Great South Run 2010

Autumn comes and with it the call to head south and run along the shores of South Sea. I can’t remember how many times I’ve done the Great South but the conditions were perfect for a personal best.

Doing an event year after year has it’s advantages, starting with knowing where to park. Getting the ferry from Gosport into Portsmouth is by far the easiest way to get to the start.

Tom met me at the station for our annual pilgrimage to the start line. The sun was out but the air had a chill. I dressed for the cold but by the time we joined the throng it had warmed up.

Being sandwiched in with one of three waves, forming  the 24000 plus field, I had given up on getting a quick get away. In previous year the first mile has taken over 8 minutes. Thankfully this year wasn’t one of them and I found a way through. Unfortunately I lost Tom but we’d agreed to run our own races this year.

My plan was to go out hard as the first mile is free and the dock yard distracts you for the second. By mile 5 I was still managing sub 7 minute miles and felt like a sub 70 was going to be realistic. 5-6 broke the dream as I got a stomach cramp and put in a 7.20. I settled again and 6-7 felt like a free mile. Getting past 8 is my mind marker for the worst being behind me. Rounding the corner onto the front there was a no wind. I’ve never known this and decided to go as hard as I could.

I was still running sub 7′s and knew the sub 70 was on. The track training paid off as I didn’t let people over taking me break my pace. I stuck stuck with a couple of fast people and hammered home the last 800 for a PB of 67:47.

Tom also gained a PB of 72 minutes. An excellent time and great for us both to get good times.