Categories: uncategorized
Date: 08 March 2004 15:43:57
this race is called the adidas flora london half marathon.... as it's organised by them as a run up event. what an amazing number of people fail to realise, and the organisers don't feel obliged to point out is that it's run at silverstone race circuit which is a) nowhere near being in london and b) impossible to get to by public transport. this inevitably leads to lots of people ralising the month before that they can't get to it, and many pleading requests on the runnersworld forums.
i did my bit and picked up a couple of students on my way there, but i can't help thinking a bit more co-ordination from the organisers could help save some of these headaches.
i did this last year and did a personal best of 1:37, the course is rather dull but pretty much as flat as you'll get beyond a running track. the weather on the way there went from rain to sleet to nearly snow, so i wasn't too sure what to expect. By the time we got started on the grid of the grand prix circuit the sun was out, leaving only a cold biting wind to deal with on more exposed sections of the course.
my plan was to aim for 7:30minute miles dropping to 7:00 toward the end, but during the first mile which was too quick anyway (6:30ish) i realised my maths had been wrong. really i needed to do 7:00s getting even quicker over the last few miles, which i wasn't convinced i could do.
the course took in a lap of the grand prix circuit in the right direction before filtering down the pit lane and wiggling round the infield and stowe circuit. then it was over the bridge and anti-clockwise round the outside of the circuit before rejoining at the back of the grid and running it in the reverse direction where i found out it's not as flat as you thought it was at the start!
lots of people this year, and a better spectator turnout, although still lonely stretches away from the starting area. lots of wiggling around meant plenty of opportunity to see the mass of runners in front and behind, and even the lead runner some way off in the distance (winning time 1:06).
coming on to the final lap of the circuit i knew i had my work cut out if i wanted to go under 1:30. over these last few miles i knew i was pushing my limits as the tank was empty and the legs were burning on every little incline. the wind was cruel too and really took it out of me.
luckily the incline eases off and the course becomes more sheltered for the finish, letting me lengthen my stride as i ran past the spectators hanging from the pit wall.
all in all i'm pleased with my effort, maintaining close to 7:00min/mile all through, leading to 1:31:57 on my watch. Hopefully i can take a minute from that for time to get over the start but the official results site is still being flooded!
splits follow:
| mile | time | split |
| 5 | 34:54 | 6:59 av. |
| 6 | 42:02 | 7:08 |
| 7 | 49:07 | 7:05 |
| 8 | 56:01 | 6:53 |
| 9 | 1:03:01 | 7:00 |
| 10 | 1:09:48 | 6:46 |
| 11 | 1:16:45 | 6:57 |
| 12 | 1:23:46 | 7:00 |
| 13.1 | 1:31:57 | 8:11 |
the official london marathon website doesn't take much finding, and the results are here apparently...
[todays race: 13.1miles]
[total run this week: 23.34miles]
[this weeks total swim: 4125m]