4) 1m - 7:01(7:01/m) 172/176bpm [1207b/mi] 116cal
5) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 171/181bpm [1225b/mi] 118cal
6) 1m - 7:34(7:34/m) 172/177bpm [1302b/mi] 125cal
7) 1m - 7:03(7:03/m) 169/174bpm [1191b/mi] 115cal
8) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 171/177bpm [1226b/mi] 118cal
9) 1m - 7:10(7:10/m) 172/176bpm [1233b/mi] 118cal
10) 1m - 7:40(7:40/m) 172/177bpm [1320b/mi] 126cal
11) 1m - 7:14(7:14/m) 170/175bpm [1230b/mi] 118cal
12) 1m - 7:18(7:18/m) 173/177bpm [1262b/mi] 120cal
13) 1m - 7:13(7:13/m) 176/181bpm [1271b/mi] 120cal
14) 0.14m - 54(6:26/m) 178/180bpm [1145b/mi] 14cal