This has been a good week, a really good week, however owing to the fact that I have misplaced my training journal (an actual book) I wont be able to work out distances or my hours exactly. Work has once again been busy and a general nuisance in my training life... aaargh the frustration! Anyway...
Monday used to be my rest day, however this is now my additional swim night and it was a killer, we did the usual 400m warm up and then started on the main sets and it was a 20 minute session where we had to swim the first 25m slow, then 50m medium and then 25m flat out and then repeat until the 20minutes were up... Ouch!
Tuesday was meant to be rest day but as I hadn't done anything on Sunday I went for a short run of around 5kms. It went alright and I set a slightly faster pace than normal and came back feeling fantastic. My arms were a little sore from Mondays swim but I was still feeling alright.
Wednesday is my favourite day as its my long swim day, and this weeks session had the 30minute TT, which is something I LOVE. Last time I swam 1500m and this time I managed a good 1700m and I was puffed at the end... I also managed to finish off the entire session with a new PB distance of 3050m in an hour and a half. With 19 weeks left I am still confident that I will be able manage a good swim split on race day.
Thursday and I was still feeling good and so headed out for a 8km run, from which I returned feeling awesome. I am loving running at the minute and I finally feel like a real runner.
Friday and it was meant to be a swim night, however worked screwed me over and I ended up only getting home when the session was halfway through. I thus declared Friday a rest day... and chilled out on the sofa and watched sobby... It was Red Nose Day and most of the evening was spent with a little moisture in the eye over all the sad stories that were being shown.
Saturday looked to be a beautiful day as the sun was out and there wasn't a hint of wind, unfortunately first thing in the morning the sun wasn't producing any heat and so I headed indoors for another cup of cooffee, while I waited for the sun to warm up.While I waited I got a little bored and so decided that it was smooth leg season... and so I shaved. No pics as they still need some colour on them! The ride was fantastic! out in shorts and the legs felt strong and I was just flying. I rode to work to see how long it would take me for when I start commuting and I set a reasonable time with a faster than normal avg speed for there and back. I think I may just have started falling in love with my bike again... The rest of Saturday was spent getting thrings prepped for the Half Marathon the next day.
Sunday! Half Marathon Day! I got to Reading way too early, got on a shuttle from the parking and soon I was standing outside Madejski, the home of Reading Football Club. I now had about 2 hours to kill and so headed for the first of many toilet breaks. I wandered arounf the race 'village' before taking a seat in the stadium to just chill and get ready for the race, but not before another toilet break... I was determined that I wasn't going to need to stop for a 'break' on the route. With time remaining I handed in my bag, with all my warm clothes, slipped a very stylish black bin liner over my head to keep my arms warm, it was all the rage and I saw so many people wearing them... I wasn't nervous or worried as I lined up in the 17,580 strong field, this was just going to be another training run and I was right on schedule according to my training plan. The gun went off and after about 10 minutes I finally crossed the start line, the 'race' was on.
I set off at my prescribed heart rate but before I knew it I had gotten into the swing of running with the crowd and my heart rate had skipped Zone 2 and was sitting at the low end of zone 3. I started to slow down gradually until I was comfortable and then found my rythm, however I felt too slow and so I sped up to a slightly faster pace and pretty much stayed there the whole race. All my toilet breaks (5) didn't work and as we hit mile 4 my bladder went "HELLO"... I did however manage to ignore it for most of the race. The course was slightly undulating but very enjoyable and almost the entire route was lined with spectators. I was feeling good when... "gasp' the 1:55 pacemaker went past... What was going on, I sped up till I caught up to her and stayed there for about 2 miles and then I started feeling great and so put foot and passed her on a little climb in the town centre. The people were cheering as I ran up the inside line and I could feel them patting my shoulder and back as I passed them. It felt like they were just cheering for me, I was all smiles when suddenly... The runner in front of me stopped! not just slowed but stopped! STOPPED!! I hit him full tilt in the back and he fell forward and I just managed to awkwardly jump over him so as not to fall, I glanced back and he had stood up and was walking up the hill. I yelled an apology and he waved and I just continued forward at a smart pace.
The miles ticked by until suddenly mile 10 appeared and I had shaved 2 minutes off my PB! I felt awesome and was just having so much fun. Then, my legs suddenly got tired and I slowed down and it seemed like an eternity until the Mile 11 sign appeared. Strangely, I felt a renewed strength in my legs and I set off at a cracking pace, the last 2.1 miles flew by and I just got faster as the Stadium, where the finish line was, got closer. I looked over my shoulder and there was a guy about my age tucked in behind me matching me pace for pace. I was not going to let him beat me, whoever he was. We entered the stadium to the deafening roar of thousands of spectators and I saw him on the far side of the lane, I put my head down and went for it. I looked up just as I crossed the finish line, only to see the back of him... I stopped my watch and saw that I had done a 1:55:36. I had done it, my first Half Marathon ever and I had done a sub 2 hours and PB'd the whole way. I was the 5652 person to cross the start line and was the 5358 person to cross the finish line, so made up 296 places! I was chuffed to say the least.
I got an email today (monday) with my splits and this is how they went;
5K – 00:28:09
10K – 00:55:23
15K – 01:23:04
20K – 01:50:2
And so I survived week 11 and enjoyed every minute of it, so bring on week 12!!
W
Warren you are looking amazingly fit. Well done on a fantastic half marathon. I assume that this has inspired you even more for the Iron Man. I dont know where you get your determination and "sticktoitness" but you rock! Awesome, very, very proud parents back here in SA
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