Keri Pearson - Team Blizard Race Report

Having done a few local races since returning to COH, I was quite excited to take part in the relays back in the purple vest.

Our team looked incredibly strong and I wont lie, I was incredibly nervous when I found out that I was on last leg. Last leg was a short leg of 5k, on an out and back course. The weather was very grey, damp and cold, and knowing I had a few hours to wait for my leg, I did my best to keep warm.

As the race unfolded,  we where always within podium position or just out of it. As I waited to set off, my team mate had an amazing run, and had pulled us into second place from fifth, other runners in the holding area, had anticipated they would be setting off prior to me and knowing the qaulity of these runners, I really hoped I had a large gap!

I set off hard (too hard) but knowing I had to try and do something to hold them off for as long as possible, I thought at the time this was the best option! Unfortunatley, both Leeds and Salford caught me and we ended up 30 secs out of a podium position. With one of them running the fastest short leg of the day. However, this was the best position as a club we had ever finished. On reflection, and looking through the data, my heart rate peaked way too early in the race, but having not raced a 5k in years and being in the depth of marathon training, it was a lesson learnt about what at the moment, I can push too in terms of heart rate and hold and what happens if I push a bit too hard. For context, I had ran a parkrun as part of a session a few weeks ago with the remit of keeping it in mid threshold and produced a quicker time, so Dave, may correct me if I am wrong, but this shows I am building a good base and engine but just do not have the top gears at the moment and that made the second half of the race on Saturday hard......always learning!

Many thanks to Team Blizard for their continual support and guidence.