Race Preview

On the eve of possibly the biggest race of my summer season, I thought I would spend my lunch break writing some pre-race thoughts as some form of mental preparation. After all, blogs are suppose to be reflective and running is as much about what goes on in your head as in your legs. 

Tomorrow is the English National Track and Field Champs and on paper, I am by far the fastest entrant with Sarah Hood (running as a guest) my nearest rival. I feel a bit nervous but also excited about the prospect of winning the race and adding this title to the Scottish one that I won last year. I suppose it is "being favourtie" that is actually making me nervous with my friend and rival Sarah causing me greatest cause for concern. And particularly since she is long overdue a big chase PB.  

In terms of training and race-prep, things have improved over the last two weeks and aside from a total lack of track training and track races, I am confidently fit as a fiddle. I really have whacked in the summer mileage and over a 7-day period ending last sunday, I ran 70miles, raced a 5km, ran two sessions, did some hurdling and lots of core/arm stuff. So I have no doubts about my endurance and leg strength. Furtehrmore, based on my 5km race two weeks ago and the session I did last Saturday, I sure do have the longer endurance and 80sec/lap leg pace. Plus, with 10-days of hurdling reguarly now in the bag (albeit using my wooden hurdles hammered into a slightly rough grass field on a gently hill), I am confident about the barriers and actually think my left leg leads are OK. And after Loughborough and am more than happy about the water jump - I just need to attack away.

Having said all that, I do naturally, have some reservations. First is a lack of anaerobic work (or 1500m work) which some suggest a good steeplchaser needs - but I can overcome this by starting steady and not running into the anaerobic zone until the later stages. A big error would be to go off too hard. Indeed, given the "championship" nature of the race, I am keen to relax and cool the pace down early on. The other main area of concern I am hanging onto is that I am about 4 pounds above my racing weight - although what this is in the first instance is somewhat debatable since you only need to look at the likes of Helen C / Erin Don etc and note that being stick thin does not always equate to running fast. Furthermore, steeplechase is a strength event and perhaps these 4-pounds are muscle and will help propel me around the track.

All in all, I have a plan in my head, I am confident of beating everyone and fundamentally, the most important thing, is to be relaxed - if I am relaxed, then my hurdling technique will take less out of me. Oh and one other thing, I really do want to race and to win - something I was admittedly lacking earlier in the season. 

So good luck to me and I do hope that my next blog entry is a happy one!