Hyde park Relays 5k PB

Hyde park relays is a annual student running relay with teams of 5 each running a 5k relay leg round Hyde Park. The last time I ran this event was in 2020 where I recorded a time of 16:36, a pb at the time. Because of my fond memories from that event this course has become one of my favorites even though technically it isn't a particularly fast course due to its undulations and tight turns. Despite it not being a PB course on paper I still targeted this race as a PB attempt.

Pre race: Having arrived with the University of Portsmouth team Friday morning we spent the rest of the day exploring London finishing the day on 20,000 plus steps, not ideal prep for a pb attempt. As well as the amount of walking done on Friday the weather forecast wasn't very promising either with high winds predicted for the race. I was soon changing my aims for this race as was no longer worried about attempting a Pb, my target became get as close to 16 min as possible.

The last time I had attempted a quick 5k time was 4 weeks prior to this event where I ran a 16:15 at Southsea parkrun. I new my form had improved since then so I was hopeful despite the course and weather conditions i could get closer to the sub 16 barrier. The last time I had dipped under the sub 16 barrier was back in May where I ran a 15:58 on a much quicker course but unofficially I had run a 15:51 back in November 2020 but that was done as a solo Time Trial with a bike pacer in front of me and slight wind assist. Therefore my goal for the past year has been to run a 15:51 but on an official and accurate course.

Saturday, Race Day: I was leg 4 in the relay which gave me plenty of time to warm up and see how my team mates were finding the course and conditions in order to give me an idea on what sort of time to go for. The general feeling was that it was very windy in places but it was still producing some quick times. Having felt the wind I new it was going to be a cross wind for the first K and a head wind for the last k, not ideal which meant I had to try and reserve some energy for the final K into the headwind. My plan was to stick to 3:11- 3:15 min/k pace pushing hard on the up hills but relaxing and saving energy on the downhills.

Start: As the baton was handed to me and I set off along the flat section running parallel tp the lake i soon realized running with a cross wind was a lot harder than I imaged as the wind constantly buffering me to the side meant I struggled to get into a comfortable rhythm and I was relieved to finally turn off the main path pick up the tailwind. The first K clicked over at 3:09 so quicker than planned but that always happens in a 5k so I wasn't to worried I just new that now was the hard part where i had to really focus on pushing as hard as I could and maintaining that pace throughout the more undulating part of the course. As with all 5k's i stopped checking my watch at this point and ran on feel as I don't see any point in checking my splits in a 5k when I know that I'm already on my limit so I wont be able to change anything no matter what my watch says. I checked my watch again at the 4k mark just out of interest and was pleasantly surprised to see a 3:15 split through the hardest part of the course. From this point on it was downhill to the finish although with a headwind but I was feeling good still which is unusual in a 5k. Onto the final kilometer I felt like i was still running well even with the headwind and with it being slightly downhill i new i could afford to completely burry myself at this point. Much to my surprise and relief I soon reached the final corner into the home straight and I could see the finish line ahead of me, I tried to open up a sprint but I had completely emptied myself so all I could do was keep pushing to the line and finally I had handed the baton over and crossed the line, The time on my watch 15:52. Pure emotion took over, I had finally got back to what I new I was capable of. I new I had it in me but I did not expect to be able to run it solo on that course in them conditions.

Stats:

Splits: 3:09, 3:13. 3:12, 3:15, 3:10 Average pace 5:09 min/mile

Heart Rate, Avg: 190, Max: 199

This time showed me that i am on the best form of my life and on a fast course there is potentially another 20secs i could knock off that time to get me down to a 15:30

As well as running in the A team for Portsmouth I also ran a leg for one of the fancy dress teams. Theme of the team was winter Olympics hence the ski goggles and hat. Ran this leg completely off feel and was pleasantly surprised to run a 16:48.

Portsmouth A team, 4th overall. Only 4 seconds off 3rd.