Just a short one reflecting on my latest race a big day in the North East Sporting calendar
It was my third year in a row running this race, I had one aim beat 1:14:38 from 2016 after beating 2015 time of 1:21:40.
I wasn't sure how I would fair with it being my first race back post my sub 3 Manchester Half achievement, feels such a dream to be writing that 2 weeks later crazy i know anyway.
Arrived early in town lots of runners there already it was only 5pm the race started 7:15 thought i would have been the only one there I was wrong.
My Club gathered for about 6:45 for a club picture that ended up in the chronicle
Me and Monica my friend who had been working on the elections the night before and came from London to do the race. Monica was a fellow volunteer from Glasgow 2014.
Come 7pm the atmosphere was building as we gathered in the club starting pen and the geordie anthem Blaydon Races was played
At 7:15 we were off my target was maybe aim for sub 70 minutes set off nice and steady trying not to go too fast
Mile 1 10:42
I had demons to fight with this race, dont stop on the hill entering Scotswood Road and dont stop on the hills on Scotswood Road
Headed up the first hill of the course heading past the 02 academy kept going saw familiar faces pass me along the way then a lovely downhill to centre for life when i saw friends and Angela Kirtley from Newcastle Parkrun was at centre for life spectating, no sooner did that happen i was at the hill where i normally always walk up, result i didnt i felt strong.
What a sight as i arrived onto Scotswood Road with a sea of runners ahead of me on a warm night I kept it steady 1st mile done
Mile 2: 11:18
slowed pace down to conserve energy in heat for later in run nothing much to say about this mile just up and down the hills of scotswood road passed car garages i could tell i still had chance of a good time i hadnt stopped yet
Mile 3: 11:37
a band playing started this mile always encouraging and club friends were great support along the route shouting encouragement. Danny Fletcher was great support and commented on me smiling through the race. he was right i was having a good time.
I could see the bridge at the end of this mile and i still had not stopped yippee i would have normally given up on the many uphills along scotswood road started to sense maybe i could do this non stop
Mile 4: 12:21
Great club support from David Daniels super encouraging keeping me going Thank You
I was aiming for the bridge whilst needing a drink managed to take one and keep going.
It was up onto the bridge with lots of support my focus was the top of the hill, then i knew i could recover on the downhill loop that followed.... ahhhhhh then slowed a little heading uphill towards the turning loop plenty of support from runners at the other side of the loop spurring me on it lifted me
Mile 5: 12:49
Got to the turnaround point lots of people round me knew i was doing well as normally at this point theres hardly any behind me quick look of the watch and yep i was still in with a good shot of a pb
arrived at water station impossible to drnk water out of a cup and run so this was my only stop of the race for a quick millisecond
then saw photographer Ian Harman taking pictures just before the start of the final hill (pictures at bottom of blog) again in past i normally cant run this hill this year i did
the final 0.6 7:30
The top of the hill in sight I could see Morrisons store I knew this was the start of a downhill at this point I was confident of a PB it was just a case of how much it was just a case of a final corner after then the car park and the finish field, the car park always feels long at this point from seeing the morrisons my pace picked up and I ran for home with a strong sprint finish to boot. I could hear friends shouting me in but was in the zone so not sure who did.
So 7 minutes knocked off in 2016 and 2017 Tyne Bridge Harrier training sessions are to thank for the progress.
Until the next race.
