Hastings Runners 5 Mile Race Report 😁

[pianoteacher]

Yesterday I took part in the Hastings Runners 5 Mile Race. I joined the club last summer but this was my first time running for them. I was very excited to get my club vest last week but also a little nervous! I think I've mentioned here before my tendency to put pressure on myself to do things well so having the club colours on made me feel like I should try to run better than I did in the Half Marathon where I did a lot of walking.

My boyfriend dropped me in town and I went to pick up my race number. There were lots of people of all abilities that I knew from club runs and once I got chatting I immediately felt much better.

It was a glorious day and as the course was flat I decided I would run comfortably and aim for 45 mins. I started right at the back as I'm happier passing people than being passed and off we went through part of the town then onto the seafront. I was going a little faster than intended but it felt good. When we got to the turn I realised why - the wind was behind us 🤣 I had a little panic then thought "sod it don't worry about pace - just keep running". And that exactly what I did.

Really pleased with my sprint finish - it doesn't matter how many times more experienced runners tell me how pointless it is, I enjoy it and I'm really quite fast over 50m 😂 Chip time 45:05 so pretty much bang on what I wanted.

Local GB athlete Adam Clarke won in a course record 24:00 - the fastest 5 mile in the country this year 😮 I've been racking my brains to think of another sport where you can take part alongside people of that level?!?

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and have hopefully now laid my fear of racing to bed and can enjoy many more events. The nice smiley photo I've attached was I think taken by

MutleyShuffle

Happy Running everyone 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Well done Marie. I too love a sprint finish. Interesting that people tell you its pointless though, I find it a good sign that I have paced well.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

bbc.co.uk/sport/av/athletic...

I rest my case!!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Not sure I want to try that one on concrete 🤣😂

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Good lord!

Also, the man is called Infinite Tucker... !

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Wonder if he does that for every race 😂

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks Dave! I think the general consensus with me is that I run too far within myself pace wise and I should be working to push from further out. I'm only ever going to get an extra few seconds out of a 100m sprint whereas I could cut off minutes by improving my pace overall - it wouldn't be half as much fun though 😁

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Fantastic race! You sound and look like you really enjoyed this one. Can’t beat a sprint finish too!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Loved it Decker! I'm not sure if I have it in me to push myself to the limit so for the time being I'm going to enjoy running at a pace that suits me x

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to pianoteacher]

As long as you are enjoying it, that’s what really matters 👍🏼😁

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

That smile!!!! You look FABULOUS 😍😍😍

Lovely lovely run and report - well done!!!!!!!

I too am perplexed by the idea that a sprint finish is pointless, you go girl 😊😊😊

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thanks Abi! I think people see that I can run fast and assume I should be able to run longer distances quicker than I do but I just don't have the endurance for it (mentally or physically).

Not quite sure what's happened really as I was always last in the 100m at school by a very long way. I seemed to have developed some fast twitch muscles in my mid forties 🤷‍♀️

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

A great race and a lovely picture of you! Congrats on a great time, too!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you Sask! 😁

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Lovely photo of you and I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your run today and in the time you planned.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you Al 😁

[Madge50 Marathon]

Looking fabulous there! And a bit effortless! I like a sprint finish.....I’ve only recently built up the courage to do it.....parkrun has helped.....although my ‘sprint finish’ is probably similar to a normal pace for some......😂🏃‍♀️💪

Mx

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thank you Madge! Everything's relative in this running lark. I spoke to a girl yesterday who ran it in 37 mins and was unhappy as that was slow for her 😮 Another person said they couldn't ever imagine running it as quickly as I had 🤷‍♀️

If it feels like a sprint you're sprinting 🏃‍♀️💪😁

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Huge well done you...great photo you look amazing and so fresh as a daisy too !!!

I have no idea why??? but I thought you were Male..I should have checked...!!

Great stuff..great result!!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha! I must tell my son - we have a recurring joke nicked from the IT Crowd that I "look a little bit like a man" 🤣😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

That's all so fabulously positive! Brilliant. Love the photo too vwey well done 😀

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thank you Linda 😁

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

What a great post of your race pianoteacher. I enjoy a bit of a sprint too despite being warned that it’s not good for you.

Great to get your target time, and you look fantastic in the photo - you are a proper runner

🏃‍♀️ 🏅👏👏

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy! I think sprinting is fine as long as you're properly warmed up and not too tired. I tried it at the end of the Half Marathon and nothing happened - my legs just wouldn't go any faster. I think it was my body protecting itself from injury x

[Runsome Marathon]

Well done Looks like you enjoyed it and bang on your predicted time. The sprint always feels good if you’ve got the legs left. Nice one😀👍

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Runsome]

Thanks Del! I do enjoy a grandstand finish - even at parkrun 🤣

[Runsome Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

🏃‍♀️🏅👍😀

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Well done Marie! Speedy as usual!

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Thanks Tasha! You're pretty speedy yourself these days 😁

[C3PO Marathon]

Congratulations! I can't help myself - the sprint finish just manifests when I get close to the finish line. It's fun.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to C3PO]

Thanks! It is fun isn't it? 🏃‍♀️💥😁

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Nice photo! You look very much a runner and with a smile too! Congrats on the run! A little sprint at the end is always fun.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Thank you 😀

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Lovely report and photo and great that you had such a great race experience 😊x

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks aliboo xx

[David_G Metric Marathon]

Congratulations Pianoteacher, looks like you had a great time! I always like to leave a little in reserve if I can, for a sprint finish. I use the term 'sprint' loosely in my case though.

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to David_G]

Thanks David! Think it's pretty loose in my case too - put me up against Dina Asher-Smith and she would have finished just as I'm getting out of the blocks 😂

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

Only just seen this post - well done Marie, sounds like you had a cracking time! And so speedy too! Yes I took the pic, I enjoyed having a coffee at Goat Ledge and snapping pics of all the Hastings Runners as they whizzed by! What a fabulous day for it! 🌞🏃‍♀️💨👏🏅

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Thanks Helen! I thought it was one of your photos - I saved all the ones of me from the Facebook page 😂

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

Naturally! 😁👍