From Tim+@21:1/5 to All on Thu Nov 16 23:25:02 2017
It was an almost perfect evening for the club 5K time trial. Cool
and windless and the roads were only slightly damp
underfoot.
I looked around to see who I could pace myself off but with only
14 of us running I couldn't find anyone who I could anticipate
running with so it was just a case of seeing who I could hang on
to once we started.
It didn't take too many seconds into the run to realise that it
was going to be a pretty much solo effort as the speedy guys
dwindled into the distance. I just concentrated in trying to
keep the pace fast but easy, breathing 3 in, 3 out for the first
Km. Slightly downhill towards the end so I knew it would be
pretty quick. My watch beeped and I managed to glance at it long
enough to catch sight of 3:51. 9 seconds in the bank!
Of course it could also mean I'd overcooked the first Km but no
time to worry about it. Another 300m of so took us the first
corner leading to a long incline. Knew I couldn't afford to slow
much so used my arms to keep the impetus going for as long as
possible up the slope. Had to change up my breathing to 2 in, 2
out. No real surprise though.
Hit 2km after another 4:02. Darn! Bank down to 7 seconds now.
Worse still, the hill steepens at this point before turning a
corner and peaking out.
At 3km all the "easy" running was done and when my watch beeped
again I saw the third split time of 4:06. Only 1 second in the
bank and 2km to go. Panic stations!
Hit another small hill and pumped my arms like a mad thing. I was
not going to be denied again!! Gasping, spitting and with legs
turning to jelly I topped out the last hill sometime around 4
km. Didnt manage to see my watch so just had to throw caution to
the wind and power as had as I could all the way to the
finish.
I think I do this at every TT but this really felt different.
Pedal to the metal right to the finish line and on to my knees
gasping for air the moment I crossed it.
Had to blink the sweat out of my eyes before I could focus on my watch.
19:53. First sub-20 for over ten years. Job done. ;-)