10K Saturation

[timebomb]

Fair play, Jonny. Have to agree with you on all accounts.

[GaryBT]

Jonny - I was indeed joking about the half marathon bit. None of these runs are easy!

I didn't make my target of a sub-4 hour run - 4 hours 20 was what I managed. On a few of my longer training runs I had been running well enough to believe a sub-4 hour marathon was achievable; for example I'd run from Shepherds Way one Sunday morning about 3 weeks ago, following the marathon route out to Scarva and back, 21 miles by my calculations, and I'd done it in just over 3:10, feeling pretty strong at the finish; a previous 20-miler from Portadown to Newry along the towpath was done in 2:59. During each week for the past 6 weeks I was getting in at least 2 10-mile runs in the evenings as well as a few shorter faster 5 and 6-mile runs on other nights, averaging on the 10-milers about 1:25 or so. So based on the times I was achieving on my longer runs and how I generally felt, I didn't think I was being delusional as such when I set my sights on 4 hours for the marathon.

All was going more or less according to plan by the half-way stage; I was running comfortably and had passed the half-way mark at 1:58 (a bit slower than anticipated but still on target), but then the wind dropped when I was about a mile down the towpath, and the heat came on big time. I got roasted and dehydrated and my steady pace just fell away, so I reverted to survival mode and focused on just completing the run instead of aiming for the 4 hours. But still, 4:20 is an improvement of 22 minutes on Berlin of last September; I'm going in the right direction, so I'll not beat myself up too much. New York in November is my next marathon - I'll hopefully get my sub 4 there! So there you go.

Anyways, I'll not repeat myself any further regarding the original topic and finish with this - if anyone ever manages to set up some kind of Newry runners' union, having a committee made up of representatives from each of the various local clubs (as opposed to a single club, which simply won't happen - an old saying comes to mind: "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride") to act as a single voice on behalf of all local runners and to collaborate with one another when planning and staging events, then I'll happily pay a subscription. In the meantime, should anyone want to participate in a top-class 10K annual event, why not come along to the 2011 BGM Runners 10K Breakfast Run next May - you'll be hard-pressed to find a better organised, well marshalled, officially measured and chip timed, flatter, faster run than ours.

Congratulations to all who ran in the marathon, half-marathon and fun run yesterday, and good luck to all in future runs.

G out.

[jonny]

No luck with breaking 4hrs, still a good improvement from the last one, judging by the previous runs it sounds like you are fairly close to breaking 4 hrs so good luck with new york

I suppose one thing you mention on the last post which i probbaly havent acknowledged is that my 1 club suggestion wouldnt be an easy task. (obvious as if it were easy it would have been done by now) I suppose the main point i want to make is that is what should happen in an ideal world. Perhaps the best we can hope for is that there is a good working relationship between the various clubs/gyms/organisations that organise events so that they can all work together for the benfit of the runners the sport and chairities involved.

Anyway good debate, hope it continues, I'm the least able to actually stand up and do anything right now but fair play to all that do.

[mg2]

I hope yous all put as much time and effort into all your local clubs,ps the next time Newry is being set up at 3.30am, look forward to seeing you there?

Love to see one local club,a great running track and the local runners getting the rewards they deserve.

[jonny]

Good point, fair play to anyone who does help out with these events whether it be a 330am start, or standing for 4-5 hours marshalling a check point/water station.

[spud]

does anyone know if there are many doing the A1 10k on the 27th?