Mixed emotions

[sTrongFuse]

This running lark can't half mess with your head sometimes...

Monday night - long run night. Conditions were pretty much perfect; cool but not too cold, dry and almost no wind worth mentioning. Headed out, got into my stride and the ks just ticked along nicely.

Got to the 10 mile mark and I was feeling good; the legs seemed to have plenty left in them, so I pushed on. Onwards... 17k... 18k... 19k... 20k... it was still going well, I even managed what for me resembles a sprint finish to bring it home and complete HM distance. In doing so, I set a new PB, knocking just shy of 18 minutes off my previous best time.

Was I delighted? Of course I was. There was, however, a "but". Not a big "but" by any means, but a "but" nonetheless.

My new time (according to Strava) was 2 hours 30 minutes and 23 seconds. Was I trying to go under 2:30? No. If I'd known there was a possibility that I might have gone under 2:30, could I have run any of it any faster? Probably not. Was smashing 17 minutes and 55 seconds off my previous best not a huge achievement that I should be justifiably proud of? Of course it was! So why then, do I feel ever so slightly gutted that I missed out on a sub 2:30 by less than 30 seconds? Given that this time last year I hadn't even started C25K, you'd think I'd be exultant at this result, and I genuinely am, but there's still just that nagging voice telling me that If I's only shaved a fraction over a second of each kilometre, I'd have dipped under that psychological bar.

As I said, this running does do strange things to us...

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Another but .... but it does give you something achievable to aim for next time! In the meantime, massive congratulations on a major PB 😍

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

Very true. I suspect if it had been an organised event rather than my usual solo run, the extra impetus from running in a group would get me under that 2.5 hour mark.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

From missing a sub anything is always a bit disappointing for a runner, the big subs are of course sub 30 for a 5K, sub 60 for a 10K or 2 and a half hours for a half marathon, not sure what it is for the full marathon, don't be too disappointed on that 30 seconds, yes, probably if it had been an event run race it would have been around 2 hours 25 minutes, you did very will on that solo run this evening, congratulations.

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al. I don't have a target for the marathon as I've no intention of ever running one.

My current goals for this year are;

- sub 60 10k (need to knock just under 4 mins off current PB)

- sub 1 hour 45 10 mile (as above, just under 4 mins needed)

- sub 2 hour 30 HM (24 seconds needed)

Let's see how it goes...

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Mmm.... Its fantastic that u can do this in a year!!!

[sTrongFuse Half Marathon 10 Miles in reply to Deals1]

I know. I'm being unreasonably churlish about something I couldn't even have imagined myself doing this time last year.

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Ha yes I know just how you feel. But at least you know the time you can manage, in order to set your next goal. Well done on a great run! 18 min is huge!

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon]

The time barriers are good to chase, but a pain when we just miss them! Great run, and congratulations on your new PB.

All this reminds me of Breaking2, Kipchoge’s first attempt at a sub 2 hour marathon... his time of 2:00:25 had me devastated for him. His attitude immediately after was that he now knew it was possible, and he’s recently done it of course. Same with us when we get so close... it proves that we can achieve it. So while we may prefer to miss by minutes than seconds, it all depends which way you look at it.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I'm going to remember this next time I'm disappointed; if missing a target is good enough to make Kipchoge stronger rather than sulk ... well ... a fine example indeed 👍

[Run46 Half Marathon]

Lol, it'll give you something to work towards for next time you crazy guy 😆

I can call you crazy coz I understand exactly where you're coming from, I did a 5K in 30:41 recently, my PB and though I was happy I was also thinking 41 seconds...41 seconds and I'd have been sub 30 😉

I'm at 11 miles and am working towards HM distance, I look forward to beating my 1st time as well as you did 🤞