Malakoff - 5km

First race of the James - Nico challenge for 2012 and I was happy to go an run even if I felt that my chances of beating Nico over this distance were very slight. It was another cold crisp day and the temperature was around -1°C at 1pm when we arrived in Malakoff. We had registered for the race under my company's name and Nico and I jogged to the start to pick up the bibs for everyone before heading back to the offices where we got changed.

Another rapid warm-up and we were lined up for the start. Nico was right on the starting line and I was placed just behind him, on his shoulder. The gun went and we got off to a fast start. One of the runners shot off at the front and I just thought that he was going to lap in 15:xx so just let him go. I saw that Nico was just in front of me so I tried my best to stay with him and as we went through the first kilometre he was only a couple of metres in front. I started to believe that it was possible ot stay with him now and as we entered the stadium for a lap before exiting on the far side, I overtook a runner and kept Nico in sight.

The ramp out of the stadium slowed me down and that was sufficient to lose a couple of metres again and I concentrated on catching and overtaking the young runner who'd shot off at the start. So much for 15:xx, he was heading backwards now. After this second kilometre my legs began to tire and my stomach felt heavy from the late breakfast. I sincerely regretted having eaten that almond croissant that had been so tempting at 10:30am, as it was weighing in my belly. I eased off slightly, sparing my body the pain that I'd endured over the first couple of kilometres. Time was passing slowly now and each kilometre seemed interminable.

Nico was a good 30 metres in front now and he was pulling away slowly, while I was just trying to maintain the pace and not be caught. I couldn't even manage this and towards the end of the fourth kilometre, the young runner caught up with me followed by the runner that I'd overtaken in the stadium. 2 runners that I'd written off as ahving gone into the red from the start where now back on my tail and overtaking me. I took some solace from the fact that my virtual partner on the garmin was still showing a 17 second lead on the 3:30 pace that I'd programmed at the start. I focused on trying to maintain that now.

The last kilometre I let slip again and the 2 runners pulled ahead slowly making 5 metres on me at first and then 10 etc. I pulled into the final straight and didn't even sprint to the line, too tired to make any further efforts. I crossed the line in 17:34, my second fastest 5k ever and only 6 seconds behind my PB. I ended 21 seconds behind Nico (17:13) and with the impression that I could have run faster still if I'd been more focused and prepared to pull out all of the stops. Garmin registered the course as 5.1km hence my lead over the virtual partner.

Good race and further proof that I've moved up a level at the start of this season.

Mid-day run

Sorry about the delays in the postings but life has been hectic recently.

As opportunities to get a run in seem few and far between at the moment, I summoned up the courage to take my runningkit to work along with a towel and a face cloth. This seems fairly straight-forward but the plan was to go for a run and then clean myself down in the washroom as there are no showers at work.

I headed out of the office in the direction of Vanves and then followed the RER line up through Chatillon until I finally reached Fontenay les Roses after 5km and turning back. I was running at about 4:30 pace up the path to Fontenay and then let loose on the way back down running at marathon speed or under 4:15 per km.

It was a very warm day and when I got back to the office, I was able to clean myself down and put on my suit, only to sweat profusely during lunch. Charming!

10,1km all up in 45:20 or an average of 4:28 per km.

Malakoff 5km

Something had gone wrong somewhere. I had been quite excited and looking forward to this event, but something had snapped, almost literally, and all the expectant pleasure had all but disappeared for the event yesterday. There were two reasons to be excited about this race: firstly, it was the opener for the challenge with Nico. Although, I didn't really fancy my chances against him on such a short distance, I tought that I would give it a good shout and that anyway I would be able to achieve a PB and beat my objective of 17:45 (or even 17:30 in my wildest dreams). Secondly, I had managed to persuade, convince and cajole a dozen other guys from work to participate in their first ever (for most of them) running race situated in the same town as work. I just couldn't pull out now but was my achilles really up to it.

The answer to my last question was resolved almost as soon as we arrived. Laurence, Nico and I jogged from the office to the main square to pick up everybody's bibs for the race. Laurence was looking at me expectantly as we jogged, knowing that it wasn't sensible to take part and trying to convince me to run with her instead and 'take it easy'. After those first few steps, I realised immediately that she was right but didn't want to tell her as I'd put myself into a position that I couldn't readily back down from now. My achilles pulled hard and was very uncomfortable. the pain wasn't enough to convince me to stop but sufficient to inform me that I was doing myself no good at all. Still, I'd got this far, I wasn't going to back down now.

We ran back to the office with the bibs and met everybody who was taking part. We were 9 in all. The three off us, sporting our St Germain tracksuits and 6 almost complete novices to running. Nico asked if we shouldn't go for a warm-up so I told him that he should but that for the others, 5kms in itself would be sufficient challenge, let alone a couple of extra kilometres to get the muscles warm. We lined up at the start, Laurence and I thankful that the weather was far warmer than last year when we'd stood in the very same spot, freezing cold waiting for the gun. I joked with Nico about my shape and told him that the guy who finished just ahead of me in Conflans, Fred who was also there, would take my place in the challenge as I wasn't up to it.

