THE OUTCOME

So the Brighton Half Marathon is done and dusted! Last Sunday, the 20th, i set off for what was my first ever organised run. It was a good day for running with little wind, no rain (perhaps more importantly!) and cloudy skies.
Eight thousand runners took part and it was strange to me to be running amongst that many people. I kept questioning how fast i was going as i overtook many people but others were overtaking me. However as the mile markers came around and i checked my watch i soon settled into a comfortable pace. In fact i managed the first 10km in a really good time for me at 44 minutes and felt really strong. My head kept running away with ideas that i was going to finish in sub 1.30 if i kept that up!

Of course i didnt keep that pace up and after about 8 miles my right hip flexor started giving me grief, as it always seems to do on any runs of an hour or more. My lungs were fine so i was a bit annoyed that i couldnt run as free as i would have liked.

At the 10 mile marker i picked up the pace again and ran the nice straight route right along the seafront and back into town and the crowds in a good time. It was also strange running through a whole crowd of people cheering but it definitely spurred me on!

I crossed the line in 1.37.30. As is always the case, once i had finished and caught my breath i thought i surely should have been able to cut 2 minutes off that time and finish in 1.35! Always easy to say once you have stopped running! :)

I was happy with that time and really enjoyed taking part. And i think it goes to show that the CrossFit training really does make you 'fit' in all areas. To run 1.37 having only done two 10 mile runs in the previous two weeks goes to show the kind of fitness you can build up with short blast interval training and what carry over this has. Yes, if i had trained specifically for the 13 miles im sure i could have got nearer 1.30 but then would i still be able to clean and jerk and snatch what i can at the moment? Probably not.

Ive got a time to beat next year now. :)