Grand Prix Race 3 – Middlesbrough Half (Above 10M Category)
It was an early start for myself and everybody running race 3 of this years GP at the Middlesborough HM with a 9am start time. The alarm was set for 6am but I woke a little earlier allowing longer for fuelling. Nice cup of tea, porridge and blueberries with honey, 2 slices toast and peanut butter followed by water and electrolytes making sure was fuelled and hydrated for the day ahead.
Quick shower and final check of the bag and gear before it was out the door just after 7am to collect David Shields and Shaun Morris, everything was going great till we were about hit the A19 to discover it closed, so a quick diversion to the A1 and across to Borough.
We arrived around 08:25am had a little jog which was our warmup to catch up with Kevin King, Martin Fairbairn, Stuart Smith and Tommy who we could see in the distance. Arriving at the runner’s village it was the usual toilet trips and getting ready, I decided to go with a base layer as did others due to it been a little chilly, followed by a banana myself and many others as a last bit of fuel. We then dropped the bags off and caught up with other runners for the usual team photos before heading to the start line.
There was a good gathering of runners and standing towards the middle of the pen a group of us started to think how long it will take to cross the start as we seemed a fair way back. It didn’t take to long though till we were crossing the start line which was not very clearly marked as normally we run through an arch so I missed the starting of watch by a few seconds. luckily the course measured long so didn’t impact at all.
My plan was to run this at my marathon pace and see what the body felt like, going through the first mile all I heard was beep beep on the watch thinking no I cant be going to fast I feel good but yes you guessed it I was, not like me at all that is it ha ha. Anyway, I reigned it in and thought great back in the zone and on track 2 miles in and beep beep goes again. This continued for quite some time going up and down like a yoyo, but the body and legs felt good so I decided stick with it but not push any harder.
The crowds were out in force cheering us on dressed in all sorts from clothing to PJS and dressing gowns. Approaching the riverside stadium and the first of the inclines I was still feeling strong and was even managing to chat talk and encourage others up the hill. Been a longtime since felt this good I could see Lesley Falkous up ahead and gave her a shout of support whilst utilising her to keep myself going.
Around 9 mile in at this point we hit the out and back section whereby we could see the speedy runners and colleagues coming back the other way this was great for the moral and support as the usual shouts of keep going, looking great well done Blyth and high fives started.
That stretch through the industrial estate and heading back seemed to go on forever the watch was saying 4 mile left but it felt much longer. Making the turn we hit another out and back section with 2 mile remaining more support form fellow runners and Lee Anderson as they entered their final mile. I made the turn still feeling strong entering the final mile giving more support to colleagues heading to the turn and those around me.
Entering the final 300 meters I decided to see what I had left in the legs and went for it, crossing the line and saving the run to see the trophy appear on the watch I could of cried when I seen the time of 2 hours 1 minute and 23 seconds a new PB by 12 minutes for myself and showing marathon training was paying off.
I made my way to the bag collection area to regroup with everyone and hear how peoples races had went and congratulate everyone. Everybody seemed to of enjoyed the race and others had also smashed PB’S on this fast and flat course.
We then headed to the car for the journey home learning quickly that the A19 was still closed so a diversion again was needed. This time through the lovely sites of Pallion and Sunderland all was going great until an emergency stop was needed and quick evasive action by myself driving which woke us all up, This was due to an irresponsible dog owner without a care in the world letting his dog bolt out in front of oncoming traffic on a dual carriageway. I missed the dog by millimetres and even though I had a smashed a massive PB that day avoiding that dog was a greater achievement. I would have hated to of hurt the animal but did have a few choice words for the owner who like I say didn’t even seem bothered and let the dog just run off. Eventually we got back through the tunnel dropped the lads off and then home for shower and freshen up before chilling the rest of day,
I learnt later I was not the only person to have a lucky escape with an animal as Kev King nearly took out Phil the pheasant and gave Tommy David a wake up call in his car
Well done to all who ran, good luck in your training and future races.
Next up for the GP is the sold-out Pier to Pier race in April.