Harlow Running Club

Tilty Hilly 5 – 6th June

Race Length: 5 miles

PB: 33.17 at Welwyn MWL June 2009

Course Best 33.22 in June 2009

Target time: 34.00

Outcome: in 33.59

Nemesis Score: -1 (1 runner)

Splits:

This is usually a very a tough race due to the climbs and this year the weather conditions were very muggy. When the sun half broke though the haze it got very warm, especially when you were out of the wind, so tougher than usual.

The race plan was to attempt a time as near to my PB as possible and see how recent training had addressed my speed issues as this would be the first comparator race of the summer 5K-10K season. I did not have any club mates to really race in this one, but in previous years I have watched the women’s race develop around me, so planned to keep up with them.

The start is fast downhill, so I tried to concentrate on letting the hill take me, then start to relax on the flat section before the left turn to the first climb. Here I tucked in a 5 metres behind the leading women and closed right in on the climb. A sharp downhill saw them go away from me a little (I should learn to run down hill properly), but I caught again on the climb to the water station.

At this point I was starting to feel the speed, was tiring and started to lose ground. On the downhill return, they stared to go further away with the leader stretching out on the second placed lady. Several men went past (still need to run down hill better), but the next short sharp climb saw me go back past them again. (I can climb :)). I was making no impact on the leading women who by now were well stretched out in front of me. A gradual downhill saw me prepare for the final onslaught that is the hill to the finish - it was a case of just digging in. At the top I turned on to the grass path where a runner started to sprint. Normally I would have responded, but I had no real reason to and was knackered. I crossed the line some 30 seconds off last year’s pace.

I found this race tough and hot but a good platform to build from