Ely Runners 10k Handicap

I recently joined the Ely Tri Club in April 2011, I booked my first Triathlon for 4th September, this just seems ages away at the moment.

With all my fellow members off enjoying triathlons and talking about there conquests, I feel I needed something I could do to get me more involved in with the club, with the restricted time I have. 

There are always a few small local races that are going on, and after the club was invited to the Ely Runners 10k handicap with it only being 5 mins up the road it was perfect.

We were all asked to give our 10k running time. As I had not actually timed a full 10k I based mine on my 5k run and other club members times. Putting forward a time of 46mins 30secs.

After making my way down to the start, I watched the people I was pursuing set off. 

For the first 3k I felt completely comfortable, then after that I started to zone myself out. Not focusing too much on running but more on a breathing pattern and focusing on chasing people down.

I knew that I should be better than the people in front of me therefore this give me the will power to chase. Between 3-5k I was overtaking quite quickly through a few bends. 

Then came the stretch between Pymoor and Little Downham where you could see a long way ahead, more mentally challenging, it makes you realise just how far you are running.

Towards the end of the straight I remember that there was a hill around the 7k mark, so I thought to myself I must run more of a steady pace to make sure I have enough to get up it.

But I could see fellow club members up ahead so I kept the pace. As we approached the hill I still kept a good pace and felt surprisingly good. And also overtaking more runners.

Just after that, we hit the pub called the Plough, completely zoned out I ran by and heard shouts of come on Jay. With a quick glance realised it was Leights and Mark (the coach) so I put my foot down a bit, hit the corner and the last straight, then I remember there was a little extra further to go. I hit the chicane and ahead was the finish - through a long grassy field, 2 people in front and no-where to over take. In a split second I had no choice but to overtake in the long grass. 

And so I sprinted achieving 46mins. 

With only 6 people in front and no-one overtaking - naturally I was happy. 

Getting back in the saddle

It started back in 2008, a couple of work colleges where trying to convince me to start some mountain biking with them. While I was at University and with a young family I had neither the time or energy for this.

However it was some thing about getting back on the bike that appealed to me. I was extremely unfit.

So in Christmas 2008 I decided I would purchase a Chris Boardman 2009 sport edition mountain bike which helped re-ignite my passion.

I realised there wasn't a chance of me going out with my work colleges unless I wanted to get left behind and lost in a forest. So I decided I would set a goal to cycle a 7 mile route round Ely each night to build my fitness. This gave me the confidence to start riding on the dangerous Fenland Roads.

It was during this period that I discovered the web page www.mapmyride.co.uk this enabled me to track my analse my rides better than ever before.
It would be on the Incredibly windy Fen roads that I would rediscover my grit and determination, with my wife working I could only steal 1-3 hours at a time after 9pm at night. 

My first logged workouts in March 2009.