Edinburgh - Kilomathon 2010

First off....I'm disappointed.

I'm disappointed that practically a whole season of training for longer runs all went down the plug-hole two weeks before this race. Hind-sight is a wonderful thing.....maybe I shouldn't have done the standard?...maybe that left me a bit low and unable to fight of the bugs....maybe I should have gotten onto the anti-biotics sooner....maybe, maybe, maybe.

Whatever.

In the end the Kilomathon was both a disaster and a triumph.

Let's start with the disaster shall we? that means I can end on a positive note.

Okay, so we're all set....I'm into the run and heading towards Kirkliston.....I'm glancing down at my HRM my heart rate is climbing way too high and quickly....can't seem to get it to settle at all. Grant holds back with me until 10K which we complete in 54 mins...nothing startling but steady....I still feel a bit heavy and short of breath and know that I'll be climbing back over the Forth Road Bridge in about five minutes time...I tell Grant to push on and catch up with Colin and Alan who have forged on ahead.
I reach the midway point which is on the bridge and feel terrible....runners are streaming past me in a steady procession and I have absolutely no response...a couple of times I try to latch on but lose contact within 50m.
Over the bridge now and down into South Queensferry where....I think....I'm fairly sure....there was the time check for 16K. I was clocked at 1.27.13 but was still feeling pretty grim by this stage and my mood didn't improve any when I saw the hill that we had to climb coming out of the village.....it took everything out of me and I had to give in and walk/jog for at least a quarter of a mile.
When I tell you that it took me 1 hour and 16 mins to cover the 10K that was left it should give you an idea of how slowly I was moving...drained completely....I eventually shuffled across the line in 2.43.30.

So what are the positives....well, I've enjoyed my running this year and know that I can do this distance without much problem. I've managed to build upon my stamina and this has given me a good base for next years triathlon season. I started off this year hardly able to string two consecutive miles together...didn't think I'd manage 16.3....yet I did, whilst on antibiotics for a sinus and chest infection. I've found that, at last, I really enjoy running....it's a great sport and you meet so many friendly and supportive people ( they normally don't have ear-phones in ).

Further positives.....Alan, Colin and Grant recorded an excellent time of 2.18.04 and Robin in his usual style burst two hours with a terrific run of 1.56.35. My thanks to both Grant and Robin for supporting me with my running this year and getting me motivated.

Most importantly I raised over £600 for an extremely worthy cause - Parkinson's Research - and the money is still coming in....... think on that and any pain I experienced on Sunday pales into insignificance.