FRECK FEVER
So another Freckleton Half Marathon has come and gone for another year and
again I don’t quite know what to make of it. The race itself is superbly organised
and marshalled and always has fantastic support along the route, that isn’t
what leaves me in two minds about it. Neither is the start time, I think?
Last year I ran it for the first time and it was absolutely
baking hot, so this year’s cooler weather seemed to be a chance to run it a lot
better. The sun deciding to come out during the race really stuck an oar in
those plans. I am not sure a weeks all inclusive holiday to Kos seven days before was a great help
either, I got my monies worth over in
Angela and I went up to
I got to the start line in good condition
and was feeling confident that I could manage to get round doing roughly 7.10
minute miles, long as I paced myself properly. We all set off like the usual
stampeding herd of buffalos and I felt the surge of adrenaline kick in that I
always get when racing. Sadly it seems it took over all control of my brain and
legs as I did the first 2 miles well under 7 minute miles, not good when you
have over 11 left to run!
I eased off in mile 3 to dead on 7 minute
miles but after that I started to be all over the place, at one point a did a
mile over 8 minutes. I had hoped to have a drink and sponge down at Wrea Green and get a second wind but by
around mile 8 I was seriously overheating and getting ever so light headed.
At the next water station I had a gel and a drink of water
and emptied the contents of three sponges over my head, I still didn’t feel any
better. I had been clinging on to the shadow of Helen Lawrenson up until this area but when I set off again she was
long gone, not to be seen again until after the race. I was now totally alone,
with no other competitors in front or behind me for quite a distance.
At this point I could have really done with
someone to help pace me, instead I shuffled along alone. I was glad of the
fellow club members who still cheered me as I passed them on various parts of
the course; their support was my last helping hand to the finish line, which
seemed miles away. Oh bugger, it still was! I walk-ran the rest of the race in
a haze of heat stroke and anger at my lack of pace control.
I crossed the finish line after 1 hour and
37 minutes of pain, anger and confusion in myself and pride in some of the
other club members, who had paced their race perfectly and left me in their
dust. I was pretty dazed still when I watched Angela come in shortly after me to claim yet another PB and her silver Vet 40 standards. I was very pleased for her and proud of
her as usual; she really has put the effort in this year and reaped the
rewards.
I was still sulking with myself when Mick Edge quite rightly pointed out
that I should be chuffed to have just run my half marathon PB after only being back running 6 months since my Achilles operation. Wise words indeed
from Mick, he isn’t just a pretty
face you see! Once again he proved why I have been so glad to become a member
of Wesham Road Runners, there is
always someone there to cheer you up or put things into perspective, funnily
enough it is often Mick.
So I have tried to get my head together and
get back into my marathon training to help me forget my Freck fright. There are plenty of other half marathons I can do to
get my standards and the Fleetwood
one may be a good bet as long it is not windy. I suppose it would be nice to
complete my standards on my own turf as well, as it is run on most of my usual
training run circuit.
Monday club night was very quiet after Freck, so maybe I wasn’t the only one
who had suffered; well I know I wasn’t actually. Angela had fallen at a drinks station and has the bruised knee to
prove it. I wanted to get a 7 mile run done as part of my marathon training,
not exactly ideal after a half marathon the day before but when shuffling full
time work and starting a business I don’t really have a choice.
I did the 7 miles and ran it precisely how
I wanted to, unlike Freck, Ahh! It
rained the last couple of miles, which was absolutely wonderful. What I would
have given for that on race day! I then bumped into Emma Lund floating her way along Dowbridge; it was nice to hear that she also felt quite fatigued
from Freck. I was beginning to think
she was super human the way her times have improved lately, she is really doing
herself and the club proud this year.
Hopefully I can get over the mental stress
I put myself under at Freck now and
go enjoy the 10K at Hawkshead tomorrow. That should set me
up nicely for 17 miles with Angela
on Saturday and the Sotos 10k on Sunday. As you can tell I haven’t lost my passion for running and
with the motivation I take from Angela
and all the club members I run with, I am sure I will go and have a stormer at Freck next year. I just have to learn
to pace better and stay more focused on being positive right to the end.
Written by: Charles
Colby
Submitted: 21st
June 2011
Edited by: Brenda J
Earnshaw WRR Editor