Half Marathon

Big thank you thank you thank you to the Royal Parks Half Marathon. It was a beautiful October Sunday. It was sunny warm day. Lots and lots of awesome runners. The corse is needless to say is unbelievably beautiful. Most of all the spectators was amazingly nice and cool. Without their encouragement the race would not have been the same. I want to do it again tomorrow.

So 10.10.10 Half Marathon for me was yet another reality check. name:anthony de silva, age:35 so that is 9 or 10 in donkeys years. Weight: 64kgs. Height 5' 9 1/2. Current city: London, Half Marathon finish time: a disappointing 1 hour and 28 minutes............. mood right now= :-(

So good side is participation and finish. Bad side is the timing. Yet another blow for my big man talk. My aim was to complete the course at 1:15 and i secretly believed i could do that. But the reality is way different than ambition. So yet another try and fail.

So what went wrong. Wanted to go faster but legs weren't responsive, simple as that, but it was hard at that time. The issue that i cannot get my head around is, the course is my training ground. I do my normal training runs faster than today's finish time. So i still try to answer where did i go wrong. So half marathon is at 1:28 means a full marathon at 3:20. That is not on. By april 2012, i have to be a 2:16 marathoner. So today's setback is major major.

Plan was; at least finish this run at under 1:20 so the next race don't have to stay at the back. But now this race has to be added to part of the learning curve. So this year timing on races rays 10 miles at 1:08, 10 miles at 10:04 and half at 1:28. So lot of work ahead and to be sure to be sure there is room for improvement.

So, after 3 miles in to the race, the race tv guys on the motorbikes came from nowhere and ask about why i run for Royal Parks Foundation as i was wearing their running gear. I even forgot i running for a charity and i think said something about building a park. So i was gone after 4 miles. Knew it is not my day and the next 9 miles was a gig loooooong- "Where is the finish line...." But didnt want to give up, Why, you dont give up on things you believe in. just thought just keep going and see what happens. The crowd cheer helped, and the water service stations gave a new life line, thank you. The last mile was a huge drag. Went on for ever and finish line was like seeing happy days!

Also, my lack of being in a race situation was very visible. I nearly tripped 3 people trying to cross their paths in water stations. So my Do Unto Others was not at its best. I am glad no one yelled at me other than couple of look out buddy. Also, start at the mid section of a race doesn't help. Why have to wait till all the others in front go. The race organisers allocate numbers according to the expected finish time, somehow i ended up in the middle area. May be i buggered up the form. who knows.

So there we go ladies and gentleman. You try you best on the day and this is the outcome. So it is not a means to an end. Have to think it is yet another race and people face way more setbacks in life than timing of a race. So have to pick up the peaces and move on....... move on...... more training......train hard.........more running......more running......ruuuuun Forest.......run...........