| Author |
Topic: Belvoir HM RR & New PR! |
Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
 posted Apr-09-2007 01:53 AM
   
Short Bit:2nd Half Marathon
99/174 Ladies.
36/59 Age Group
60.21 Age Graded (can someone please explain what this means, how it's calculated etc).
Time: 1.58.40 = 1.32PR Longer Bit: One of my most used phrases this Easter break has been ‘I can’t believe the weather for Easter’ and Belvoir Half Marathon morning was no exception. Heat and racing don’t usually mix well with me but I’d trained hard for this one and if nothing else was going to enjoy the experience. This race sits nicely in the Vale of Belvoir, not too far from the castle and was listed as undulating. Picked Alex up at 8.45 and had a leisurely drive to Hose. Got there just after 9am and just as well really as the loo queue was out the door already. The porta loos hadn’t turned up so we were down to 2 cubicles and 600+ runners. Warmed up around the playing fields saying ‘hi’ many times as we passed our fellow club runners. Lifted our heads and knees as we proudly passed the Barrow Runners flag flying from Peter’s car. Temperature was in the mid 40’s and climbing fast with lots of sunshine.. We’d decided to go out at 10’s for the first couple of miles and pick up the pace and go from there. Glad I was wearing my visor as there was little shelter from the sun. After mile 3 we picked it up and were averaging 9’s from then on. Course was pretty flat in most places and set out on peaceful country lanes with very little traffic. Water stops were most welcome and the shock of water poured over my head was enough to kick start my running again when I had felt a little tired. One of the beauties of starting near the back is few over take you but you can start picking folk off as you go along. Alex and I had great fun at doing this. ‘Oh there’s the photographer, check form and smile’! The race was going well but I knew we would be turning into the sun soon and would have to pool all my reserves if I was going to PR. Alex and I were running well together and kept each other going when it started to get tough. I told Alex to go for it at mile 12 and she pulled ahead. I checked my garmin and knew if I could hold pace I would sub 2.00. Turned into a little climb at the last bend that felt like a mountain and then I saw some of my fellow club runners who had already finished and were cheering us in. This gave me some encouragement ‘Come on Elaine, push’ I said to myself and turned into the playing fields. Pulled a little kick from my tired legs and crossed the line in 1.58 something. ‘Yes, I’ve done it’! Picked up my t shirt which at least 3 of us would fit into and met up with Alex and Bob our 70 year old club pacer who had PR’d at 1.52 and exchanged opinions on the race. What a great morning it had been and I was pleased with my result and my running. Cheered the winners at the presentation, stretched well, said goodbye to my fellow Barrow runners and headed back to the car for chocolate milk and malt loaf. . Major lesson learned from this race: It may only be April but the sun is still strong, ouch, sunburnt shoulders! Sun cream for the next one!
[This message has been edited by Elaine3112 (edited Apr-09-2007).]
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vista129
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 02:17 AM
Congratulaions Elaine...!!!!!Good job. Sounds like you had a great day and the results with the PR to prove it. The ability to kick a bit at the end came off your smart slower start. Thanks for the report. I certainly enjoyed it and look forward to hearing about your next race. ------------------
vista129
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hally
Moderator of Boomers and Beyond |
posted Apr-09-2007 07:51 AM
Nice going on the PR Elaine!! 2 stalls for 600 runners eeek!!Amazing how they order XXL shirts for runners who are usually slender? Barb
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bigapplepie
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 07:52 AM
Huh huh huh, she said Belvoir.Nice PR Elaine!!! Under 2 hours. Its a beautiful area. quote:
...there was little shelter from the sun...the shock of water poured over my head was enough to kick start my running again...I knew we would be turning into the sun soon...sunburnt shoulders!
It takes a Brit to make 40 degree weather sound like Death Valley 
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DaveinAA
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 08:13 AM
Woo-hoo! Sub-2:00 and a PR! Congrats, Elaine and well done!
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 10:34 AM
Great race and report! Nice tip about the sunscreen, too – something we all need to remember in the coming months. BTW, I always order 2X shirts from races if they have them available and give them to my husband. He gets quite a laugh out of people asking him about the races, since he’s so obviously a non-runner. Congratulations on your PR!
------------------
Holly
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 11:00 AM
Congrats on the PR Elaine. You ran well over those "undulations". Someone on the 50+ thread will give you an explanation of age-grading if you post your question over there, as we pay some attention to it being old guys. Great report. Spareribs
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Barefoot Rick
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 11:01 AM
Nice run and a sizable PR. Congrats Elaine!BR ------------------
"Do something remarkable, every day. In time, your life will become remarkable!" - Barefoot Rick @ www.barefootrunner.org
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 11:14 AM
Great job, Elaine. Congrats on the sub 2 hours and the PR. You have every right to be excited about your performance. TomS ------------------
My Profile
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Fortunate One
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 11:35 AM
Nice PR and RR, Elaine. Sorry about the loo queue. I hate when that happens.------------------
Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem
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bigapplepie
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 12:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Elaine3112:
Short Bit:60.21 Age Graded (can someone please explain what this means, how it's calculated etc).
