Welsh Castles Relay 2022 - Stage 2

Returning to the Welsh Castles Relay for the first time since at least 2010 (results don't seem to have been added to powerof10.info) I felt good after a decent warm-up having teetered on the brink of panic about getting to the start of the stage in time. 

Conditions were decent but a strong breeze was evident. It wasn't too warm at the 11am start time. All the minor niggles and twinges I had felt during the week had disappeared thankfully. 

I set off with the first dozen runners who quickly split into a lead group and a chasing group. After the first km I was just off the back of the second group but knew I had to let them go. 

After another km or so I caught and passed 2 runners who tried to go with the second pack but were obviously at the red line early on.

From 3km onwards it was a solo effort. I could feel one of the 'passed' runners trying to stay with me but he fell back after another km. 

I was ticking along nicely and was getting a real boost from the intermittent marshal points including some familiar faces at 10k. In fact I had to settle down after the adrenaline rush of the cheers each time. 

The first 10k is run on a cycle path and once we came off this onto the roads the course got a little more lumpy. I didn't notice the small rises and falls but there was a couple of short, sharp climbs that curtailed my pace and I had to work hard to get back into stride once I crested the climbs. 

The finish was a fast downhill into Criccieth with a fantastic grass section and over the finish line. We were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd and met up with Jo and some club mates for a quick photo.  

I felt it was a good run and I felt strong which was a good confidence boost. 11th place overall and first of the Vet category teams to finish the stage. The next team was almost 4' back so got the team off to a great start. Unfortunately the team couldn't maintain this early momentum and we eventually finished 5th Vet team. I'm sure we can improve on this in 2023. 

Great Manchester Run 10km - 38:12 Official

I didn't get a proper warm-up in as met up with work colleagues. However, I did jog off away from the crowds for just over 1km so got a decent sweat on with a couple of surges to get the legs firing. 

I started near the front of the orange wave - maybe 10 secs to cross the timing mat as the gun went so no problems with crowding or getting into my stride early on. I tried to settle down as the race got under way but inevitably got swept along a little in first 2km. 

No discernable discomfort from recent niggles and in truth, I never once thought about them during the race. Breathing was good and I didn't feel I was working too hard during first 5km (18:43). 

There was a breeze which I thought might affect pace but actually had a good cooling effect as it started to get warm after halfway. We turned around at Old Trafford and I tried to stick with one or two others as I continued to pass quite a few who were going backwards as the temperature increased quite dramatically - the 11:30am start catching a lot of runners out. 

Into the final few km and I was working hard now, breathing rate had increased and sweat was pouring off me as the earlier cooling breeze had dropped. I managed to keep things going and as the 800m, then 400m signs appeared I got a bit of a move on to cross the line in 38:12 (second 5km 19:29). 

Not perfect then but I feel a combination of maybe a bit too quick early on and the warm second half cost me a sub 38min finish time. Plenty of room for improvement over the coming weeks in prep for Chester Marathon in early October.  

Manchester Marathon 2022

TL;DR - 3hr13'39" - 1:37:55 half split 1:35:44 second half

Headed out just before 7am to catch the first tram of the day. Met another runner at the stop who was not familiar with the ticketing system so lent some knowledge to aid him. We ended up chatting most of the ride into the city centre and onto our connection station at Cornbrook. Inevitably the chat turned to shoes - he was premiering in a pair of Nike Next%. I think he ran well looking at the results afterwards. 

Straightforward arrival into the start zone at Old Trafford and took the opportunity to have a final pee using the cricket stand toilets. No problems. Had a quick meander around the start but decided to grab a seat at one of the many picnic tables and chill. I gradually started to take off layers in prep for the bag drop which was easy at that early start time. 

Started off super cautious, but in truth I was inside 3hr20' pace from the off. I felt super comfortable and controlled throughout the early km's so kept the ~4'30" / km rolling nicely. Crowds were great at the start but thinned out a little nr Whalley Range/Withington Rd which are residential and it was an early Sunday morning afterall. One guy seemed to be up for annoying his neighbours and might have been in a dispute with one of them as he has his hi-fi speakers pumping out tunes from his flat. Brave lad round those parts. 

As we approached the city centre section the crowds picked up and running out and back along Deansgate was superb. Lots of people cheering loudly and making it feel like the big event it is renowned for. I heard a good few shouts for the Sale vest along here and also as I head back out of the city along the A56 towards the start area once more. 

