Parkrun #18 - Black Park

Parkrun #18 - Black Park

Another big Parkrun gap, another prompt from Heather to get out on a Saturday morning.

Robert, Heather and Reddon at the start

I am slightly injured, but doing a Garmin coach program for 5k and it is working well. I'm also doing some strength training for my left knee - also working I think. I'm not fit yet, but getting there.

We went to a new Parkrun - not too far away in Black Park, near Slough. I'm now a Parkrun tourist I think!

Not knowing what to expect, I seeded myself badly at the beginning. There were a lot of people going slowly, and my average pace was as low as 6:30 min/km in the first 0.5km. I had to try and race past people, weaving in and out, and finally got to my target of 5 min/km after 1km.

Things went well after that. I found some space, and could run my own pace, and the leafy paths were fairly flat and even.

My HR kept steady, and my pace kept going up, settling around 4:48 min/km. I felt a twinge in my right calf at around half way, so concentrated on running form, and it went away.

With 1km to go, I felt I could push a little harder, and tried to pull away from some of the people around me who I'd been running near for a while - it's funny how even minor places are important in a race.

I did get away, and sprinted for the line, which happily took me into the top 100.

Happy with my time 24:12 - faster than last year, and on target for 22:30.

Place 96th out of 632 runners - easily the biggest Parkrun I've done.

Links

Parkrun

Strava

Flickr (c) Fred Ashford

Maidenhead CC Time Trial. H10/10 9th May 2024

Maidenhead CC Time Trial. H10/10 9th May 2024

Me at the finish, slightly sweaty

Nine years since my previous time trial - time flies. What have I been doing?

I have not been idle; still cycling regularly, even racing in triathlons and Sportives and online Zwift.

But not the dreaded race of truth, the 10 mile time trial.

The start of course H10/10 is less than 15 minutes cycle from my house, but the circumstances and weather have always made it difficult to get to. No excuses today.

I leisurely made my way over, signed up and paid (£6 - that's inflation for you) and got number 11 just 25 minutes before the first rider start at 7pm.

I was hoping for a time of 26, maybe 27; I wasn't confident, and my backup idea was just to beat 30 minutes. At the line number 13 told me he was going for 25 minutes. If he passed me then I'd know I was outside 27. (Each rider goes off at one minute intervals, so number 13 woulod be two minutes behind me, breathing down my neck).

Pacing is difficult, and I think I was too slow in the early part of the ride, which is mostly downhill. I was overtaken within 5 minutes, by number 12, the eventual winner. Hawthorn Hill wasn't great, but I was going OK after that. Once again, in hindsight, I could have pushed harder, but I was trying to save myself.

Number 14 went past me next  - he came 2nd overall. I was unlucky to have these two overtaking me and draining my morale.

As I approached the final bend, number 12 went past. So I was over 27 minutes in all probability. I was having some issues with my Garmin 1030 bike computer which had reset the lap at 8km so my mental calculations were a bit off (why Garmin, why?), so this was my first real indication of my time. I had to slow a little to avoid drafting him, and then I hit the finish line. 

My Official time is 27.09.

I'm fairly happy with my return to TT. It's not good enough, but I can see scope for improvement (try harder) and in the next few weeks the course is H10/2, which suits me better. Onward and upward.

 

Results:

11th out of 16 riders - MaidenheadCC : Strava