Moray 10k

To start with here is the statistical bit, along with a comparison to last year. 

	2017			2016
Splits	Time	Cumulative		Time	Cumulative
1	03:45.5	03:45.5		03:52.7	03:52.7
2	03:57.3	07:42.8		04:02.4	07:55.1
3	04:01.8	11:44.6		04:01.6	11:56.7
4	04:16.8	16:01.4		04:19.4	16:16.1
5	04:03.7	20:05.1		03:57.0	20:13.1
6	04:04.0	24:09.1		04:00.2	24:13.3
7	04:02.7	28:11.8		03:58.9	28:12.2
8	04:02.7	32:14.5		03:57.5	32:09.7
9	03:51.5	36:06.0		03:49.9	35:59.6
10	03:48.9	39:54.9		03:49.0	39:48.6
11	00:04.8	39:59.7		00:00.8	39:49.4

And that pretty much tells the story. I started a bit too fast, but within a few hundred meters I knew it was too fast and I backed off. That still took me through the first kilometer 7 seconds faster than last year. Having eased off to a more sustainable pace for the next couple of km I was 12 seconds ahead of last year as I reached the bottom of the climb. And I was 16 seconds up by the top of the climb. We then turned into a headwind that I hadn't expected but it was basically a light breeze and actually helped with the temperature. 

At this point I finally noticed some other people around me as two of my team-mates closed up behind me, including the leading lady and a guy who I have been beating (just) all cross-country season who is training for a marathon. We then settled in to possibly the least collaborative group I have ever raced with. I feel that I should take more than a fair share of the blame for this. I was already working too close to my limit and I have done no group running for years so I was finding it difficult to judge distances and was playing it safe by giving plenty of room rather than work in the small group. I was also getting distracted by the watch and putting in surges every time that I realised the pace was slipping. 

Through the 5k mark I was still ahead of last year but I knew from how comfortably the other pair had caught me that I wasn't holding my early pace. We then leapfrogged and surged and zig-zagged our way to the downhill at 8km and finally the three of us broke apart as the I put my downhill skills to use and stretched away. That lasted down the hill but once we turned the final corner they both cruised past me again and started to pull away. At the 9km mark they were a few seconds ahead but I knew I still had something for the finish. I kicked with about 800m to go and managed to claw my way past the first lady and was closing the gap to the guy when we reached the last little rise to the finish line. 

My legs objected to the tiny incline and I felt I was almost grinding to a halt within sight of the line. My watch buzzed for a gps 10k and I glanced at the watch to see 39:54 and I still had yards to go. I forced my legs across the line through what felt like treacle and heard the glorious sound of the timekeeper saying 58 as they recorded my official time. 

I am pleased to have broken 40 minutes again. Officially 'run my age' for the first time. Slightly disappointed to have not run a PB as I am in great shape and I do think it was in me on a slightly less windy day to find those missing 12 seconds. After Bratislava I may search for another fast course and see if I can take a slice off that time.