2 Oct 2016
A nice flat, slightly undulating course, weather ideal, cool and sunny, so good for a fast time.
However, given the lack of training I was only hoping to break 2 hours, which is approx 9 min mile pace. As it turned out I did the first mile in 7:45 and reached halfway in around 53 mins, so obviously was going much faster than expected, and it seems too fast for my legs.
Around 8.5 miles, I was still feeling good and started to increase the pace slightly, but soon afterwards pulled up with cramp. I was able to get going again a few minutes later; helped no doubt by a good drink of orange juice from a runner who had kindly left it for me.
Cramp occurred again around 12 miles, so another stop for a few minutes, but I eventually finished, just under the 2 hours ,but clearly not as fast as I might have been – if I’d trained properly.
I need to understand reasons for cramping up, it nearly always seems to get to me in the longer races. It seems likely caused by muscle and / or neural fatigue – going longer or faster than the legs expect.
