Preparation:
In the build up to this year's Liversedge Half Marathon I have felt my running form is of a very high level and I was super confident about this race until days before, which I will go into shortly. This race was to be my second official race of my 2016 marathon season after I ran the Temple Newsam Ten Mile Trail Race in January, where I finished in 24th position out of 600+ runners.
I ran my first half marathon in training two weeks ago, so I knew I had the distance already under my belt and I felt good about it and I definitely felt I was on schedule going into Liversedge. This time last year I had only just got over my calf injury problems from the back end of 2014 so I hadn't managed to get a 13.1 miles training run in going into Liversedge, ironically I actually ran one of my best times at Liversedge (1:24:54).
Injury Scare:
Leading into the early part of 2016 I can honestly say that fitness wise I'm really coming back into my peak condition and my conditioning has been absolutely spot on. However, during the week leading up to Liversedge I played football on the Wednesday for a five a side team called Inter Mi Lager that I regularly play for and I got kicked on my right calf muscle. It felt like a slight sharp pain when I contracted the muscle, I didn't feel it until after the game when all the adrenaline had worn off. I massaged it with aloe vera heat gel and thankfully it felt a lot better in the next few days.
My right calf was my last 'meaningful' injury in sport, which happened in the summer / autumn of 2014 when I tore my muscle. It was a frustrating period of time as the calf just wasn't healing properly. There were times that I wasn't sure my calf would fully overcome the tear but thankfully it did, which has led to me wearing 'calf compression socks'. So as you can imagine, the calf is a touchy subject with me and any twinge or slight pain in my calf I do panic sometimes. I also tore my left calf badly in 2012 so my calf muscles I always ensure I look after them well and that is why I like to keep very well hydrated when I am competing or training.
The night before the race, I went to my friend's 30th birthday party with was fancy dress, my original plan was to 'not drink' any alcohol and go home at a reasonable time to be fresh for race day. Well I ended up drinking but I did go home at a reasonable time and still got a decent amount of sleep, I also ensured I didn't drink too much, so I was in a 'fit enough' state to still perform to a good standard.
Notoriously Liversedge Half Marathon is a very tough hilly road race and is known for usually being a very 'cold' and 'wet' race but thankfully, this year it was surprisingly fairly warm (as winter weather goes) and it was sunny. I was so pleased with the weather, to be honest it was almost 'perfect' running conditions, although you could definitely feel the heat when running under the sunlight.
In the build up to the race I had been feeling ill and I had quite a bad chesty cough and knowing that I had also been drinking the night before I thought to myself that I would set off at a slightly slower pace than what I usually do at this race. On mile one and two I held myself back a lot but I felt very comfortable at the pace. Gradually I began upping my pace after about 3 miles and I was overtaking runners one by one so I felt good.
By mile 4 and 5 I knew that I wasn't running at a pace that would get me my usual 1:24:00 time bracket but I knew I could up it. I approached the famous Mile 5 almost 500 ft downhill drop and that's where I really exploded into the race, as I expected to. This downhill is absolutely ridiculous, I'm not even exaggerating, you can actually feel the gravity force pulling you down the hill, it is actually quite scary when you build up some momentum. I think a lot of runners see it as an option for a 'breather' after all the previous hills but not me, I thrive on this section of the race.
I just literally let the gravity do the work and let my legs flop, although in a controlled manner so I don't fall or injure my knees. I must have overtaken 6 runners on this section, the force of the gravity is unbelievable on this section of the race - I love it as much as it scares me. In the middle miles I felt good, although had a few tough moments but my pace was pretty consistent.
In the second half of the race, around mile 8 I kind of found my level for the day and I was running at the pace I felt I could maintain, until a few runners began kicking at my heels that is. I knew I was ahead of the fast ladies at the front but I could hear a runner from behind really making ground and at a strong pace. I turned round and it was the first lady, I have never finished behind the 'first place lady' at Liversedge so I was going to do all I could to prevent it happening for the first time. As she caught me up I just put on this extreme burst of acceleration to show her I'm not getting overtaken that easy. I had a super battle with her for about miles, every time she got close I accelerated away before re-setting my pace again.
I felt I could keep it but till the end, but when I hit the long incline hill at miles 9-10 my belief in that began to dramatically fade. This incline is an absolute killer, probably the toughest part of the half marathon, especially being so late in the race. I could feel the first lady close to me behind and I could see some of the runners ahead of me on the hill who had previously passed me early on and I dug deep and really put on a show on this hill. I absolutely powered my way up, fighting off the first lady for a whole mile of this hill right to the very top whilst overtaking several runners on the way up.
I had so much determination on this hill and I felt so powerful and I really felt a buzz of adrenaline battling to fight off the first lady behind me. Maybe that was actually a mistake putting in so much into the hill instead of pacing it as when I reached the top of the hill to the flat, I literally was 'done'. The first lady soon overtook me and I accepted I couldn't keep her pace up - she was fast. The frustrating thing for me is I know that I was not running at the level I am actually at, but then that is my own fault for drinking the night before. I am so fit at the moment that I am convinced that if I didn't have a hangover and still the after effects of a cough / cold that I would have earned myself a course PB.
The last two miles I definitely wasn't running at my maximum pace and I had to dig in a but, especially now my calves were beginning to cramp up a bit. I was overtaken twice in the last two miles but I decided to turn my attentions to a possible 'sprint finish'. Usually when I finish around 1:24:00 there is quite a gap between runners but I knew I was probably a few minutes off that and there were more 'groups' or 'packs' of runners rather than bigger gaps at this stage. So, the final stretch came and I overtook took while catching up to another guy right on the finish line after a bit of a 'sprint finish', which was filmed by my good friend Simon, whilst my photos were taken by his partner Emma.
Next up is EAST HULL 20 Mile race and I am ready for it. I've recovered well, I think my right calf is okay and I had a really good core strength and conditioning session today. I think I may decide to lay of football for a week, just let my calves fully recover but other than that I am very happy right now.
Welldone to Patrick from Kirkstall Harriers who I believe was my only fellow Kirkstall Harrier' who ran, as the race was on the same day as one of the club PECO Cross-Country races.
Thanks to Emma and Simon for the support as always - Legends !!
There is a very touching reason behind why I am running for MS Society and I would really appreciate it if you would take some time to read my friend Luke's story.
My Just Giving page is:
http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Joyce-London-Marathon-2016-mssociety
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