10k - 42:35

This morning was the Stirling 10k, which I managed in 42:35 (unofficial). The weather was running-friendly - overcast and a bit damp. The course was virtually flat, making it perfect for a PB effort - although that was balanced by a few narrow sections where overtaking was impossible. I felt fairly good during the race, perhaps setting off a touch too fast, but feeling quite strong at the end - strong enough to outsprint a couple of people who pulled level with a quarter of a mile to go. 42:35 is aPB by 2 and a half minutes from May, so I'm happy with that. After the Loch Ness marathon I'm going to prepare for a half and a 10k in march of next year - hopefully with some 10k specific training, I'll be threatening the 40 minute barrier. Splits below:

1 - 6:48
2 - 6:44
3 - 7:03
4 - 7:02
5 - 6:50
6 - 6:53

Half marathon - 1:39:00

Today was the half marathon in Glasgow. The weather was awful for spectators but great for running. I ended up with 1:39:00 flat on my watch - my chip time should be available shortly.

This is a pb of over 8 minutes from the half I did in Edinburgh at the end of March, so I've got to be happy with the performance. Stupidly, I left it until a few minutes before the race to turn on my Garmin. The result was that it didn't pick up the satellites until over a mile into the race and has only recorded 11.83 miles - but at least it kept hold of them from that point onwards (allowing for a couple of tunnels we ran through). The available data is below. It reflects my race strategy pretty accurately - try to hold 7:40-ish pace (which roughly equates to 1:40:00) and then push for the last 3 miles.

Lap 1: 13:53 (hit the split button while trying to get it off the 'tracking satellites' screen..)
Lap 2: 7:34
Lap 3: 7:37
Lap 4: 7:35
Lap 5: 7:43
Lap 6: 7:30
Lap 7: 7:25
Lap 8: 7:39
Lap 9: 7:29
Lap 10: 7:05
Lap 11: 7:10
Lap 12: 7:06 (pace)

*********************************Update

The official results are now available (bang goes my annonymity if anyone can actually be bothered to check the finishers) and my chip time is 1:39:02. Its a pity it hadn't been a couple of seconds the other way but no big deal.

Further post race reflections....As usual, I can remember very little about the race. This is a common phenomenon for me and must be because I'm so focused on the run. From what I can remember, the course itself was OK - a few tight bends, a few uphill sections, a few narrow bits. Nothing special, but equally nothing to complain to much about about. 20,000 people took part in a 10k or half marathon yesterday, so considering the numbers involved I think the event went rather smoothly. Compared with the edinburgh half in March it was clockwork.

The most pleasing part of yesterday's run was definitely the last few miles. I usually die in the last part of a race, so to be able to pick up the pace to close to 7 minutes per mile after averaging 7:40-ish for the first 10 was something of a novelty. I didn't quite manage a caveman finish, but I overtook substantially more people in the final couple of miles than overtook me. I think the result bodes well for the 10k in Stirling in a fortnight (the target at which is to beat my 45:05 from May), but I'm pretty sure I'm in much better half/10k shape than I am for the marathon.

Three other things happened when I was in Glasgow - I saw Paul Le Guen at the finish (Rangers manager, who finished just ahead of me in 1:36), I saw Willie Miller (ex-Aberdeen and Scotland legend, leaving a hotel to make his way back north I imagine), and I passed the hotel where Tommy Sheridan was launching his new Socialist party (I couldn't understand to begin with why there were TV cameras away from the race course to begin with).

Pictures to follow shortly, depending on how badly they turn out...