7am alarm. Was ok because I’m bed phone off by
Perfect prep. Enough porridge, toilets, coffee, hydration, gels, and found everyone in pen C in time to start together
Richard and Al (on either side of me in picture) ran together and I went at my own pace. Took similar approach to the Brooklyn Half, where I went off hard until I hit 175 bpm, then maintained that or thereabouts until the last few kms.
Caught up w/ Ben the second time I saw Rachel and Dad spectating.
He hadn’t been training much for this distance and I distanced him soon after this picture.
Went hard, gave it 110%, etc etc sports commentary.
<insert link to strava, and screenshot of pace in case data falls into ocean>
Random thoughts: Jonathan Wu’s enthusiastic support entered my head around kms 10-11. For example:
It surprised me how encouraging that was.
Becca and Cath were ‘round the back of the Rad Cam, which was the hurtiest part of the race (check w/ strava, but pretty sure hr was 184.)
I am doing a good impression of someone still able to feel things other than pain.
Post-race swag was pretty meager. Bag, medal, protein bar. I bought an awesome hoodie, tho, that I am wearing now, Tuesday October 18 at 21:14 BST/16:14 EST, on the plane, as I write this on my tiny iPhone 12 mini keyboard.
After race, went to Royal Oak for lunch/beer.
(Cath took this)
We cruised north after lunch. (Getting to the boat/leaving is a bit hazy...)
At some point after Duke’s Cut, there was a boat drifting. As we were trying to work out what to do, someone who knew the owner’s Dad walked past on the towpath and she and we managed to get the boat tied up... with one pin for both ropes, under a bridge, but at least secured. The woman who put down her shopping to help eventually received a call from the owner that he’d be there soon. (We didn’t see the boat anywhere near the bridge on our return passage past that bridge, so hopefully all was resolved.)
I was hoping to make it to Thrup that evening, because nice pubs, but we didn’t make it, and we didn’t need it because we had dinner plans on boat.
Fajitas (well, I ended up rolling burritos). Richard made gin and tonics. We got speaker out for music. At some point, an impromptu dance party happened. Becca probably has video evidence. The playlist was pretty decent tbqh
(Full disclosure I was already on the herbal tea when the dancing started.)
Finished off the evening cooling off out on the towpath.