Running race 1:14:30 [5] 21.13 km (3:32 / km) +99m 3:27 / km
ahr:182 shoes: Hoka One One Clifton 4 (Red)
Royal Parks Half Marathon in London - 7th
One of those races where everything went to plan.
Firstly I could get up and have breakfast at a reasonable time as cousin's were near the tube that could take me straight there.
Secondly I jumped from the second pen to the first pen as I couldn't face having to run through all the people who, rightly or wrongly, had selected the fastest pen. By the time I registered using the corporate entry the pen was full. After I moved into this pen by simply walking under the tape they apparently put some more marshals there.
The forecasted showers didn't materialise and it was a pleasant temp so I didn't need the bin liner beforehand.
I noticed James Hoad on the start line so I let him run off and ran in the second pack of around 5 of us. I forgot what pace I needed to maintain for 75mins so I was running off feel. I assumed the pace needed was slower than the 3:35s I kept noticing on my watch so after the first 9km I thought I was well up on target.
Once back in Hyde park the group had broken and it was just me and a Fulham guy working as a pair in 6th and 7th. At halfway I realised I was still on track but I knew it would be closer, especially as I was now doing a lot of the work pacing. And that's how it stayed, every mile doing some quick arithmetic. I stayed ahead of the Fulham guy but another lad shot past on the final sprint. I'm glad I didn't have to sprint to get under 75 as my legs were cramping up at the end.
Splits:
5km 17:18
10km 34:26 17:08
15km 52:37 18:11
20km 1:10:49 18:12