This is my second time running the Mid-Cheshire 5k after running the Mid-Cheshire Spring 5k in April where I set a new PB of 18:10.

Since then my run fitness has declined following a calf strain in May. I have not been able to get in as much speed work and the mileage has dropped as well.

I am now 15 weeks into the recovery from the calf strain and running pain-free so I signed up to run this 5k so I have a good idea of where my fitness and speed is at in comparison to my peak levels back in April.

My goal for this race was to just run as hard as I can, I was not expecting to be running at PB pace, hopefully, I can manage a sub 20 but we will see. I haven’t tapered the training at all, in fact, this week has been a fairly heavy week and my legs and body have felt tired.

I decided to run this one in the Nike Vaporfly Next%, I have only run in these once before which was a few weeks ago at the TATTON PARK AUGUST 10K and I wasn’t massively impressed with them, although, that race wasn’t at full pace so let’s see how they feel today. The plan is to run the New York City marathon in the Next% so I am using these smaller training races to test the shoes out and get comfortable in them.

Mile 1 – 5:28

I knew that this mile was mostly downhill and very very fast, back in April I was running at under 5:30 min/mile pace when I checked my watch in this first mile and that pace scared me as it just seemed too fast for me so I backed off slightly.

This time I was going for it, I wanted to break my fastest 1-mile time of 5:35 min/mile and I thought this would be a good opportunity.

As I crossed the timing mat to start the race, there was a big pile-up just in front of me, I was slightly to the right of it and had to stop but with the momentum of those starting behind I was pushed forward into those who were on the floor. I managed to jump over them but had lost time here, not the ideal start.

Once past the pile-up, I could get up to speed as best I could with the crowded lane. The country lanes around here are narrow and with over 500 runners you can imagine it was a little congested. I was comfortably running at 5:20 min/mile pace for the majority of this first mile, again feeling a little apprehensive that this pace is too fast but I stuck with it. I thought what’s the worst that could happen? I slow up later on, at least I can set a fastest mile PB tonight.

My watch beeped and showed 5:28, I had taken 7 secs off my fastest mile despite the less than perfect start to the mile.

Now I thought let’s see how long I can hold on to this pace.

Mile 2 – 5:50

As you can imagine, running at your fastest ever 1 mile pace doesn’t last through mile 2 as well. I slowed down but also due to the second mile being mostly uphill giving 60ft of elevation gain. Not a huge hill but when you are running flat out, anything other than flat has an impact on your pace.

I was struggled to hold the pace but others around me were struggling more, I was passing lots of people on that hill. That got me thinking I maybe going too fast but screw it, lets go deep now and keep pushing, maybe I could get close to that 5k PB, after all I had a 12sec lead on it after that first mile.

The watch beep up with 5:50, slower than mile 1 surprise surprise but in April, I ran this mile in 5:54 so that gave me a 16 second lead on my PB time. I might actually do this, but I knew the final 3.1 miles were going to be where my lack of training and fitness will face its toughest challenge. Can I hang on for a PB, surely that sub 20 is in the bag at this stage.

Mile 3 – 5:45

It was time to roll the dice and push hard now, dig deep and ignore the pain. By now my heart was racing, my lungs felt like they were ready to explode, my mouth was dry and I was dripping with sweat. Sounds like a great advert for running doesn’t it. I was wondering why I keep signing up for these races and putting myself through this pain and suffering.

There wasn’t much to say about this mile, it was just a mental battle to keep running hard, I was checking my watch every 10 – 15 seconds to make sure that my pace wasn’t dropping. If it did, I would surge and bring it back. This was a battle between myself and the clock, not those around me. I knew if I could hold this pace to less than 6:00 mins with the 16 second buffer I had, then I would beat my PB.

The mile beeped on my watch at 5:45, 5 secs faster than April, I was 21 seconds ahead of PB pace with just that final 0.1 mile to go.

At 3 miles I put the hammer down, I was in a bunch with four others so I used them for my kick, I was going to beat them all. I gave it everything I had left and sprinted to the line, I think you can tell from the photo above, it was a matter of putting everything into it. I could see the finish line timer ticking down 17:54, 17:55, 17:56…..

I went over the line at 17:59 and my god it was hard to get my breath, I stood leaning on the barrier for a few seconds to try and recover.

I had literally put everything I had into that race from start to finish, I could not have given any more. Fair enough, I lost time at the start but I don’t think that actually had any effect on my finish time, I just started running a few seconds after crossing the mat.

Once recovered and walking down to reunite with my daughter and wife, who were cheering me on just before the finish line, I got the text message through with my chip time of 17:48 and 193rd place. A massive 22 seconds taken off my PB despite the calf injury and missed training over the last 15 weeks.

Thoughts on the race:

To have beaten my 5k PB and 1 mile PB today was a huge achievement for me, as I mentioned, I have not trained for this and was not targeting a PB. I wanted to get a good baseline on my fitness and speed levels. Well, I guess they are pretty much back or still at the pre-injury levels.

This has given me such a massive confidence boost now for the remaining weeks of training towards the New York City marathon. I now have the confidence in the calf, I know I can run fast and hold a fast pace for at least 3.1 miles. That’s enough for a marathon right? but in all seriousness, I did have doubts whether I would be able to challenge for PB’s after the injury, certainly not within 4 months of leaving Mallorca on crutches not being able to put any weight on my right leg.

Onwards and upwards now. I do feel that this 17:48 is beatable and will absolutely be trying to beat it in 2020, I won’t be able to run the April Mid-Cheshire 5k next year with running the Boston Marathon, but the summer race in 12 months time is definitely a target.

Thoughts on the Vaporfly Next%, well it is hard to be critical of them now I have just smashed every PB possible during that race. They felt comfortable and they certainly gave that responsive push and forward motion you get from the 4%, were they “faster” than the 4% it is difficult to say, I have not raced in the 4% since the April race so its not a direct comparison, but one thing the Next% do feel is FAST! and I will be running the Cheshire Half Marathon in them this coming Sunday to see how they feel over a longer distance.