Stirling 10k 2015

Wow.  Over a month since my last blog update.  That must be some sort of record in itself, and not a good one.  What better occasion to post an update than the return to the event where last year I set my PB in what is what I consider to be "my distance".  And so what follows is a race report on the Stirling 10k 2015.

Number pinned and ready to go... 

I awoke at 7:30am on Sunday morning to eat porridge ahead of the race at 10:15 - Stirling is about a 35 minute drive from Edinburgh and I wanted to be there in good time to get a parking space at the race start (Forthbank Stadium home of Stirling Albion FC) and to warm up.  Kata had planned to come along to cheer me and the other HBT club runners on, but she was fast asleep, 8 month pregnant, and I couldn't bring myself to wake her up - it turned out to be the correct decision.

2km fun run gets underway in glorious conditions.

Yes, it certainly is.

The weather was fantastic, perfect running conditions and only if I was being really fussy would I complain that if anything it was maybe a wee bit on the warm side.  Not a breath of wind and clear blue skies.  As I said, this is the race where last year I set my PB time of 42:30 and so I was keen to run it again even if the hope of matching or beating that time was  forlorn one.  This time last year I was well into my Most Runningist Year Ever, and racing regularly.  This year, although still running every day (this was Day 463 in case anyone is still counting), I wasn't racing so much, my enthusiasm was not great, and I feel like I am a bit over my fighting weight due to excessive cake consumption.  Still, I needed a target and 42:30 (or 4:15 per km) was the target.  The course is quite flat and lends itself to achieving a good time.

I set off at a good pace and the first 3km were achieved in about 3:55, 4:05, 4:05, so pretty good allowing for the usual, initial, race start over enthusiasm.  I settled into about 4:15 per km for the next 4km so was well on track for a good time with the "time in the bank" I had made in the first 3km.

Stirling Albion - First British football club to play in Japan (apparently)

The kilometre between 3 and 4 was not a good one for me.  I got hit on the back of the leg by a discarded water bottle, then nearly had to stop to turn sharp left on to a narrow bridge.  This cost me about 10 seconds I think.  No matter, a PB was out of the question (wasn't it?) and my time was pretty good considering my lack of training (a better runner than me once told me that "racing is training").  At the 7.5km mark my left hip was sore to the point of a slight limp and my legs were tired - I wasn't being let down by aerobic fitness, but my leg muscle strength - this is unusual for me.  Ah well, I pushed on to the best of my ability.  I remember last year reaching 8km and thinking, "blimey, I am on for a good PB here", running like the clappers, and racing a guy next to me to the finish.  This year I had no such motivation.  However....at a sign that said "400m to go" I glanced at my watch and saw that to make 42:30 I'd need to run 400m in 2 minutes.  Doesn't sound hard as I type this from couch, but I was knackered and I didn't think it was possible.  The next sign said "200m to go" and I glanced at my watch and saw that I had 45 seconds to make a good and total bonus PB!  Wow!  I could do that!  I dug out a bit extra from somewhere and crossed the line in a NEW PB TIME of 42:23!!!  Absolutely delighted and  wee bit shocked.  I didn't quite vomit at the finish like I did in my last race, but there was a lot of coughing and spluttering.

Just goes to show, if I trained I'd be dangerous.  :-)  I feel inspired now to try harder and I'll try to make that inspiration stick.  Next year's Stirling 10k is already in my diary.

Accept

Here's this year's shirt, same as last year's shirt.  I think my new Adidas race flats made me run faster.