Time: 1.58.40 = 1.32PR
Elaine, I know that you are a veteran (I think I prefer master) between 40-49.AG% is like a handicap based upon age. It allows old fools like us to compare ourselves to runners in their prime, i.e. 20-29 years old (though for half marathons and above, "prime" should probably be early 30s). Let's say you are 45. An AG% of 60.2% means you ran the equivalent of a 20-29 year old running around 1:48:30. In New York they award "local elite" status to anyone who achieves an AG% of 74 or above. For me that means running a half in around 1:25, a daunting task considering that my PR (PB) is over 1:42. Then again my PR between 1982 and 2005 stood at 2:08
One more thing, I am considering running the Leek half-marathon in August.
Looking through the results from Belvoir, my PR would have put me around 254/610 or 41% of the way through the field. When I set my PR in Brooklyn last year I finished 918/3999, in the 22nd percentile. Which just goes to confirm my impression that UK races are way more competitive than US races, at least the ones in New York. I also like the idea of the race being won my a senior. It conjures up visions of an old guy limping through the race, growling at his competitors and threatening them with his walking stick if they try and pass him Of course in UK races senior means over 18 and veteran = master. [This message has been edited by bigapplepie (edited Apr-09-2007).]
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jura
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 12:32 PM
Elaine,
very well done and sounds like a fun time, too. Congratulations on the smashing PR and sub-2:00, what a great achievement! Yep, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses (or visors) will be coming out soon here too. At least I hope so.....
Well done!
j
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hermosaboy
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 01:02 PM
Great job Elaine!Funny how those time barriers motivate. 2:00:01 v 1:59:59 is hugh! You smashed it...
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 03:23 PM
Elaine, I've been watching your progress and training, so your fine result in this HM doesn't surprise me but still ... it's exciting and I'm SO happy for you. What a great time, smart strategizing, and a wonderful RR!I'm familiar with most things in sunny (heh) England, but what's a malt loaf? Is that a barley sandwich?
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roy c
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 03:36 PM
Well done Elaine, PR and Sub 2hrs. You get better and better at this running lark. What was your race number so we can check out the pics.
Roy
PS: bvetter still, you could post them.
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roy c
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 03:38 PM
Oh Sans Malt Loaf, you don't know what you're missing. 
Roy (the tease)
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 03:44 PM
Roy, do you put Marmite on yours?Pass the Tyrell's, would you, please, Tease?
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Jim24315
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-09-2007 04:23 PM
Nicely done, Elaine. It's always great to someone reap the benefits of all that hard training.Congratulations!
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Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 08:19 AM
Oh fabulous British boomer goddess,
you did it! Only your 2nd half marathon ever and you set a hugh PR! And a sub 2 hour finish as well, on a sunny hot day with a hilly course. You make it sound so easy too, I think you are going to be setting PRs all year.
Congratulations!
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roy c
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 08:59 AM
Sans
They brought out a ltd edition marmite & guinness made from the guinness yeast. Couldn't find it, yes marmite is nice.
Roy
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 09:21 AM
Great RR, Elaine, and I enjoyed hearing about your PR experience. I also love those British place names and terms: Hose, Barrow, loos, and even a castle. Over here we were also saying "I can't believe the weather for Easter", but that's because it was snowing on us! Send some of your mid-40s to our side of the Pond -- we'll gladly take it. ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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millbot
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 09:52 AM
Congratulations Elaine! Way to finish strong and earn a big PR. Your age graded performance puts you in "local class" in the States. I think that means it's okay to brag to your fellow Barrow runners.
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 09:58 AM
........good running elaine//............it's always a Triumph when you learn something from a race......................nicely done...........
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Tetsujin30
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 11:35 AM
I’m with BAP on how competitive your races must be over there. Any sub-2 would be way up in the standings over here, e.g. you’d have been 181st out of 3,481 ladies in our annual Seattle Half Marathon, . . . and accelerating from 10 to 9 minute miles would have had you passing 1,743 guys and gals along the way.
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Julian Howe
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-10-2007 12:15 PM
Well done, I had entered but hurt my achilles so I had to scratch, are you doing Hinckley ?I hope to be back on course by then as today I have had my second visit to the Physio and he stuck enough pins in me to last a lifetime.
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