Wow, so much catching up to do here again. It was great to meet T Rex, Tom S & Steve Zodiac again, and Ru, Daymion (& reydon runner?) for the first time, and of course Fat Fyes in Pete's Eats (sorry you didn't make it to the Padarn Lake Hotel afterwards, FF).
In the week leading up to SNOD my legs were feeling heavy and laboured on the runs into work, so much so that I cycled in on Thursday instead. (OK, I know smashing a 50-mile trail PB on the previous weekend isn't the best taper for a road marathon, but the opprtunity was there and it had to be siezed.) By Friday my legs felt just about normal and 'ready to do their thing' again at the weekend.
The rain before the start didn't bother me too much because I walked to the start, which just about kept me warm. (I recommend doing this and not bothering with the bus.) Once in the starting pack there is just enough shelter and warmth from the surrounding bodies to keep the worst of the shivers at bay until the start.
Once we set off I lost pacer T Rex immediately, before we got out onto the road. He was behind somewhere. I just decided to run my own race like I always do. T Rex overtook me some way down the first descent. I asked him how his 4-hr pacing was going (I always like to look on the positive side and fondly imagined he might have been 5 minutes ahead of schedule). When he said he was 1 minute down I knew a 4-hr finish was beyond me; my hip flexors had already stiffened and I was pushing hard through the discomfort. I told him a 4-hr was beyond me this year as he slowly pulled away.
I passed the halfway point in 4:02. "I wonder if I can run a negative split and still get close to 4 hours?" I thought to myself. "Not unless a miracle happens" came the quick subconscious answer. "I've never run negative splits in my life, but considering I set off slower, I'll give it a damn good try." I ran more of the race than I have ever run before, including most (but not quite all) of the ascent of Waunfawr, but my time of 4:15 turned out to be a personal worst for this event (4:13 in 2006, 4:06 in 2007 and 4:00 in 2008).
I'm not at all disappointed. I had a fantastic day (and evening knocking back the wine until midnight with T Rex and Steve Zodiac). I WILL be back next year (probably a week after having run the Round Rotherham again). I love this event; it's probably the least tortuous road race there is.
Amazingly my legs have been as right as rain since - no aches or pains. I reckon I'm perfectly trained up now to run a marathon next weekend.
Fat Fyes, you definitely have to do an ultra. You sound like a perfect candidate. Marlborough Downs 33 is a lovely one to cut your teeth on.
Lizogical, I'm impressed by your great spirit. Well done.
