Be warned, it’s a long one!!!

Great South Run weekend was upon us and the weather forecast for the main event on Sunday was sunny, dry with a bit of wind. This was a nice change as usually the weather gods provide a monsoon for us to run in. The payback, however, was that rain was forecast for kids’ runs on the Saturday.

Kitted out with our waterproofs the family arrived at a sodden Southsea nice and early for the girls’ “Junior” race due to set off at 11.00. We watched the “Mini” run (for 4 to 8 year olds). At the back of the field was a little girl about 6 years old using a walking frame. She received a great cheer as she passed and I don’t think there was a dry eye to be seen. Tremendous courage and it also makes you thankful for what you have got.

We then met up with Katie123 and AnneH. They had made it down especially early to cheer my girls on as my girls had cheered them on at HL. It was great to see them.  Time was pressing on and the girls got to their starting pens. I left the Misses with Katie and Anne at the start and I positioned myself at a point further down the course to cheer everyone on.

Soon the horde of girls speed past, #1 went past and not too far behind was #2. My position was at a point they had to pass again and it was not too long before they past me again. Both were looking good. I ran to a point on the last 200 yards but missed #1. I did see #2 go past and she was putting everything she had into the finish. We all met up at the meeting point.  The girls reported their watch times. #1 did the 2.5 km in 10.31 and #2 in 11.24. Both fantastic times IMO.

We said our goodbyes to Anne and Katie, it was great to see them and thaks again for coming to support the girls, they really appreciated it as did I. We got back to the car and got the girls changed into dry clothes.

After a refreshing night’s sleep, extended by the return to GMT, we all set off for Southsea. The family had decided to come and support me for the first time in a few years as the weather was set fair (though the wind had got noticeably stronger). We arrived it Southsea in good time and after a mooch around I got into my race gear, said bye and set off to join the VERY long queues for the loos. Took so long I had to rush to the start line and missed most of the mass warm up. The hooter soon went and we set off and the worlds number one 10 mile race was off.  As usual in such a crowed field it was a very stop start beginning but I soon got into my stride.  As mile after mile went by I was ahead of my target of 9 minute miles though my Garmin was playing a little trick on me by signalling that a mile was up between 50 and 200 yards before the official marker so I was not too sure exactly how I was progressing. The first 5 (Garmin) miles were done in 8.25, 8.15, 8.10, 8.25 and 8.38 respectively. The crowd was cheering and I spotted my family at about 6 miles. The great thing about the GSR is that the crowd comes out in vast numbers to support the runners and this year with both a record field and nice weather the crowd was bigger than I have experienced in any of the previous 7 GSRs I have done.  

Spurred on mile 6 was done in 8.42 and mile 7 in 8.51. Mile 8 sees the course turn onto the seafront and we were running straight into the wind with no shelter. I started to feel the pace a bit and my legs were getting heavy. The 8^th mile was done in 9.00 so still on target and according to the Garmin I was 3.30 up but I was a bit worried that a) I was slowing down and b) the accuracy on the Garmin.

800m to go I dug in, 400m to go legs were like jelly but nothing was going to stop me, I passed a guy at 200m to go who couldn’t stand up and was being helped across the by two fellow runners and then I crossed the line. Stopped the Garmin , it told me I had ran 10.11 miles (!) in 1.27.22. From memory I had missed my PB by 9 seconds.

I rejoined the family and took part in an organised warm down. A text came through to the wife giving my official time as 1.27.24.

We then got back to the car and spent most of the next 2 hours getting off the common which had been used as the car park. I feel a letter of complaint coming on as it was chaos. There were no parking stewards to be seen until the exit yet they had been kind enough to relieve me of my money on entrance and at least and dozens directed me to my parking space. Once off the car park I joind the queues to get out of Portsmouth. This is the only down side to the event IMO.

When we finally got home (over 3 hours, including time in the car park, for a 15 mile journey) I checked my previous times to see how far I had missed my PB by. To my surprise I found I had indeed got a PB by 17 seconds. It was peel me off the ceiling time.    

The legs feel good and I have treated myself to a cheeky cold beer . I must admit I am still quite pleased with myself.

Hope you have not been too bored reading this. Thanks for all your support recently. It really make a difference.

Take care everyone.

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