The little loop out towards Trafford Wharf was again fairly quiet but passed by easily. Still feeling great at this point and confidence was building I had settled into a good rhythm. Of course a marathon is a long way and I was very mindful the lack of training would surely show later in the race. 

Passing through Stretford I knew I was approaching home territory and felt really good to be running once again after the injury layoff . Lots more positivity from the 'home crowd' as I approached Sale. Under the M60 and onto Cross St passing Crossford Bridge the crowds were brilliant and lots of familiar faces cheering and shouting encouragement. It really is great running through Sale wearing a Sale Harriers vest. You feel like a bit of a star for those few minutes. An extra spring in the step is unavoidable and riding the crest of the wave very intoxicating. I did remember to ease back down once I had passed by anyone I knew so not to get carried away. Very important. It's still a bloody long way to the finish and at this point the half marathon is still a good few km's away. 

Turning left onto Park Rd nr West Timperley takes you towards Timperley itself. Lots of vocal support once again and passing the halfway point in around 1hr37' I felt good and well under my initial conservative estimated time of sub 3hr20'. I realise I haven't mentioned my nutrition yet; I drank a couple of mouthfuls of water at each station and took my energy gels at 8km intervals as I have done in the past. It was quite a cool morning so no need to pay too close attention to taking on lots of water. 

We turn right onto Stockport Rd just before Timperley and head down to the A560 which is the other out and back section of the course where you pass other runners either up ahead or behind you depending where you are in the race at that time. Lots of the faster runners were going well at this point and I saw a club mate going very well as we exchanged motivational shouts to one another and I realised he was going very well to already be through Altrincham and heading for the finish. 

I'm still going well and nothing is feeling bad, breathing fine, ankle fine and legs in general fine as we approached Altrincham. I realised as I approached Alty that we were running it in the opposite direction to which I had run the route in the past. There is a small hill to deal with in either direction so it made no difference. I did get a minor stomach stitch around this point which felt uncomfortable but soon passed after some initial pressure applied to the area.

Out of Alty and heading towards Brooklands Rd. A road I know very well from training sessions in and around the Sale area over the years. Another chance to bask in the glory of wearing the red, white and green vest! Superb support once more and familiar faces returning from other vantage points to continue their excellent support. I also clocked some faces I hadn't see in years also calling out my name. Awesome.

I was passed by a club mate who started a wave back from me who was targeting sub 3hr at around 30k. He was slightly off his target pace but I encouraged him to stick at it and save some energy for a push towards the end if he still had anything left. 

Turning onto Marsland Rd and then Derbyshire Rd we eventually get back onto the A56/Cross St and the final 7km to the finish back at Old Trafford. As we exited Sale once again the support I received was brilliant and the confidence was really growing now.

By now of course I was working hard but the pace remained consistent and even. I saw my clubmate who passed me at 30k up ahead who seemed to be coming back to me. Realising he was going through a bad patch I picked my pace up to try and join him and potentially help him though this period of the race. I did notice one or two minor twinges of my right calf but proceeded to catch him quite quickly. 

After joining him at 36k I immediately moved in front of him and told him to follow me. I hoped he would latch on to me and we could get him moving as we neared the finish line. He breathlessly called out to say he was struggling and for me to keep the pace steady for the next couple of km's. I had been working hard to bridge the gap so sitting in was also in my best interests. 

We continued along the A56 passing under the M60 once more with the blaring techno house from an impressively large sound system echoing beneath the motorway underpass. My clubmate would regain some strength and move past me once more around 39k. He would miss his target by a couple of minutes but lives to fight another day. 

The route heads briefly towards Chorlton before turning onto Manchester Rd and then Seymour Grove once again where I was surprised to see another clunmate running alongside the road cheering on her parnter who was just ahead of me. She also cheered loudly as I passed by and I knew the end was close by now. My pace had slowed a touch after the exertions to bridge the gap to my clubmate. It was also inevitable I would slow at some point because of the lack of training. 

My calf muscles were both now twitcy and threatening to spasm so I kept trying to relax and be smooth. As I turned the final turn onto Talbot Rd with the finish line in sight I was forced to briefly stop for ~10 seconds at 42k to stretch out my right calf. A quick stretch was all that was required and I slowly got back into my stride for the final few hundred metres. 

I crossed the line feeling pretty good and not too badly beaten up at all which is fair considering this result was quite a lot slower than my best. Overall I was very happy as my ankle behaved and I proved that my aerobic engine isn't too diminished from the 5 month layoff. Great to be back out there.