Leeds Half...4 down 11 to go!!!
What a day, I love the Leeds half, atmosphere is superb and I love the course!
Day started at 6:15am, fuelled up well and was Uber hydrated I felt awesome and raring to go! Drive was nice and relaxed and decided to stop at service for a pit stop...only went and dropped my keys down the loo haha, panic set it, will the car open, will the battery in the key be shot??? Lukely it opened first time...big relief!
So got there nice and early to soak in the atmosphere, to God’s country, the greatest city in the world LEEDS, ALAW, MOT, LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS, mighty whites!!!!!!
Bumped into an old school friend Luke Peters who was repping in the Arla protein tent, bagged a free yogurt. It’s the first time I had seen Luke in over 15 years I would say...within 5 minutes I had my top off and he was putting my rock tape on my back haha, amazing how you feel comfortable with people you have grown up all your life even when you haven’t seen them for ages!
Race started well, I did go off a tad quick and started with the 1:30 pacer 😂😂😂, that didn’t last more than 3 miles. So settled down with the 1:35 pacer. He was awesome, he talked constantly to me and really got me through it!
So, that was by far and away the hardest physical and mentally taxing activity I have ever done, I put everything my body had into that race today and it paid off. My previous PB was 1:37 set in Lincoln last year, today I smashed that! I was 1:35:18, I am so buzzing with that, and the course was hilly! I still think on a flat course I can still go faster! I came 404th out of over 6000 runners.
Had a nice (if that’s the word) massage after, I have two massive knots in my calf’s and nearly screamed when the physio found them, think I will be making an appointment somewhere before Derby in 3 weeks! Managed to catch up with my boi Jonst for the first time in 2 years afterwards in the pub...thanks for the SAN Miguel ha.
Going to take it easy this week, short recovery run tomorrow then two bike sessions in week and a longer slow run Friday or Sunday, before I am back on it this week...the body is tired but holding up well, I am loving this challenge, and can’t wait for more!
Roll on Derby in 3 weeks, running with Curly and Richard, so be a nice plod for me...not for them though haha.
Thanks for your support!!!!