The gun went and we set off. 2 weeks without running meant that I had plenty of energy from the start. I told myself to take it easy and after 500m, I was wondering where Nico was when I saw him just to my left as I was on his shoulder. This didn't last long though as I saw Nico move ahead and was unable to respond with Fred following him just afterwards. When we went through the first kilometre they we already 30 metres ahead of me. My Garmin beeped a little early and I saw 3:15 for the first km. There was a clock visible too so I was able to see that the actual time was closer to 3:25 but it was still fast.

There is then an uphill section in the second kilometre as we ran up to the stadium and around the track before leaving the stadium on the far side. The Garmin beeped again, showing 3:49. This was understandable that the time had slowed but I was losing my energy and from then on I just lost the fight to push it. My achilles was a constant nag, not actually hurting but pulling. It would be easy to say that this caused me to slow, but I think it was the lack of go from 2 weeks running abstinence that was the bigger problem. The achilles didn't help.

I settled then into an uncomfortable dissatisfaction: not happy with my pace and not really able to do anything about it. The Garmin beeped 3 times for kms 3, 4 and 5 all showing 3:50 or just faster than my half-marathon pace. Nico and Fred had long since disappeared and the final blow was being overtaken by a guy in the final kilometre and not responding and then by another 2 with 300 metres to go. I lost 3 places in the space of 2 minutes with no reponse available or forthcoming. Total depression. My final time was 18:47 in 26th place, a minute slower than where I wanted to be and almost 30 seconds down on last year. Nico had finished in 17:43 and in 14th place. I would have been thrilled to achieve that.

The real satisfaction was in hearing Laurence's name being announced at the finishing line, crossing the line in 22:29 a full minute faster than last year. She was chuffed to bits, quite rightly and had beaten all the other guys from work. She delighted in telling me afterwards how they'd all gone out fast and then she picked them off one by one throughout the race. She was over the moon.

We went back to the office for some drinks and a chat over our respective races and it was then that I realised exactly how bad the achilles was again. The ache was back and now matter how much Voltaren I rubbed in this wasn't going to disappear. This is perhaps why it took me a day to write this blog as I worry about how long this will now take to mend. My marathon in London now strikes me as being very close if I'm to prepare for this properly. I was supposed to start the 10 week preparation this week. It'll now be an 8 week preparation at best. All other objectives are now out of the window as I concentrate on getting over this injury. 'Damn and blast' for lack of a stronger expression. Depressed, miserable and full of self-pity. Luckily Laurence is understanding as I'm not much fun today.

Photos of Malakoff

Some great photos of the 2 of us, running at Malakoff.

Lining up at the start, freezing to death, waiting eagerly for the gun to go.

Just before the finish line, sprinting ...

Same position, looking at the timer...

Foulées de Malakoff

13 February - Laurence and I had decided to run this race in Malakoff where my new offices are situated. It started off as a work event - organising a team of 5 from work to participate in the race and represent our employer. As it turned out, I was the only runner from work to take part and Laurence volunteered to run herself as a small event to try out some speedwork over 5 km.

We turned up at the event and registered. There were 200 runners taking part in the 5km race and the weather was not exactly the most enticing aspect of the race. It was freezing cold (-2°C) and windy gusts adding to the chill. We managed to find some changing rooms to get ready and which we were very reluctant to leave before lining up for the start.

Race tactics were simple: head out fast, accelerate and then sprint for the line. This wasn't so far from the truth as over 5km you just need to head out fast and keep it up.

The gun went and I set off at the front of the field. There were some good runners taking part and they soon left me, despite the fact that I was at full pelt. I saw the first kilometre marker and didn't have time to look at my watch. I knew that my heart rate was high (maxing more then likely) and I wondered how long I could keep this up for. We turned left and pulled up a slight hill, about 2/3 of the way up I followed the leaders left into a road and ran for about 20 metres before I saw some stopping and heading back towards me. I looked around and realised that the route actually continued up the hill so I turned around and joined the race. I was in 4th position now.

I told myself to run steadily and to not do anything silly. I would have loved to have maintained this position but I couldn't keep up with the runners coming past me at this point. We left the stadium we had entered at the top of the hill and then ran back down a hill parallel to the first road. I was still flat out and couldn't find any more pace to stay with the others. I was hanging on now and so glad when I saw the 4km marker flash by and knew that there was only 1k to go.

I pushed again, determined not to lose any more places and then rounded the last bend and saw the finish 250m ahead. I sprinted now and crossed the line in 18:21. Slightly disappointed with my time as I'd wanted to beat 18 minutes. However the Garmin had recorded 5.14 km due to the extra distance when I turned left by mistake. Average time of 3:34 per km. 17th position and 4th V1.

Lap times went as follows: 3:20; 3:47; 3:36; 3:36; 3:36 then 25 seconds to finish. Can see the slow down in 2nd kilometre as I wondered where to go !

Laurence finished 5 minutes later in 23:26 and was first V1 woman. Really pleased with her result.

Full results here: Malakoff