A brief update before I disappear out of the door for a meeting…
I have survived, just! Thank you to the people who shouted at me - it really was a nice little boost to know that there were people out looking for me! I know people were reading the race numbers, which had our names on them but seeing as there are no race photos available of me, I assume mine was unreadable. Plus most people struggle with “Iestyn” anyway!
A special hello to Ali who was scrutinising all the runners in the bay, then turned round to help the gorgeous little boy who was with her, and totally missed me, even though I shouted twice!
And now, the SSiW bit. I finished in 2:08 something, which I was really disappointed with, having walked a few hundred metres around the 5 mile mark, whne me dodgy calf muscle gave in. Why is that an SSiW bit? Well, it’s the difference between achieveing in your own race, and looking at people around you and measuring yourself against them. I went to Cardiff with 4 other people, and beat them all. It looks a bit bad to them if I “complain” abouut 2:08 when they were hitting 3 or 4 hours plus. But in fact, they did brilliantly for where they are in their running lives, learnt a whole lot from the experiemce and are better people for having achieved soething special.
For me, though, I didn;t do as well as I should have, but guess what? I’m dissapointed, but looking forwrad to doing the work to do better. I hadn’thad the perfect build-up, and I possiblby cut a couple of corners, or did things / didn;t do things that would have made a difference. But I’m far more fired up to do the half again, and do better than I was last time I did it. when I didn;t really have a target, other than finishing.
So it looks like I’m a better person as well despite not achieveing my targets.
A lesson for all SSiWers!
I thought of you anyway hoping the race goes well for you.