I won!!!!!
There was about 60 of us lined up at 7:30am by the City Hall waiting for the gun – and it was a gun, the bang gave me a fright.
As we headed off I was at the back of a group of 6 runners and felt I was going too fast, so I pulled back, but only the leader opened any distance.
By mile 4 I had caught the pack (minus the leader) again and I felt really strong – At this point I was thinking – wow I may actually come second in this race if I can keep it together.
By mile 6 Paul and myself pulled away from the pack – actually the pack was fast starting to fall apart – I was very steady, slightly concerned I was going too fast, but feeling very strong.
Amazingly heading up a hill to mile 7.5 we (Paul and myself) spotted the leader and I said to Paul we’ll catch him in the last 3 miles, little did I know but we took him in the next mile and he died off completely.
So Paul and myself were running side by side now since mile 4, I decided at mile 10 to open a bit of a lead on him, and I put in a bit of a kick opening up a small gap (about 30 meters) and I maintained this gap until the finish – I felt the distance between the 10 mile marker and the 11 mile marker was short – and again between the 11 marker and the 12, after I passed the 12 mile point I was feeling the pain, but I knew Paul was also feeling it and I kept pushing, knowing if I slowed at all Paul was just behind me.
Rounding the last corner I kicked again – I felt I was flying – Was I really going to win a race, could I kick fast enough to keep ahead of Paul.
Talking to Paul after the race – he had decided he was going for it at that last corner and when he kicked I kicked at the same time and he just couldn’t close the gap.
Well it felt like 10 minutes before the 3rd place got home. and during that time the Major of Stockbridge was all over me – this was the first time they ran the race and he couldn’t believe he had an international runner at the event – who won 🙂
Only issue – The race was short – about 12.62 – so about 1/2 a mile short – If I had maintained a 7:12 pace for the last 1/2 mile I guess I would have crossed the line at 1:35:58, which would still be a PB by 3 minutes – what a great race.
The Stats:
|
Split
|
Time
|
Miles Distance
|
Pace
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 1:32:22.4 | 12.62 | 7:19 |
| 1 | 7:27.0 | 1.00 | 7:27 |
| 2 | 7:55.1 | 1.00 | 7:55 |
| 3 | 7:18.5 | 1.00 | 7:19 |
| 4 | 7:15.2 | 1.00 | 7:15 |
| 5 | 7:20.7 | 1.00 | 7:21 |
| 6 | 7:43.1 | 1.00 | 7:43 |
| 7 | 7:25.1 | 1.00 | 7:25 |
| 8 | 7:19.5 | 1.00 | 7:20 |
| 9 | 7:28.5 | 1.00 | 7:29 |
| 10 | 7:07.3 | 1.00 | 7:07 |
| 11 | 6:57.4 | 1.00 | 6:57 |
| 12 | 6:56.1 | 1.00 | 6:56 |
| 13 | 4:09.0 | 0.62 | 6:43 |
Heart Rate – Average: 147 Max: 164
Average Pace: 7.19 min/mile
Temperature: 19°C
Humidity: 81%
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