Great North West Half Marathon 26th february 2006

Flying the Flag for the Standards

 

I had been unsuccessfully chasing the Bronze Standard half marathon time for my age group (2.02.00), since joining Wesham Road Runners in September 2004.  I knew I could do it, with a PB of 1.59.45, but hadn’t been able to get near it since joining.  This was the only result I needed to qualify for the Bronze Standard - the situation needed serious attention.

 

I targeted the Great North West Half Marathon, having done my previous PB at this race in 2004.  I devised an eight week training plan which started on 2nd January and included the speed and hill sessions I had always avoided.  Over the eight weeks I missed only three runs; two through illness and one through time problems.  Telling everybody about the plan helped me stick to it; I even stuck a copy on the wall at work.  My Uncle, Maurice Weller, who helped me put the plan together, coached me from North Wales with advice and support as well as checking up on me.  Graham Vickers showed what a true friend he is when he said he would run with me to get me round in the time I wanted.

 

Finally, after eight weeks work, the day arrived.  It was raining when Graham and I set off for Blackpool but that stopped and left broken cloud and wind.  I felt a bit nervous, but excited too; would all that training pay off?  Graham was confident it would.

 

We set off at a good pace.  I felt a bit panicky at each mile marker, realising I was running faster than I ever had previously, but kept going and the first lap was fine.  I even did a 10k PB!  However, I think my smile in the picture Julie Cruse took is too big and suggests I could have been working a bit harder!  I couldn’t have smiled like that on the second lap.  John Whiteman was, as ever a welcome sight, popping up around the course with words of encouragement.

 

 

The second lap was much harder.  The wind had obviously changed from NE to N and was coming straight at us.  Graham pointed out that everybody was slowing down because of it but it would help us along once we turned round to go along the top path again.  That section, until the turn, seemed to go on for ever, but Graham was quietly encouraging and kept me going.

 

The last three miles are a blur.  I remember at the ten mile marker thinking that, even if I slowed to 10 minute miling, I would still get the standard!  Obviously slowing down like that wasn’t an option but it gave me some comfort.  The last mile was run on pure willpower.  I remember vaguely noticing that people who were in front of us seemed to be disappearing but I couldn’t work out where they were going!  Graham told me afterwards that we were overtaking people from ten miles to the end, and that I speeded up.  I just had to keep going.  I heard cheers of encouragement as I finished, then a handshake from Paul Carter and a hug from Graham – I’d done it!!

 

Graham saw the clock at 1:55:30 when I finished, despite what the results say, (1:55:41).  Not only bronze standard, but a new PB by over 4 minutes.  I had fantasised 1:55:00 but never really thought it possible.  If it hadn’t been so windy …??

 

At club last night I gave Dave Waywell my times to claim my Bronze Standard.  I had a round of applause from fellow club members for my PB and felt I could do anything.  Later, a chat with Peter Gleaves prompted me to look at the silver standard times.  1:55:30 is only 30 seconds outside the half marathon silver standard for my age.  My 5 mile PB is already silver standard.  Guess my next target – Silver Standard before the end of 2006.

 

I can’t say thank you enough to Graham Vickers for his support and encouragement, and for giving up his race to get me round.  Thank you to everyone who encouraged me over the last eight weeks and on the day.

 

I am going to encourage more people to aim for their standards now, particularly our lady members.  Having a target to aim for definitely helps you out of the door for that run on a dark, cold, wet evening or horrible, windy Sunday morning.  It would be good to see more people receiving standards awards, both as individual achievements and inspiration for fellow runners.

 

For me now a few days taking it easy then a five week training schedule aiming to knock a few minutes off the Caldervale 10.  See you there.

 

Written by: Pauline Weller 28.02.06

Submitted 13th March 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor