Positive talking and ladies bottoms
Today's 10k was much more fun than I expected and I managed to get round in just over 52 minutes. Fifty two minutes - Woof! Woof! I was expecting to take 56+ minutes, so I'm really delighted with 52. I even managed to speed up a little bit for the second 5k which was nice.
Firstly, I have to say that the race was really well organised and marshalled, so thanks should go to to everyone at ERR for their hard work. The weather was just right too (I don't think they organised that): mild, wind-free and a little bit sunny at times. The two-lap course of Eynsham is very flat and easy underfoot, with only the odd leaf-covered or grassy bit. As far as I could tell nobody fell on their arse or injured anything through slips.
This was my first mass start on a run - previously I've only done runs in triathlons which are never 'mass' run starts because everyone hops off their bike at different times - so it was interesting. I met up with Ollie and Liz on the start line and we discussed tactics and weather. Then in not time I was in the middle of the 'start line shuffle' that I've seen in the London Marathon so many times. Within a few seconds though I was jogging along at an easy pace and trying to work out what 56/10 was (maths is not my strong point!).
I'd agreed with Ollie that I didn't want any company on the way round - I didn't want to either slow him down on his 45-50 minute pace or go too fast in trying to keep up with him that I blew up at 6k. So we had a quick 1 minute chat and then he dashed off through a gap of slow-moving runners.
Firstly, I have to say that the race was really well organised and marshalled, so thanks should go to to everyone at ERR for their hard work. The weather was just right too (I don't think they organised that): mild, wind-free and a little bit sunny at times. The two-lap course of Eynsham is very flat and easy underfoot, with only the odd leaf-covered or grassy bit. As far as I could tell nobody fell on their arse or injured anything through slips.
This was my first mass start on a run - previously I've only done runs in triathlons which are never 'mass' run starts because everyone hops off their bike at different times - so it was interesting. I met up with Ollie and Liz on the start line and we discussed tactics and weather. Then in not time I was in the middle of the 'start line shuffle' that I've seen in the London Marathon so many times. Within a few seconds though I was jogging along at an easy pace and trying to work out what 56/10 was (maths is not my strong point!).
I'd agreed with Ollie that I didn't want any company on the way round - I didn't want to either slow him down on his 45-50 minute pace or go too fast in trying to keep up with him that I blew up at 6k. So we had a quick 1 minute chat and then he dashed off through a gap of slow-moving runners.
I pootled along at what I thought was a sustainable pace, and when I
hit the first 1km at 5:17 I was quite happy. I figured I'd slow down a
bit over the 10k but even so that I was on for a 54/55 minute time.
Positive talking - it's all in the mind
The next 4km went by quite easily, and by 6km I was feeling really good. I'd read an article in Cycling Plus recently about "Positive Talking". Just like a bit of cheering at the side of the road can give you a boost, so a positive thought or word to yourself can also improve your performance. Or so the theory goes. I've definitely found in the past that Negative thinking can have an adverse effect - if you tell yourself you're dropping back you probably will. So I gave this Positive Talking lark a go, and from 5k-9k I was reminding myself of the good pace I was achieving and what this meant for my overall time.
The odd 'I'm feeling really good', and 'I'm going to beat 55 minutes!' kept me going for half of the race. This was all "said" in my head of course. I didn't want to sound like a complete loon and anyway I would have struggled to talk out loud after 5km. If nothing else though it helped distract me from the race...
Group therapy (and those bottoms)
The other thing that I found useful was running in a large group. With such a large group (500 or so I think), it was always easy to latch onto someone at the same pace as me or just above it. It was very satisfying to just put on a quick spurt and pass someone I'd been tailing for the last kilometre.
There was a group of 5 or 6 men or women that I was locked to from the start of lap two, and we kept passing and re-passing each other. One particular guy caused me lots of problems and looked very strong right up until the last kilometre when I managed to pass him. I looked round in the last 400m to make sure he wasn't about to rush past me and he'd fallen back a little way. So to you, anonymous man in blue who kept racing me, I give my thanks!
And when I didn't feel like racing with people, there was plenty of opportunity for bottom-watching. Lycra isn't a naturally flattering material admittedly, but it does take on a different look when it's wrapped round a woman's bottom - especially runners. Having something attractive in front of you is definitely a good way to keep moving. Nice bottom running away? Run faster then. etc, etc...
I even got a 'thankyou' from a woman who was running behind me for the last 5k. Just as I'd been pacing myself against the group in front of me, she said I was a useful pacemaker for her. I think she was just looking at my bottom though.
(Apologies to anyone who reads this and feels like it's getting seedy but, realistically, I know my reader and I know he won't be offended. And anyway, I'm almost 35 for goodness sake! Surely I can have the odd perversion at my age?!)
Positive talking - it's all in the mind
The next 4km went by quite easily, and by 6km I was feeling really good. I'd read an article in Cycling Plus recently about "Positive Talking". Just like a bit of cheering at the side of the road can give you a boost, so a positive thought or word to yourself can also improve your performance. Or so the theory goes. I've definitely found in the past that Negative thinking can have an adverse effect - if you tell yourself you're dropping back you probably will. So I gave this Positive Talking lark a go, and from 5k-9k I was reminding myself of the good pace I was achieving and what this meant for my overall time.
The odd 'I'm feeling really good', and 'I'm going to beat 55 minutes!' kept me going for half of the race. This was all "said" in my head of course. I didn't want to sound like a complete loon and anyway I would have struggled to talk out loud after 5km. If nothing else though it helped distract me from the race...
Group therapy (and those bottoms)
The other thing that I found useful was running in a large group. With such a large group (500 or so I think), it was always easy to latch onto someone at the same pace as me or just above it. It was very satisfying to just put on a quick spurt and pass someone I'd been tailing for the last kilometre.
There was a group of 5 or 6 men or women that I was locked to from the start of lap two, and we kept passing and re-passing each other. One particular guy caused me lots of problems and looked very strong right up until the last kilometre when I managed to pass him. I looked round in the last 400m to make sure he wasn't about to rush past me and he'd fallen back a little way. So to you, anonymous man in blue who kept racing me, I give my thanks!
And when I didn't feel like racing with people, there was plenty of opportunity for bottom-watching. Lycra isn't a naturally flattering material admittedly, but it does take on a different look when it's wrapped round a woman's bottom - especially runners. Having something attractive in front of you is definitely a good way to keep moving. Nice bottom running away? Run faster then. etc, etc...
I even got a 'thankyou' from a woman who was running behind me for the last 5k. Just as I'd been pacing myself against the group in front of me, she said I was a useful pacemaker for her. I think she was just looking at my bottom though.
(Apologies to anyone who reads this and feels like it's getting seedy but, realistically, I know my reader and I know he won't be offended. And anyway, I'm almost 35 for goodness sake! Surely I can have the odd perversion at my age?!)
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