Run > Race

Bupa Great Birmingham Run: Another big PB and sub 2:15. Started way too fast but first mile is downhill so just relaxed and went through first mile in not far off my magic mile time (eek). Found it hard to slow down but caught the 2:15 pacer and managed to get just in front and keep a similar pace until about mile 8, felt good up until then and went through 10 in 1:00:20, was managing to keep up the 10min/mile and the miles went past really quickly. Started getting pain in my left shoulder which was really uncomfortable but not unusual on a long run. It was around this time that the pacer came back past me, this hurt but I knew I was still well within 2:15 pace and had a fair bit of time to spare given how fast I had gone off, but knew I would need this once I hit the long hill around mile 11. Had stitch on and off throughout the run but really got painful coming through the park around mile 9, luckily there was a water stop and I did take a walk break just to drink and let the stich subside a bit. Was still around 2:10 pace at mile 10 (1:39:29) but knew at this point sub 2:10 was not going to happen today as there were hills coming and my legs had gone. Once we hit the hill at about 10.5 miles I was struggling and had to walk up the hills which just kept going up and up and up, just didn't have the leg strength to run but still knew I had the time in the bank and that 2:15 was still on the cards. Really had to draw on the mental strength to get through the last few miles but by the last mile I knew how close I was to my aim of sub 2:15 and there was no way I was letting that go, There was no sprint finish and the pain in my legs at the end brought back very real memories of the marathon but I crossed the line knowing I had given everything I had, I knew I was laying it on the line going out so fast but I also knew that was what I had to do to get the time I wanted, I also knew that on a flat course I would have done 2:10, and a 13minute PB isn't bad, in fact I have a smile on my face writing that!