It has been far too long since my last post, almost a year. There is a lot to catch up on.
At the start of 2012 I set myself a few targets for the year, my post in March was a review of progress towards those goals. Now I can say without doubt that my goals were way too optimistic. I had goals for almost every distance from 100m to half marathon, the only one I managed to reach was 100m. Relative to my objectives I have to say the year was a failure, but there were some successes mixed in there and it made setting my 2013 much easier.
I started 2013 well, by the end of February I had knocked almost three minutes off my half marathon best time and I was confident I could continue to progress. Unfortunately that progress, at least at half marathon, didn't materialize. However, I did reach a major landmark, my first overall podium (i'd previously got to podiums for my age group only). I went to England for Easter last year and signed up for a cross-country 10k, I finished with a 10k PB and a second place finish. Admittedly, it wasn't the most competitive of fields, a sign of the relative popularity of running in the UK and Spain, but I don't decide who else turns up. I ran another 10k PB in my next race in Spain, 38:44, at the beginning of May, but from there things dried up. Dried up is an appropriate phrase given the summer heat we get here in Alicante, it makes summer training and races difficult so it is to be expected that progress on times stops mid-year.
I did my best to keep things ticking over ready for when the temperature started cooling again in September and I did a pretty good job. I ran a half marathon in Alicante for the first time at the end of September and finished in 1:25:08, similar to the times I ran in Murcia and Almansa in the spring, and on a tough course. The last 3 or 4 kilometres are all uphill. I felt good, and took the plunge and decided to go in for the marathon in Valencia. I'd previously given myself a rule, that I wouldn't enter a marathon until I'd run sub 1:20 for a half, but I was feeling so confident that I decided to go ahead anyway.
As it turned out, I should have stuck with the rule. My training seemed to go as well, if not better, than the year before when I set a PB of 3:11. However, since I'd decided comparatively late to compete I didn't have the same opportunity to do the long runs in preparation. I was running faster than on the same distance runs a year earlier so on raceday I was feeling confident and aiming for another big PB, under 3 hours. It was too much too soon. I got to halfway more or less on my target time, I was still in with a good shout at 30km but then I started to struggle, I fought the urge for a long time but eventually I slowed to a walk. I spent about the last 10km switching between running and walking. It was more running than walking and I managed to end up with a reasonable time, a chip time of 3:15:10, but I couldn't help but be disappointed.
I had another half marathon before the end of the year, but I was largely just going through the motions, I'd lost some motivation after Valencia. I ran reasonably well, it was in Alcoy, its a hard but very picturesque course, but once I'd finished that my training was minimal.
Things have picked up in 2013 though, I'll be back soon to continue the update.
Until then, happy running!
Maratonero.
