Sunday, 28th March – 28 days to go

You’d have to be a real f*!*wit to forget that the clocks went forward an hour last night. Double that if you’re a couple. We did. I was up reasonably early (I thought) for a spot of porridge, watched the end of the Grand Prix from Melbourne – isn’t Lewis Hamilton a prat? You’d think Jenson Button would be too, but he always comes across as a nice boy. We decided to leave early for the Wakefield 10k - 8.15 for a 9.50 start. That would give plenty of time to find parking and the start point and then register, chat with people we know and warm up. By the time we realised the clocks had gone forward it was 8.55. A mad scramble and relatively traffic-free roads had us there for 9.30. Found a parking spot v. close to the start that everyone else had overlooked. In the queue for registration by 9.40. They delayed the start anyway as there were loads of people registering on the day.

I started off closer to the front than I’d have liked and ran 4:03 for the first k. Started to climb after the first 500m and it was uphill for the next 2k. Then down for another 500m and up for the next 2k. I went through 5k in 21:15. It’s an out and back, so mostly downhill on the way back. All the way out we were running into a head wind. I’m prepared to believe we had the benefit of a tail wind on the way back, but I can’t say I was aware of it. Just behind James from parkrun/Valley Striders on the way out. He clearly doesn’t like the uphill bits either. See Will from Bedes and Daniel from parkrun on the way back. Blimey, I’m 400m ahead of Deadly Hedley at the 5k mark – he must have set off late. I expect him to storm past anytime. See Marie from VARR and Sarah guiding Louise, the blind lady that Lisa guided last week at the Bradford 10k. Small world. Liz is looking strong when we cross and has Arthur and Diane in hot pursuit.

James gradually pulls away from me and Paul goes past me with about 300m to go. 41:20ish – I still haven’t got internet access so will have to wait for the official time. Good negative split, better time than the previous Sunday and in more testing conditions. Marie isn’t far behind and Liz finishes in 1:04. Arthur finishes with his customary sprint finish going past three others just before the line. All in all, a good race, though I would have preferred a less manic pre race prep.

Nipples. What’s all that about? Why do men need nipples anyway? I only ask because mine are sore. Chafed. I think it’s the combination of a running vest that isn’t really “technical” and moisture. Mostly sweat, though I did have a good soak at the water stop – bottles instead of paper cups, which made a pleasant change. I’ll need to plaster up for the marathon. It’s borderline fetishistic, but the chafing is unpleasant especially after the race if you don’t whip your vest off straight away. I remember my first vets race in York last year when it absolutely siled it down and at the end there was a group of three guys in their sixties all with nipples bleeding through their white running vests. Yuk.

Also, I’ll have to wear a cap. I got sweat in my eyes today and although it was sunny, it wasn’t what you’d call warm. Was behind a lady with a “Clima Control” cap on at the start, so I’ll see if I can get something specifically aimed at running.

In retrospect, in terms of my marathon training I’d have been better off running a longer distance – either the half marathon in Liverpool or the seventeen miler in Preston. I only ran this because it was a VARR club championship race, but if I ever do another marathon I’ll be looking to run more longer races and do fewer solo long runs.