02/11/2024
๐จ 1:27:08
Andrew, Thank you for doing better. You Exceed Yourself.
7 mins faster than Edinburgh Half (1:34:08) 4 mos ago, which was 14 mins faster than my previous PB at PJ Half (1:48:50) 6 yrs ago.
It's a myth about how I achieved it. I had no conviction, no training, and no dogs chasing. Let's dial back to the start of the race.
Robin Hood Half Marathon, a race as a farewell to Nottingham. With its hilly routes and my recent PR on a downhill Edinburgh Half, I wasn't thinking of setting anything new. In the 4 mos to this race, there was no training and I was just enjoying my runs. Before the race, I told everyone, my target was sub 1:40, there was no point breaking my PR on a harder route. (I wasn't being humble)
At the starting line, I got ambitious. I was calculating the pace. 4:40 for sub 1:40 but let's try a new PR, sub 1:32 at 4:20, a small improvement. Not too ambitious, not too easy. That was the final goal and off we go.
I looked at my current pace, never the average pace. My first km was too fast as I was running among elites so I slowed down and settled on a comfortable pace while being in the right range. I kept on running, all based on feeling until left 5 km.
I decided to check my average pace as I could potentially use all my energy on the last 5 km. I swiped on my watch and it showed 4:09. I was in shock. I said to myself: "Andrew, how did you do it?". I don't know how but I know that I just need to keep on this pace and whatever time will be a fu***ng good time. I kept running, in joy and ultimately finished in under 90 mins. I surprised myself. I knew I might do sub 90 minutes one day but I never thought it would be today.
Thinking back on what happened, I guess it was the right environment that pushed me to break this unexpected PR. Good Weather, Upgraded Gear and for the first time, running with people who are actually fast and it made my body realised that he can actually run so fast. Sometimes, it's about being in the right place and this instance has proven that :)
If you've read till here thank you but this story serves as a reminder for me that I can do things beyond my expectations. Andrew well done, let's keep doing better!
