Countdown to Great South Run!

[sarah469]

My race number arrived last weekend, no going back now! Very excited but also very nervous.

I am up to 13K with my last long training run of 14K-15K tomorrow morning, then I will start tapering (whatever that means... I'm just going to do some regular but shorter runs). I'm feeling OK, very excited, I just want to get round and not worried about time anymore. The 13K I did was in 1hr 43 minutes, I'm hoping to do the GSR in around 2 hrs but I am sure it will be over rather than under! I read there is a van that drives behind the runners at 17min/mile pace and if you get overtaken by it you basically can't finish the race? This confused me but now I am just hoping I don't have some kind of disaster which means I don't get my medal.

My main concern is preventing injury, my right knee is a bit niggly (but hopefully will have time to improve after my last long run tomorrow) and I am always concerned about blisters but I am just going to pile on the Vaseline and hope for the best. I'm used to them and expecting it now so I don't think it will be too much of a disaster if I have painful feet during the run (she hopes).

To be honest, while I am looking forward to the challenge, I am also looking forward to it being over now and just going back to some lovely, short 5Ks with no pressure! I am proud of myself for my training and I think I have already proved to myself what I wanted to with this challenge... now all I want is the medal! And the experience of course, which I think will be great. Praying for no heavy rain and no strong winds!

Good luck to anyone else doing the GSR! xxx

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

Well done Sarah, you'll be fine sounds like you've put plenty of training in! Its a good run and atmosphere, we'll have to put a post up nearer the time to see who's going, so we can get our annual c25kers photo! been lucky with the weather the past 2 years

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Hey you!

You have been doing brilliantly haven't you!

It all sounds amazingly exciting and a tad nerve wracking, but you will be just fine ..

You should be proud of yourself...hold that feeling.. you have trained hard, trained well and you will also, maybe get a chance to meet up with the amazing Aliboo!!

Two stars together !!!

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

You will love it Sarah! Seriously, as aliboo70 says, it's a great course and a fantastic atmosphere! I only wish I was in a position to run it again this year but injury over the summer has left me enjoying slightly shorter runs for the time being!! 😉 You have trained hard so enjoy the taper and more importantly, enjoy the day when you get there!🙂x

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

Ten miles at 17 min/mile is nearly 3 hours. You're well faster than that, so I don't think you have to worry about the sweeper van. It sounds very exciting though and I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. I'm looking forward to your race report!

[davelinks Graduate10]

Go Sarah! I know you'll do it fine, there'll be no mishaps and the blisters will be fine! 💪😊

[Anniemurph Graduate10]

You've done the training, you will be fine, and your pace is great It all gets very real when that race pack arrives, doesn't it? Here's hoping the weather is good!

[skysue16 Graduate10]

How exciting! You will be fantastic😀 best of luck with the tapering!

[Coddfish Graduate10]

I also got my GSR pack last week. It says if you fall behind the pacer van, you are asked to finish on the pavement. I don't think It means you are disqualified if you fall behind the pacer van. I read it to mean they will reopen the road to traffic once the pacer van has gone through, so anyone still competing but behind the van will need to run the last bit on the pavement rather than the road.

I also think it's unlikely to be an issue for you. First of all if you expect to finish in 2 hours you will be well ahead of it (17 minutes per mile means it will complete in 2 hours 50 minutes). Secondly even if you fellbehind it, it would be late in the race, and the last 2 miles or so are on the seafront where there is a very wide promenade, so not being able to run on the road isn't really an issue.

Good luck, it's a great event.