Well I was very nearly a DNS, went to a disabled kids charity party yesterday and ended up with a poorly tummy. It was still feeling yucky this morning debated sacking it off, however I’ve paid money to be there and I’d have no bling! So I headed off to Manchester wondering what the day would bring.
Wow! It was busy, they said 44,000 entrants (although there is less than 20,000 on the finishers list).
I had to use the facilities several times before the race start (on the verge of too much information?) and missed my start wave, and the one after. However I noticed a 2hr 15 pacer at the front of the wave. Hmm could I keep up with him? Well the answer is ‘No!’, I dropped back at 10k as I was struggling and decided to just enjoy it.
I decided to walk through the water points, and had to take a few walk breaks from around 16k.
This was a race I’d forgotten I’d booked until the emails started arriving a few weeks ago, and I’d had a ‘meh’ summer. So I’d decided to put a few shorter runs with reasonable elevation gain in as training and more-or-less wing it. Like you (don’t) do at 13 miles! 😛
Anyway I got a chip time of 2.18.56 - I wanted sub 2.20 if I couldn’t keep up with the pacer, so well happy and 4’15” lopped off my PB at the distance.
As I wasn’t feeling my best and found the run hard, I was so glad I didn’t relent to the gremlins.