ASICS sponsor a race in Apeldoorn called the Midwinter Marathon. This race is a major hit on the calender of hard-core runners in Holland. Having trained through a snowy and mostly sub-zero December and January, these guys churn out the 42km in cold weather and a small crowd. I can’t imagine being able to race a marathon in these conditions. I was however willing to attempt a pathetic 8km. I was informed by the Man on the way from the Station to the race, that he was expecting me to keep up with him, and that he was hoping to break his 40mins from last year.
I’d missed last year’s race, as I was in the shinsplint hell. Asking me for 40mins might as well be asking me to win the whole race. But that’s why I married this guy, settling for a normal time just isn’t an option. Laziness is not allowed. Since I ‘ve not really trained the last week I was hoping I’d find some power somewhere and pull this off. We would have to run 5k pace or under to have a chance at the time. To mark the first race of the year, I had a pair of GEL-NOOSA’s on which I love, they’re light and fun for races.
ASICS GEL-NOOSA
I ran the race like a kid, I just ran as fast as I could. Surprisingly I didn’t die at 4km, actually I tried to ignore any indication of distance and just checked my pace on my watch to make sure I wasn’t settling down into my regular 5.30 pace. The slowest I hit was 5.9. That meant by 7km I my legs were starting still going but my heart and lungs were really being pushed. The wonderful thing was that we passed more people than passed us. One old guy in a grey tracksuit though refused to be reeled in. I really had no idea how he was running so fast. He was quite big (in circumference) and when I was on his shoulder I couldn’t even hear him breathing. I hate fast old guys.
Slowly, almost as if he knew I wanted to beat him, he started to pull away, magically gliding over the ground. I lost sight of him at 8km. Farewell old fast dude. You will live long and happy no doubt.I can 0nly hope I run that easy some day.
We crossed the line in 42 minutes, so my first feeling was that I had slowed the Man down and felt crap. But I thought back to when I had to stop every 5 mins running around the block 2 years ago and that this 2 mins was forgivable. Perhaps we can try to beat it next year. I didn’t think I could run this fast for this far, and it gives me confidence and I’m proud of the time. My chip from the race failed, as I can’t find myself on the results page of the event. Based on what I see on the site though, I might have made into teh top 100 of 743 runners. Woohoo!
Bath half is now within sight. I’m worried. I haven’t trained enough because of weather and quite stressful days at work. They are excuses but no excuse if you know what I mean. Still, I have to pin on a number in Bath and give it my best shot. I will try to run the first 16km like at the Dam to Dam in 1:30 or so. Then I have fighting chance of coming in under 2 hours. If I can pull off a fast 8km can I pull off a fast half marathon?
Next weekend I ‘ll be at home in Ireland, I will fit in a long run there and after that I’ll have an idea if I can still do a decent distance. Wish me luck!
Running Round up:
ASICS Midwinter Marathon : 8km
Shoes: ASICS-GEL NOOSA
Freezing freakin’ cold
Time: 00:42:33
Congrats on the run. It’s great when you actually give it all you’ve got and manage to surprise yourself. Here’s to 40 minutes next year :-)